US2912076A - Inner insulating and finish wall for fabricated structures - Google Patents

Description

G. COSTIS Nov. 10,- 1959 2,912,076 INNER INSULATING AND FINISH WALL FOR FABRICATED STRUCTURES Filed July 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

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United States Patent() INNER INSULATING AND FINISH WALL FOR FABRICATED STRUCTURES George Costis, Schenectady, N.Y., assignor of fifty percent to James W. Fitzsimmons, East Rockaway, N.Y., James P. Houlihan, Schenectady, N.Y., and Robert C. Sullivan, Washington, D.C.

Application July 14, 1953, `Serial No. 367,898

2 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to fabricated structures and more particularly to a new and improved arrangement for insulating and finishing the interior of the same.

While this invention relates to any building having an I-beam type supporting structure, the followingdescription is directed particularly to the well known Quonset Hut type building. It is to be understood, however, that such an example is not intended as a limitation on the scope of this invention; but rather has it been selected merely as an example to point out more clearly the operating principles and features of the invention.

In alconventional Quonset Hut construction, a plurality of semicircular or arcuate I-beams (I-shaped cross section) are placed alongside one another in a predetermined spaced parallel relationship. The I-beams form the skeleton or supporting structure for the Quonset Hut .and metal plates are then welded, riveted or otherwise secured to the I-beams to form a scale-like weatherproof structure.

In still other typical j .Quonset Hut constructions, prefabricated panels are formed so that their longitudinal axis takes the form of a predetermined are, while the cross section of the panel resembles to some extent the letter C. That is to say, at either end of a four-foot wide panel, a rst lip is formed perpendicular to the plane of the panel and a second lip is bent to underlie the panel in parallel spaced relation.

When a pair of panels is then juxtapositioned, the proximate lips of adjacent panels form a supporting beam which, in cross section and at the edge removed from the panel, resembles the I-shaped beam.

In either construction, however, it is important to note that the inner surface ofthe Quonset Hut has a plurality of equally spaced-apart I-shaped supporting members.

With such a structure, it has always been a problem to attach an inner insulating and finish wall. That is, in the past, complicated arrangements have been provided wherein skilled labor is necessary to bolt or otherwise fasten batten strips to the inner face of the l-beams, so that insulating panels can be attached to the hatten strips. Obviously, this is an expensive installation.

It is an object of my invention, however, to provide a new and improved arrangement for securing an inner insulating and finishing wall to the inner surface of a Quonset Hut.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a new and improved inner insulating and finish wall for a Quonset Hut that can be installed without the beneii-t of skilled labor.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a new and improved lining for a Quonset Hut that can be installed without the help of any tools.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particu- ICC larityvin the claims annexed to and forming part of the specification.

Briey, this invention relates to an inner wall for a Quonset Hut which is made up of a plurality of prefabricated and interiitting parts which interlock withthe I-beams and with each other to form a substantial, attractive and easily assembled inner insulating and finishing wall.

In the drawings, Y

Fig. l is a perspective view of the I-beam skeleton for one type of Quonset Hut structure;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of theiinished Quonset Hut inner wall;

Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, taken along plane 3--3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a top. view, partly in section, taken along plane 4--4 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a top view, partly in section, taken along Vplane 5 5 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig` 6 is a perspective view including a cross section of a base member;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view including a cross section of a median member; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view including a cross section of an upright member.

Referring now to the drawings, a Quonset Hut skeleton 1 is shown comprising a plurality of semjcircular I-beams 2 arranged in parallel spaced-apart alignment. The I-beams (see Fig. 4) have inner lips 3, 4 with the distance between the lips 3 and 4 of adjacent I-beams being a predetermined fixed spaced-apartrdistance. f

An inner wall 5 is then attached to the I-beams by assembling a plurality of intertting base members 6, median members 7, upright members 8 and panels 9 in a manner that hereinafter will be described.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a pair of I-beams 2 is shown positioned in spaced-apart parallel relationship Vwith a lip 3 and a lip 4 of each.I-beam facing one another.

It is believed that a short statement at this time concerning a complete installation will place the relative importance of the inner wall members in proper perspective and, accordingly, simplify the understanding of the structure and function of each member.

In assembling the inner wall, and with particular reference to the space between a pair of adjacent I-beams, a base member 6 is first secured to adjacent I-beams; a lower edge 10 of panel '9 is then fitted into the base member 6; a median member 7 is then fitted over the upper edge 11 of panel 9 and also secured to the adja. cent I-beams; then another panel 9; then another median member 7, etc., until the complete inner space between the adjacent I-beams has been filled. Then, where the opposite ends of the I-beams reach the floor, a vsecond base member is secured to a panel and to the adjacent I-bearns.

It will be understood that this operation` will then be duplicated between the next adjacent pair of I-beams until the entire inner wall has been covered. s

With particular reference now to one of the base Lmembers 6 as shown in Fig. 6, it is to be understood that while the member could be made with a solid crosssection, for example of wood or plastic, in a preferred embodiment it is made of folded sheet metal,` such as aluminum or steel. Specifically, a sheetmetal strip is folded to provide an outer face 12, a bottom13, an inner face 14, a supporting groove 15, and a strengthening, joining `band 16, wherein the adjacent ends of the'strip are rolled together to make a rigid rib-like brace.

At each end of the base member 6, a notch 17 is cut in the bottom 15a of the support groove 15, and a corresponding notch 18 is cut in the bottom 13. The notches have a width and depth which is determined by 3 the size of the lips 3, 4 of the I-beams 2. That is, with the construction shown in Fig. 6, the walls of notches 17 and 18 are shown encompassing the lip 4 (shown in phantom) of I-beam- 2. Since the structure is identical at each end of the base member, it can be appreciated that by tilting base member 6 away from theV horizontal, notches 17, 18 at one end can be hooked onto a lip 4 of one .I-beam 2, while similar notches at the opposite end of the base member 6 can be hooked onto the lip 3 of the adjacent I-beam 2. Then, by settling base member 6 to the horizontal, it will be rigidly secured between a pair of adjacent I-beams. It is obvious that on the outer side of the notch, the sheet metal strip (Le. portions of outer face I2 and joining band 16) must be cut away to compensate for the thickness ofweb 19 of I- beam 2. So too is the notch cut slightly deeper than the corresponding dimensions of the I-beam lips to provide some clearance and facilitate assembly.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawing, a pair of base members 6a and 6b are shown attached to anV I-beam 2. The base members are contoured to meet at the center of webA 19 of I-beam 2. Accordingly, it will be understood that the overall length of the base members is determined by the center distance between adjacent I-beams. In a typical case, this overall length is four feet.

The dimensions of panel groove 15 naturally are determined by the type of panel 9 that is to be used. There are many panelsr now commercially produced which are ideal for inside walls of Quonset Huts. The panels combine both insulating qualities and a finish appearance. Typical panels are oblong in shape and are one-half inch thick, four feet long and have some suitable width, e.g. three or four feet. With such a panel, groove 15 would have a width equal to one-half inch plus the thickness of lips 3, 4 of I-beam 2 and plus the thickness of upright member 8.

With this structure, the lower edge 10 of a panel 9 is inserted into groove 15, while the panel ends 20, 21 (Fig. 4) overlie the lips 3, 4, respectively, of the I-beams andmeet approximately at the center line of web 19.

A median member 7 is then set on top of panel 9 to engage its upper edge 11 (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) and to hold it in contact with I-beam 2.

The median members 7, like base members 6', could be made of a solid material, but in a preferred embodiment, they are made of sheet metal, for example, aluminum or steel. Each median member (Fig. 7) comprises an inner moulding element 22, a lower panel groove 23, upper panel groove 24, outer element 25, and strengthening rib 26 joining the adjacent ends of the sheet metal strip. The ribs 26 and 16 may be either crimped or spot welded to add the desired rigidity to median member 7 and base member 6, respectively.

The inner moulding element 2 is shaped in accordance with good design, but preferably it has a width that would permit formations of panel grooves 23, 24 of at least one-half inch depth. The grooves 23, 24, incidentally, have a width equal to that of base member groove 15 so that a panel plus a lip 3, 4 of I-beam 2 and the thickness of upright member 8 can be accommodated.

A slot 27, similar to slots 17, 18, is formed at each end of median member 7 in the wall 28 separating the grooves 23, 24. The purpose of slot 27 is to encompass and grip complementary lips 3, 4 of adjacent I- beams 2.

The inner moulding member 22 has a length equal to that of the inner face 14 of base members 6, the length of which, to reiterate, is determined by the center distances of the I-bearns 2.

A median member 7 is installed similarly to base member 6. That is, it is first tilted from the horizontal, and slot 27 is locked onto a lip 4 of one I-beam 2. The opposite slot is then locked onto lip 3 of an adjacent I- beam, whereupon the median member is settled to the horizontal so that lower panel groove 23 engages upper edge 11 of panel 9. With panel 9 thus supported between grooves 15 and 23 of thev base members 6 and median member 7, a rigid substantial structure is presented which will hold the panel in an inner wall-forming position.

It has been mentionedth'at tlie next step is to install another panel, and thenv another median member, etc. until the entire inner wall h'as been covered. It is obvious that with the construction of the panels and median members as described', it becomes a simple matter to line the Quonset Hut by intertting and interlocking the panels, base and median members with the lips 3', 4 of the I-beams. It is also apparent that the interfitting is a simple matter and that it is completely unnecessary to use any kind of skilled labor or tools for such an installation.

In Fig. Y8, an upright member 8 is shown. The sole function of member 8 is to hide the joint between the contiguous ends 20, 21 of adjacent panels. Upright member 8 is not structurally necessary, but it does add to the aesthetic appearance of the inner wall, and for that reason, is useful. The upright members 8 are plain strips of spring-like sheet metal having a length effectively equal to the width of panel 9. The ends 29, 30 of each strip are inserted between a paneland a contiguous wall of a groove holding the panel. Then, by pushing on the midpoint of the strip, the two ends 29, 30 are slid into place and the strip 8, because of its resilient properties, will lie closely adjacent the panels 9.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a fabricated structure having parallel spacedapart support elements with each support element having an inner lip extending toward a facing lip on the next adjacent support element, a wall sheathing the inner surface of the structure defined by said support elements comprising a plurality of base members, panel members and median members, said base members having slots in each end thereof engaged respectively with adjacent facing lips of said support elements to hold said base members against said lips, each of said base members further having a groove in one edge thereof engaging a corresponding edge of one ofsaid panel members along the entire length thereof, said median members having slots in the ends thereof engaged respectively with adjacent acing lips of said support elements to hold said median members against said lips, said median members further having grooves along the entire lengths of their upper and lower edges engaged respectively with corresponding edges of one of said panel members along the entire lengths thereof, and said panel members having a thickness commensurate with the grooves in said base and median members whereby said base members and said median members respectively are engaged simultaneously with said panel members and said support elements.

2. In a fabricated structure having parallel spacedapart support elements with each support element having an inner lip extending toward a facing lip' on the next adjacent support element, a wall sheathing the inner surface of the structure defined by said support elements comprising a plurality of median members and panel members of uniform length equal to the center spacing of said support elements, said median members having slots in the ends thereof engaged respectively with adjacent facing lips of said support elements to hold said median members against said lips, saidl median members furih?? having' grooves along the entireleng'ths of their if safe 5 upper and lower edges engaged respectively with corresponding edges of oneof said panel members along the entire lengths thereof, and said panel membershaving a thickness commensurate with the grooves in said median members whereby said members can interlock with one another in alternate sequence and whereby said median members are simultaneously engaged with the lips of said support elements to hold said wall against the inner surfaces off said support elements.

References Cited in the le ofl this patent Doud Apr. 2l, 1936v Cowin Nov. 2l, 1944

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