US2412618A - Framing elements - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1946. V KAUTZ 2,412,618

FRAMING ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 17, 1946. R'KAUTZ 2,412,618

FRAMING ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRAMING ELEMENTS Frederick Kautz, Norwood, Pa. I Application January 15, 1941, Serial No. 374,568

9 Claims.

The invention relates to the production of a material suitable for use in screens, framing and frame structures, enclosures, partitions, bins, panels and guards in various structures, and particularly with relation to framing elements for meshed materials of various kinds. Thus, my invention is applicable to production of screens in a novel form, suitable for use as screens in screening 'or separating and classifying material, or for screens adapted to function to enclose small birds, animals or the like, or for fencing.

The invention particularly aims to present such structure which may also be used to good advantage in the framing of building structures so that units of my invention may be set up without the use of studding necessarily, in some situations, and if not used as an open mesh. partition, they serve for the application of plaster, stucco, and the like, to complete a wall, either as a partition or as an external bearing wall. It is a particular aim of the invention to present structural material adapted to be used as an expanded metal support for plaster and the like, or without the application of such plastic, to serve as fencing or as a separating screen for various purposes.

Another important aim of the invention is to present a structure element of this kind which is especially adapted to use in the construction of buildings, either commercial or domestic, where shelving is to be put in place, so that the expanded metal or corresponding unit may be built into a wall or partitioning screen, and at the same time supply shelf support. Another important aim of the invention is to present a structure element adapted to use in producing steel re-inforced concrete slabs or the like, with novel advantages. A further additional purpose of the invention is to present a unit of material of this kind adapted to use as a combined mold, concrete slab or wall reinforcement, and permanent edge facing for finished work whereby it is protected from chipping, and whereby also if desired, two or more units formed with my invention may be connected together, if desired, by fastenings engaged between the mold or edge facing elements.

While I am aware that wire screens of corresponding material have been heretofore framed by panel-like structural steel members and the like, there has heretofore been difiiculty in effecting a satisfactory union or securement of the screen material to the metal framing, especially by welding, on account of the diiference in heat diffusion of the screen material and frame mate- (ol. 189-84) I 2 rial, and it is an important aim of my invention to present a manner of construction which will enable the production of screen or expanded metal structural members having panel form or other edging or stiffening of heavy structural angle steel devices or their equivalents attaining many novel advantages over prior structure or; material, and having great strength and durability, as well as simplifying steps required in manufacture. V

It has also been an aim toattain these'improvements while at the same time reducing the cost of such materials. A further aim is to improve the construction of the units to the end that it may be very quickly assembled with a minimum of experience required on the part of' workmen, applying or erecting the material.

It is an important aim of the invention to present structural material of this kind which will afford a maximum strength and rigidity inwalls, fences, partitions, and otherwise, incident to its use.

An object of the invention incident to production of this material fis'to enable the weld to be made in such manner that the welded material will not be exposed saliently, and therefore,

in many situations, will involve a minimum re-. quirement of cleaning, and also will be liable in a minimum degree to corrosion. A furtheraim is to present a novel structural unit adapted to be assembled in juxtaposition withother like units, to enable the drawing of adjacent .units in a novel way to form a complete structure of high strength and good appearance.

A further important aim of the invention is to present a structural unit of this kind which will be extremely light in weight, yet without sacrificing essential strength for the uses contemplated.

It is an important aim of the invention to present a novel means for attaching screen material to a. frame piece or edging, whereby the welding of the screen material or expanded metal to such framing piece may be effected without weakening the screen at the junction with the weld, without burning the screen material, and in such manner that a highly secure attachment of the screen material is eifected.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction, arrange ment and combination of parts involved inthe embodiment of the invention, as will be more readily understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a structural element adapted to many and various uses, as.

3 hereinbefore set forth, and as may be addi-' tionally understood from the description thereof and its adaptability to various uses.

Figure 2 is a cross section thereof.

Figure 3 is a similar cross section, showing a modification of the arrangement of the edge member of the unit with respect to the screen material. I

Figure 4 is a similar fragmentary section showing a further arrangement of the screen material with respect to the edging member.

Figure 5 is a further modification of the relation of the screen to the edge member, the foregoing five views illustrating the use of simple angle structural iron or steel members.

Figures 6 and 7 are horizontal cross sections of modifications illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one manner of producing the article illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another manner of forming the stiffening member to receive the screen material to produce an article corresponding to that shown in Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing another manner of forming the stiffening stock to receive the screen for producing the last named article.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 show further modifications for producing such article.

Figure 14 is a further modification of form of stiffening member for receiving the screen to produce the article illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 15 is a further modification of the stillening member for producing the article of Figure 2.

Figures 16 and 1'7 illustrate the various uses of the structural elements of Figures 2 and 3 in a screen or similar partition structures.

There is illustrated in Figure 1 a portion of a unit structural member suitable for various uses, and which may represent one corner of a rectangular frame, consisting of a suitable number of angles ID, to which there is attached at the junction of the flanges of the angles a body of open-mesh material II, which may be woven wire, expanded metal, or sheet metal, as will be understood hereinafter. In this particular instance, channel portions of the angles are disposed at the outer sides of the frame, and the screen material is engaged With the angles or solid members at the outer sides of the angles formed by the junction of the two flanges l2 of the angles, and the screen material being extended in a plane which approximately bisects the angles at the junction of the flanges I2.

The screen material may be extended from the inner side of this angle, substantially in the relation shown in Figure 3, if preferred, and may extend in various other directions, as shown in the succeeding views, Figures 4, 5, '7 and following.

The angle l5 may be formed in various ways, being adapted to be assembled from two flat strips or ribbons of materials brought together at the proper angle as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and following, where it may be a stock L-angle rolled in one piece and, pierced, out, or other wise formed at the angle therein to receive the open=mesh or sheet material, as will be described more in, detail hereinafter. In producing the article of Figures 1 and 2, the respective strips intended to form the. flanges l2, are brought into position as shown in Figure 2, after insertion of an edge portion of the screen material ll therebetween, so that a small portion of the edge of the screen projects inwardly of the angle at the junction of the two flanges, after which a weld I3 is formed in accordance with any usual practices, but particularly including the deposit of metal within the angle immediately at the junction of the two flanges, in such manner that the molten metal surrounds the end portions of the wire of the screen, or the edge portion of the screen which is inserted and projected inwardly through the angle. In this way, the heat is absorbed from the weld body by the flanges I2 and dissipated by these, so that a minimum amount of heat is transmitted or accumulated in the extreme edge portion of the open-mesh material I l By the assembling method described, using two separate strips to form the flanges I2, the welding of the open-mesh or sheet metal material effects also the securement of the two flanges together, so that a complete angle is produced and the advantages utilized in the stiffening of the unit produced. In Figure 3, the angle l0 may be produced of two straps of metal struck together at the proper angle as illustrated, while the body or the screen extends inwardly from the angle, but with an edge portion which projects outwardly at the convex angle formed by the two flanges. Using strap material which has been trimmed with a flat edge substantially at right angles to the major plane of the strap, a recess is formed between the two edges of the flanges, into which the weld material l4 may be introduced, substantially as it was deposited in the device of Figure 2, surrounding the projected edge portion of the screen material, and the heat of the weld being transmitted to the flanges and dissipated thereby, with the same benefit in preserving delicate screen material from burning or excessive damage by heating of the weld. Utilizing a unit such as shown in Figure 3, it will readily be appreciated that a frame made up as described with angles IO meeting at the corners, as shown in Figure 1, may be set upon a pianiform surface, and filled with a Portland cement concrete aggregate of suitable kind, so that the concrete will penetrate through the open mesh material to the supporting surfaces, where it will spread and be confined by the angles I0, and the concrete may be introduced until its top surface lies flush with the upper edges of the angles H5, as will be appreciated. The slabs cast in this manner will thus be reinforced by the open mesh material, while its edge portions are protected against chipping by the edge portions of the flanges [2.

The units formed as in Figure 1, and other modifications to be indicated herein may also be set up on edge and connected to other elements to be supported as a fence or other enclosure.

In Figure 4, the manner of attaching the screen with relation to the flanges of an angle is illustrated, the screen material I! being laid against the inner side of one of the flanges with its first portions projected outwardly past the abutting edge of the opposite flange, while a weld I 5 is built up at one side of the angle around the weld It being then built up at the inner-side of the angle. In these last described two forms, the angle difiers from the arrangement of Figures 2 and 3 in that in Figures 2 and 3 the flanges of the angles extend a common distance from the vertex of the angles, while in Figures 4 and 5, the upper flange l2 shown is butted against the inner side of the flange l2-A, or at least against the screen material inserted between the two. The beneficial result in the transmission or conduction of heat from the weld to the flanges, and its rapid dissipation, are gained in the last described forms of the article in the same manner as in the first two.

In Figures 6 and 7, structures are shown somewhat similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, and comprise identical metal strips 8 and 9, angularly disposed, bisected by the end portion of the mesh material or the like and welded at the root.- The strip 8 is placed in the same plane as the mesh material, in order to obtain flush faced panels.

In Figure 8 there is shown a manner of forming one of the strips to be assembled from an angle stiffening member, in which the edge portion of one strip which is to be butted against the side of the other strip is notched at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the intersection of wires or other elements in the open mesh material, the material It being trimmed on the line slightly outward of the junction of the wires. After the trimming of the mesh material, its edge portion consisting of the intersections of the wires, is laid upon the inner side of the flange strip 25, while the notched flange member 24 is set down against the other flange and so that the respective wire intersections of the material H are located within the notches. The weld material is then applied within the angle, substantially as at 16, in Figure 5, securing the two pieces 24 and 25 together, and securing the material H to the assembled angle.

In Figure 9, both strips 25 are notched in the manner shown in Figure 8, and instead of one of the strips bein butted against the side of the other, they are both disposed at an angle to the plane of the material II and the weld is then formed substantially as shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 10, each flange 29 of the stiflening member orangle is shown as having extreme edge portions pressed alternately in opposite directions, so that when brought together in proper angular relations with the formed edges adjacent each other and with opposed salients of the formed edges in abutment, as at 30, slots 3| are formed between the oppositely pressed portions which are not in contact, and this permits the insertion of the intersections of the screen material ll into respective slots, so that welding material may be formed at the inner side of the angle, substantially as shown in Figure 2, or otherwise according to the relation of the screen material It to the formed angle.

In Figure 11, it is shown how the strip members 32 may be formed for accommodation of a heavy wire mesh. In this construction the strips 32 are angularly arranged and spaced apart and small metal slugs 34 are placed between the strips and welded. Only occasional slugs will be required, and these spaced apart as at 33, to permit entrance of the wire mesh, substantially in the relation shown in Figure 2, although the screen may be disposed in different planes with respect to the angle member, as will be understood.

In Figure 12, the stifiening member may be formed of a serpentine or transversely corrugated right angles to each other, the junction material of the strip at its central part being struck out at intervals to form opposed tongues 36 willciently separated to form openings through the stifiening member at the angle, and to receive wire intersections between the tongues 36. Welds are applied at the inner side of the piece around the wire intersections, so that the latter are joined to the angle piece 35 thus formed.

In Figure 14, a, lower flange strip 31 is shown,

having positioned thereon, in spaced relation, metal slugs 39, and an upper strip 38 is then set upon the slug 39, at right angles to the strip 3! and the slugs. The screen material II is laid with its edge portion intersections upon the flange strip 31 and set between the spaced slugs.

The weld material is then applied at the inner side of the angle to join the two strips and the screen material, forming an angle corresponding to that shown in Figure In Figure 15, specially formed strip material is utilized to produce the angle stifiness, in this case each strip being formed with any suitable number of alternated ofiset flat portions 40, and

inwardly curved sections 4|, so that when two' strips are brought together with the inwardly curved portions opposed to each other, the latter may contact, and form elongated slots 42 between the oppositely disposed flat portions 40. In these slots the wire intersections of the screen ma.- terial H may be respectively inserted and secured as before indicated.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the degree of angular relation of the two bisected strips may be subject to considerable variations for desired purposes, and that it is a general advantage of welded construction that great freedom of design is at disposal, and in the present case, the angular degree may be disposed in such way as to obtain greater rigidity of panels in a plane common with the mesh or may be altered to reach better rigidity in a direction substantially at right angles to the mesh material.

While I have shown my invention with great particularity, in its various forms, it is to be understood that these are purely exemplary, and that various other modifications may be made, as well as changes in the sizes, proportions and construction of parts, as well as combination of equivalent elements, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as more particularly set forth in the claims followin hereinafter.

I claim:

1. A structural member comprising a mesh web, the elements of which bounding openings in the mesh structure adjacent the edges constitute projecting elements spaced longitudinally of the mesh member, and a frame device therefor comprising elongated members having flanges arranged in angular spaced relation forming a root opening, slugs welded at spaced intervals within the root opening, respective projecting portions of the mesh being engaged in the root openings between the slugs and weld materials for securing the mesh to said members, as and for the purposes described.

2. A structural member comprising a mesh sheet or web, the elements of which bounding openings in the mesh structure adjacent the edges constitute projecting elements spaced longitudinally of the edges of the mesh member, and a frame device therefor, consisting of a sheet metal strip bent to dispose its opposite longitudinal edge portions in angular relation to each other, a plurality of opposed tongues being struck from the central portion of the strip toward the convex side thereof, respective projecting portions of said mesh member being engaged between respective pairs of tongues and united with the material thereof, for the purposes described.

3. A structural element comprising a web member of flexible material and a frame element therefor comprising an elongated member having respective flange portions disposed at an angle to each other, said web member being engaged between the flange portions at the vertex of the frame element, and said frame element being formed with a multiplicity of longitudinally spaced openings at said vertex, said web member being a mesh structure with projecting portions extended through said openings and the ends of the mesh elements exposed at a side of the frame element, and weld material engaged and united with the frame element at the vertex of the angle and surrounding said projecting portions of the mesh.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which the ends of said mesh element are exposed at the concave side of the frame member.

5. A structural member comprising a mesh web to be supported within a frame, having a frame element consisting of flat bar members with longitudinal edge portions disposed in angular relation to each other and receiving edge portions of said Web therebetween, said frame element including at least one bar member disposed at an angle to said mesh Web, welding material at contacting portions of said bar members and mesh web, and said welding material being located at a side of said frame element opposite the body of said mesh web.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said bar members are positioned at an angle and in a plane parallel to said mesh web respectively.

7. A structural element of the character described comprising a mesh web supported within a frame having a frame member of angular form in transverse section and embodying two lateral flanges disposed at an acute angle to each other, and said frame member being apertured at its angle vertex and having projecting end portions of said mesh web extended therethrough and oppositely exposed, and welding material en, gaged to unite said frame member with said web at points of contact, and said frame member having one flange positioned in a plane parallel to said mesh web, and the longitudinal extremities of said frame member dying substantially in a common line extended at right angles from the plane of said mesh web. y

8. A structural element of the character described comprising a mesh web supported within a frame having a frame member of angular form in transverse section and embodying two lateral flanges disposed at an angle to each other, and said frame member being apertured at its angle vertex and having projecting end portions of said mesh web extended therethrough and oppositely exposed, and welding material engaged to unite said frame member with said web at points of contact, and said mesh web being extended from the convex side of the frame member and located in a plane equally bisecting the angle of said flanges.

9. A structural member comprising a mesh sheet or web, the elements of which bounding openings in the mesh structure adjacent the edges constitute projectin elements spaced longitudinally of the edges of the mesh member, and a frame element therefor, consisting of two elongated lateral members having flange portions arranged in angular relation to each other, and said frame element including at least one elongated member having a deformed flange portion defined by projecting sections and sections receding therefrom said projecting sections contacting the opposite elongated member at the angle vertex formed by said flanges so that openings are formed between said members, respective projecting portions of said mesh being engaged in said openings, and welding material employed to unite the mesh and said members, as and for the purposes described.

FREDERICK KAUTZ.

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