US2462385A - Construction of structural members - Google Patents

Description

m, 22, m9. D. H. GREEN 2,462,385

CONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed April 1,1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l 85.22, 1949 D, H, GREEN 2,462,385

CONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed April 1, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Douglas Harold Green, London, England Application April 1, 1946, Serial No. 658,688 In Great Britain April 4, 1945 9 Claims. (Cl. 72-409) This invention relates to the construction of structural members, e. g. the walls, roofs, floors and other parts of buildings, the walls of tanks and other containers, and structural members for a wide variety of other purposes.

Numerous attempts have been made to provide a frame construction for use in building floors and walls comprising main beams connected to columns. Thus a number of load carrying beams, arranged in rectangular formation or as circular units have been supported at a number of points on transverse beams running to the columns.

The object of the present invention is an improved form of structural member whereby, the load. e. g. of suspended parts such as roofs, floor panels and the like, is carried back to the supports, such as surrounding brick walls or corner columns, in a more effective manner.

According to the present invention an improved structural member is provided comprising a series of load-carrying torsion components in the form of similar closed geometrical figures, e. g. triangles, squares, circles, ellipses, rectangles or other polygons, disposed co-axially or concentrically, said elements being of a depth in an axial direction to give a predetermined torsional stiffness, and linkage members for holding adjacent components in spaced relation, the linkage members being so constucted as to operate in tension and substantially without any beam action.

In the simplest form the torsion elements may consist of shallow steel cylinders of various diameters and of relatively short axial depth. For the tension members short steel straps may be used. Four straps consisting of steel strip extending from the region of the bottom edge of an inner element to the region of the upper edge of the next adjacent outer element and disposed on selected radiating lines, will give satisfactory results the number of sets of said straps corresponding to the number of elements. Alternatively, the connecting straps may be formed by fiat diaphragms disposed in radial planes. The outer elements are connected to the upper ends of the columns, to the surrounding walls, or other supporting members by further straps or diaphragms, disposed in alignment with the straps or diaphragins, connecting the series of elements and braced if necessary by further structural members also formed of co-axially or concentrically disposed and connected elements.

As an example, in the case of a structural member, such as a roof or floor of a building intended to be supported by a rectangular disposition of columns, the straps or diaphragms may be conveniently arranged on the diagonals of the rectangle formed by the columns.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a plan and side elevation of a structure suitable for use as flooring in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing a tie member between two elements of the structure. Figure 4 is a part plan view corresponding to Figure 2 but illustrating an alternative form of column support. Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views, similar to Figure 3, of other forms of tie members. Figure'iis a diagrammatic sectional view. Figures 8, 9, and 10 are diagrammatic plan views illustrating various floor or wall constructions. Figures 11 and 12 are plan views of modification-s.

The structural member of this invention is built up of a series of load carrying components in the form of closed geometrical figures of diminishing or increasing size e. g. circles, squares, triangles,

ellipses and other polygons disposed concentrically or about a common axis.

In the form shown in Figures 1-3, the components consists of a series of concentric shallow cylinders or rings of which there are nine, indicated at I, l I I Each component I, l has substantially vertical depth which is sufiicient to resist torsional stresses, to which in the finished flow structure it may be subjected and which is in part determined by the cross section and thickness of the metal. In the formation of the structure, for example a wall or floor, the outermost component or element I is suspended at a number of points on or external to its periphery which, in Figure 1, take the form of four corner posts 2, each post having an overhanging bracket arm 3. Arms 3 may consist of short girders of I-section, to the inner ends of which is secured element l of the series. The second element l in its turn is suspended from the outermost element l of the series and the third element 1 from the second element l and so on.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that the elements possess depth in the axial sense so as to give the required torsional depth in a plane which is vertical or substantially vertical, parallel to the generating axis so as to ensure the required torsional depth will vary with the nature of the structure and of the load it is required to support.

The means connecting adjacent elements may consist of simple straps, for example as shown in Figure 3, the straps may consist of plates 4 having upturned ends 5 ands bent at an angle .to the strap so as to include a fiat 1 which accommodates the thickness of metal of the elements I and is fastened thereto by bolts 3. In the arrangement shown, there are four sets of straps arranged on radiating lines selected to correspond to the posts 2, but it will be understood that the number of straps may be varied to give the required strength to the structure and, if necessary, in addition to the straps subsidiary interconnecting members or steadies 9 may be employed, but these are not essential.

In place of the posts 2 it will be obvious that the outermost element may be suspended from the containing walls of the building or room where it is desired to provide a flooring, the elements being progressively mounted one within the other from the larger and outer element to the centre until the floor space of the structure is filled in by the smallest and central element. 7

As applied to the construction shown in Figure 1 in place of the posts 2, corresponding points of suspension may be made at points it] on the side walls i I (Figure 4) of the structure. In this case the side walls may replace the verticals 2 or be additional thereto, as shown in Figure 4 where the bracket arms 3 are built into the wall H. It is to be pointed out, however, that in erection of the building or other structure the corner verticals 2 or the walls are essential and provide the foundation upon which the floor is built up as hereinafter described in detail.

The members connecting the several elements may take various forms and in place of the flat strips shown I may employ webs l2 (see Figure 5) extending over the entire vertical area between the" two elements or a triangularly shaped web, one edge (the base) of which is fast with an outer element being secured at its apex to the inner element, whichit supports. These Webs maybe spot welded to the elements, or the elements may be formed with lugs or flanges towhich the con necting members or links are fastened by bolting. It, may alternatively be convenient to provide a continuous one-piece link [3 (Figure 6) of a size to accommodate the number of elements in the series required for the particular floor space.

Obviously the strip [3 may be replaced by rods of T or box section. V

For most purposes, as in the construction of a floor or wall, the elements will be arranged with their horizontal edges in a common plane parallel to. the surface of the finished member.

This,

however, is not essential and if desired they may be staggered and arranged in pyramidal form.

Thus theelements may be disposed with their median planes parallel but spaced from one aning members. The spaces between the elements y of the structure may be filled with any suitable 7 form of filling material such as concrete 16 (see Figure 2). r

The improved structural member is well adapted for use in conjunction with a number of supporting columns and the number of columns may be selected in accordance with considerations of convenience and placed in any position relative to the outer ring or-other shaped element of the structure.

Load carrying components are usually disposed with their vertical surfaces parallel to the axis of the finished structural member and in the case of circular elements they would constitute a series of shallow concentric circular cylinders.

In some cases, however, it is of advantage to form the circular or other elements in such a manner. that the length of one perimeter is somewhat greater than the length of the other perimeter, so that in the case of circular elements they are of truncated conical form with the larger diameter uppermost. With the elements so constructed, still further resistance is offered to distortion due to torsional stresses, since the carried load itself assists in such cases to resist such distortion.

The erection of a panel, such as a roof and floor, constructed in accordance with this invention, is, it will be understood, preferably carried out proceeding from the outside towards the inside, e. g. from the columns towards the centre of the structural member. The outer ring with its supporting straps is first placed in position,

its straps being connected with the columns, and thereafter succeeding inner rings are added being connected With the last ring already in position through the medium of the tension straps. Each ring is complete and stable in itself so that the operatives building the panel create their own platform upon which they are able to stand without the need for any intermediate or auxiliary supports. The innermost or smallest ring may be common to a'variety of sizes of bay or column spacing. Any alteration in the size of bay or column spacing merely involves the'addition or omission of one or more rings or figures at the outside and in no way affects the remainder. Thus the improved structural member, according to the invention,ofiers a great'advantage over the usual hitherto adopted practice in which variation in the size of bays or column spacing has involved utilisation of beams or other members of increased length or the rejection of beams of shorter length.

The structural elements may be formed of flat strips bent to the form of a circle or other required geometrical figure or they may be formed of fabricated elements such as lattice beams and each element may be formed of one piece joined at its ends or may be built up from a number of parts suitably joined together. In the case for example of circular elements a number of the lattice beams may be'bent to segmental or arcuate form and suitably joined together, and where the members connecting adjacent elements are formed by straps the connection of the segments to one another and to the adjacent elements, may be effected by-a common connection, e. g. by bolting, welding, or the like.

Toform a structural plate, a skin or diaphragm I! of metal or other material may be. aflixed to the upper and'low-er sides of the structural member built as described above, and such skin or diaphragm will serve to resist any torsional deformation of the elements of the structural member as a whole. Such a constructionis particularly well adapted for use, in the production of floors and ceilings of buildings,

In completing the floor (orother structure) the interstices of the elementsmay be filled in with concrete I6 and obviously in designing the tensile strength 'of'the elements 1,15. etc. of the floor this. is takenfinto; account.

Referring -now to Figure-. 8. the area bounded nest of elements 45, 45 45 5 by the lines OX, OY is subdivided into four sections i8, i9, 20, 2| each of which contains a nest of circular elements for convenience of handling.

In this case there arefive elements 22, 22 22? in each set or group suspended from corner posts 24, 25, 26, 2-7, incase of group I8 and for group 29 the corner posts 25 and 26 are common, the remaining two being indicated at 28 and29.

Referring now to Figure 9, there is shown an arrangement similar to that of Figure 8 but having four nests of elements 30, 3|, 32, 33, the elements being arranged in the form of squares with nine elements 34, 34 34 in each of the nests. It will be obvious that other polygonal groupings may be made and conveniently, as illustrated in Figure 10, the elements may be arranged in triangular form, as indicated at 40, 40 40 The tie members may be constructed in accordance with Figures 3, 5 or 6 and it will be seen (Figure 8) that the radiating lines along which the tie members are located are preferably arranged so as to be common to one another. Thus, in Figure 8 the tie members are arranged, in the case of nest l8, on two diametral lines 4| and 42, and for group 2| at 43 and 44, 4| and 44 being in alignment and having the common centre post or pillar 26.

For structural or other reasons it may be desirable to enclose and/or reinforce areas between adjacent groups and in Figure 8 an additional is provided.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, the tie members are arranged for convenience on lines intersecting the corner angles of the polygonal groupings, but this is not essential and if desired as indicated at dotted lines at 46 in Figure 9, the location of the tie members may be at right angles to the length may intersect the elements 34, 34 34 Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, there is shown an arrangement combining elements of circular and polygonal, conveniently square, form. In the arrangement shown, the outer element 41 is circular and is suspended at four points 48 from the post 2. The next element 49 in the series, which is square, is secured to the element 48 by a tie rod 50. The next element 5! is circular and it may be suspended from the element 49 either by direct attachment to the tie member 50 and/or by other tie members indicated at 52.

What I claim is:

1, Means for supporting building structure, comprising a series of load supporting torsion elements, being constructed as an independent unit of closed geometrical form, said elements being arranged concentrically in relation to one another and having depth in an axial direction to impart the required torsional rigidity and linkage members connecting adjacent members to maintain them in spaced relationship to one another, said linkage members being constructed to operate in tension and substantially without any beam action.

2. Means for supporting building structure, comprising a series of load supporting torsion elements, each element being constructed as an independent unit of closed geometrical form, said elements being arranged concentrically in relation to one another and having depth in an axial direction to impart the required torsional rigidity,

a plurality of suspension points arranged equidis- I tant from the axis of said elements linkage members connecting the outermost element in the seriesto the suspension points and other members connecting the remaining adjacent elements in the series to maintain them in spaced relation to one another and arranged in radial alignmentwith the first named linkage members said linkage members being constructed to operate in tension and substantially; without any beam action. 1 c

3. In means for supporting building structure, the combination of, a series of load carrying torsion elements of closed geometrical form, said elements being arranged concentrically and hav- -iii'giafdep'th in their axial direction to give a predeterminedtorsional rigidity, and a plurality of linkage members interconnecting adjacent elements to maintain them in spaced relation, said linkage members being constructed to operate in tension and substantially without beam action.

4. In means for supporting building structure, the combination of a series of load carrying torsion elements of closed geometrical form, said elements being arranged concentrically and having a depth in their axial direction to give a predetermined torsional rigidity and a plurality of linkage members, disposed on selected radiating lines, interconnecting adjacent elements to maintain them in spaced relation, said linkage members being constructed to operate in tension and substantially without any beam action.

5. In means for supporting building structure, the combination of a series of load carrying torsion elements of closed geometrical form, foundation supports for the outermost element in the series, said elements being arranged concentrically and having a depth in their axial direction to give a predetermined torsional rigidity, and linkage members interconnecting the outer element to the supports and adjacent elements to each other to maintain them in spaced relation, said linkage members being constructed to operate in tension and substantially without beam action.

6. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the linkage members comprise inclined straps with inverted ends and overhang the torsion elements to which they are connected.

7. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the linkage members comprise inclined straps with inverted ends and overhang the torsion elements, said straps being connected to said torsion elements by pinning.

8. In combination with a floor, a supporting structure therefor, comprising a series of load supporting torsion components each component being constructed as an independent unit of closed geometrical form, said elements being arranged concentrically in relation to one another and having depth in an axial direction to impart the required torsional rigidity and linkage mem-- bers connecting adjacent members to maintain them in spaced relationship to one another, said linkage members being constructed to operate in tension and substantially without any beam action.

9. In combination with a surface layer of concrete, a supporting structure embedded therein, comprising a series of load supporting torsion components, each component being constructed as an independent unit of closed geometrical form, said elements being arranged concentrically in relation to one another and having depth in an axial direction to impart the required torsional rigidity and linkage members connecting adjacent members to maintain them in spaced re- -s datlonship to oneianother, saidrltnkage membezs :bein'g -1:2on'struct'ed to operate in tension and sub- FOREIGN PATENTS stantl'ally withoutanybeam action. Number n ry Date 7 424,585 Great Britain 1935 DOUGLAS 5 6,4 2 Germany 1932 OTHER REFERENCES Engineering News-Recordbpage 959,0f Decem- REFERENCES CITED ihe following refefences are of record in the 11 mm this patenti 6m PF V LSTA'IES PATENTS Number Name Date 1354,5 18 Smulski .Sept.121,-1915

Images