US3187853A - Floor construction and method of making the same - Google Patents

Description

June 1965 K. F. GLASER ETAL 3,187,853

FLOOR CONSTRUCTIGZ! AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed July 6. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 P- N r- 7 L. x N

00 g m v i i INVENTORS KURT F. GLASER WILLIAM J. CRABBS ZZZM JLW THEIR ATTORNEYS June 1965 K. F. GLASER ETAL 3,187,853

FLOOR CONSTRUCTICEI AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed July 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4 I In] I' 2 FIG. 5 H6 6 I l 2|o I I 7 I I I I ITII 1 I A I sen 58 INVENTORS KURT F. GLASER WILLIAM J. CRABBS g \1 Li aYglzam/iw THEIR ATTORNEYS June 8, 1965 K. F. GLASER ETAL 3,

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed July 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [I'll V FIG. 7

INVENTORS KU F. GLASER WILLI J. CRABBS THEIR ATTORNEYS June 1965 K. F. GLASER ETAL 3,187,353

FLOOR CONSTRUCTIGE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed July 6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 9

INVENTORS KURT F. GLASER WILLIAM J. CRABBS avg/W $24M THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,187,853 FLOOR CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING TIE SAME Kurt F. Glaser and William J. Crabbs, Chesterfield County, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 6, 196i Ser. No. 41,134 2 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to an improved floor construction and to the method of making the same or thelike. More particularly, this invention relates to a metal floor construction for vehicles and the like and having means for readily arresting movements of loads placed thereon, and to the method of making such floor constructions and arresting such movements.

The floor constructions of this invention each generally comprises a plurality of elongated extruded metal floor elements or planks arranged in side by side coplanar relation to form a floor section that is secured to suitable support means of a sub-floor structure to form a load supporting, floor construction that can more than adequately withstand the normal rugged use thereof.

Each floor element has a pair of opposed concave and convex sidewalls, one of which is provided with an outwardly directed spacing flange or abutment extending throughout the entire length thereof whereby adjacent sidewalls of adjacent floor elements are automatically spaced by the spacing flange to provide a predetermined sinuous nailing space or path between adjacent sidewalls of adjacent floor elements.

To arrest movement of a load placed on the top surfaces of the floor elements, it is merely necessary to place suitable arresting members on the floor elements and in abutting relation with the load whereby suitable fastening members, such .as nails or the like, can be driven through the arresting members and wedged into the sinuous spaces between adjacent side walls of adjacent floor elements to hold the arresting members in place. If desired, the fastening members can rupture the spacing flanges of the floor elements .to more positively hold the fastening members in place.

One of the features of this invention is to produce, by simple well-known extrusion methods, metal floor elements that are strong, durable, resistant to corrosion and can be readily and rapidly assembled into the desired pattern for forming the floor constructions of this invention.

Further, another feature of this invention is to provide suitable structural members secured to the floor elements in a manner whereby the assembled floor elements can be readily attached to a sub-floor struture or the like to form a floor construction of this invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a floor construction having each and/or every novel feature set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such floor constructions or the like. i

Further objects of this invention are to provide an improved means and an improved method for arresting movements of loads placed on such floor constructions.

ther objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken away, fragmentary plan view of one embodiment of the floor construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the floor construction illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 2-2 thereof.

Patented June 8, 1965 FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the end structure of the floor construction.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the method of securing the floor elements to the support members of the sub-floor structure.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the method of securing the ends of the floor elements to the side rails of the sub-floor structure illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 55 thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the method of nailing an arresting member to the floor construction.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view illustrating the various floor sections of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged, perspective and schematic view illustrating the method of making the floor elements of this invention.

FIGURES 10-13 are respectively schematic views illustrating the various steps in the method of making the floor construction illustrated in FIGURE 1.

While the floor constructions of this invention are hereinafter referred to as being particularly adaptable for vehicles, such as railroad rolling stock, truck beds and the like, it is to be understood that such floor constructions have a wide variety of uses and it is contemplated that the scope of the appended claims includes such other uses and the like.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the floor construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 24) and comprises a plurality of elongated metal fioor elements or planks 21 secured together at their opposed ends 22 and 23 by metal channel-like end members 24 and secured to transversely disposed metal strip-like members 25, the channel-like end members 24 and strip-like members 25 being respectively secured to end rails 26 and support members 27 of a sub-floor structure 28 in a manner hereinafter described.

The floor elements 21 and members 24 and 25 may be formed of any desired metal, combinations of metals, or combination of materials. However, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings the floor elements or planks 21 and members 24 and 25 are formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, such as 6061-T6 alumin alloy.

The sub-floor structure 28 may also be formed of any suitable material or combination thereof, and in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the side rails 26 and support members 27 are formed of steel while other parts thereof, later to be described, are formed of wood or the like.

When the floor elements 21 are formed of aluminum containing material and the support members 27 of the sub-floor are formed of steel, it is d-iflicult to effect a good weld therebetween. Therefore, the aluminum containing strip-like members 25 are welded to the floor elements 21 and then secured to the support members 27 in a manner hereinafter described. Further, the various alu- 3 together by opposed side surface means 33 and 3d, the bottom surface means 32 including three horizontally disposed foot sections 35, 36 and 37.

The foot sections 35 and 37 are respectively interconnected to the top surface means or Wall 31 of the extrusion 29 by the structural side surface means or Walls 33 and 34 While the central foot section 36 is interconnected to the top Wall 31 by a vertically disposed web-like structural Wall 38.

In order to assist in preventing transverse movement of a load placed on the floor elements 21, the top Wall 31 of the extrusion 29 is provided with a plurality of spaced, parallel and outwardly directed ribs 39 throughout the entire length thereof, the purpose of the ribs 39 being more fully explained hereinafter.

The side Wall 33 is convex While the side Wall 34 is concave, the side Walls 33 and 34 being complementary to each other for a purpose hereinafter set forth. 7

An outwardly directed spacing flange 4t) is formed on the .side wall 33 throughout the entire length thereof, the flange 46 preferably being located slightly above the top surface of the foot section 35 but may be formed anywhere along the side Wall 33.

While the spacing flange 46 is illustrated as being formed on the side wall 33 of the extrusion 29, it is to be understood that the same may be formed on the side Wall 34, if desired.

After the extrusion 29 has been formed in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10, the extrusion is cut in any suitable manner to form a plurality of floor elements 21, FIGURE 11, of desired lengths. For example, the floor elements may be approximately 7.8 inches Wide, 1.75 inches in height and 9 feet long.

When forming a large floor construction, such as the floor construction 2%? for a railroad freight car, it may be desirable to assemble the floor elements 2.1 into a plurality of floor sections 41, 4-2 and t3, FIGURE 8, whereby the floor sections il-d3 can be individually secured to the sub-floor 28 in a manner hereinafter described. However, it is to be understood that one large floor section may be formed, if desired.

The floor section M is utilized for forming part of the left terminal end of the floor construction 2%) While the floor section 43 is utilized for forming part of the right terminal end thereof. A plurality of floor sections 42 are utilized to floor the remaining central portion of the sub-floor'28, and, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, eight floor sections 45 2 and a pair of floor sections 41 and 43 are required to form the floorconstruction 29.

' Each floor section 42 is formed by arranging eight or any desired number of floor elements 21 in a side by side coplanar relationship, FIGURE 12, with the side walls 33 of each floor element 21 being disposed adjacent to the side wall 34 of an adjacent floor element 2-1 and with the spacing flange til thereof in abutting relation with the 7 adjacent side wall 34. In this manner, the spacing flanges ti) on the floor elementsll automatically predetermine the spacing between adjacent floor elements 21.

Since the adjacent side walls 33 and 3410f adiacent floor elements 211 are complementary to each other, the spacing therebetween provides a uniform sinuous path between the adjacent floor elements to receive fastening members as will be described hereinafter.

Thereafter, either the end members 24 or the strip-li members 25 are secured to the assembled fioor elements 21. For the purpose of illustration only, the end members 24 are hereinafter described as being assembled to the floor elements 21 before the members 25.

a As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the end members 24 each comprises an elongated channel-like metal device formed by extrusion methods or the like having a bight portion 44- defined by two spaced parallel flanges 45 and 46 extending from the terminal ends of a straight portion 47 thereof. The bight portions 44 of the end members 24 are so constructed and arranged that the same snugly A receive the respective ends 22 or 23 of the floor elcs ments 21.

Thereafter, the end members Mare secured to the floor elements 21 in any desired manner, such as by welding at 48 and d9.

Subsequently, a plurality of the extruded or cut striplike metal members 25 are secured to the foot sections 3537 of the bottom surf-ace means 32 of the floor elements 2]. by welding or the like, the strip-like elements be ing disposed transversely relative to the floor elements 21 and being spaced in a manner to cooperate with the support members 27 of the sub-floor 28 in a manner hereinafter described.

The floor sections 4d and 43 are formed in the same manner as the floor sections 42 except that a smaller number of floor elements 21 may be used and the floor elements 21a and 21b of the respective section 41 and 43 respectively have the side walls 33 and 34 and their associated foot sections 35 and 37 removed therefrom. For example, see FIGURE 3, wherein the floor element 21a of the floor section 41 has the side Wall .33 and foot section 35 removed therefrom to accommodate a support member 59 of the sub-floor 28. While it is not illustrated, it is to be understood that the side wall 34 and foot section 37 of the floor element 211') of the floor section 4-3 are removed to accommodate a support member similar to the support member 549 of FIGURE 3.

Also, it is to be understood that the floor elements 21a and 21b may be formed from separate extrusions other the extrusion that forms the floor elements 21 Whereby it is not necessary to remove any portions of the elements 21a and 21b.

The end members 24 secured to the floor elements 21 of the floor sections ill and 43 may have portions of the lower flanges 46 thereof cut away at the free ends of the respective floor elements 21a and 21b to prevent interference with the support members 5%. Similarly, the strip-like members 25 may have their ends cut off adjacent the central foot sections as of the floor elements Zita and 21b to avoid interference with the support members 56.

After the desired number of floor sections 4 1 i? have been fabricated in the above manner, the same are adapted to be secured to the sub-floor 28 or any other suitable structure.

Thus, the floor sections il-43 can be fabricated in one location and shipped or stored in their assembled condition until the same are needed to form a desired floor construction.

The sub-floor 2.8 as illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 comprises aplurality of spaced pairs of laterally disposed frame members 51 interconnected at their inner ends to I an inverted U-shaped longitudinally disposed central beam or support 52 at their outer ends and to longitudinally disposed side rails 53 carrying the side rails 26 previously described. i

The support members 27 are secured to the laterally disposed supports 51 and are disposed transverse thereto. The support members 27 are illustrated as being Z-shaped beams, but it is lto'be understood that the same may have any desired configuration, such as l-shaped or the like.

When it is desired to secure the floor sections il-43 to the sub-floor 28, the sections 4143 are placed in the proper positions on the sub-loor 28, FIGURE 13, with the strip-like members 25 disposed on the support members 237 and the end members -24 disposed on the side rails 26 adjacent wooden supports or frame members $4, FIG- URES 2 and 5. 7 Thereafter, the strip-like members 25 are secured to the support members 27 of the sub-floor 2% in any suitable manner, and, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the strip-lilre members 25 are bolted to the support members 27 by a plurality of bolts 55, FIGURE 4.

The channel-like end members 24 are also bolted to the side rails 2:; by a plurality of bolts 56, FIGURE 5, or secured thereto in any suitable manner.

sections 35-37, to further provide means for 1 Thus, after the floor sections 41-43 have been fabricated, it is a simple and easy operation to secure the floor sections 41-43 to the sub-floor 28 to complete the floor construction 20. Further, to replace-damaged or worn out sections 41, 42 or 43, it is merely necessary to unfasten the bolts 55 and 56 and lift out the unfastened section to permit a new floor section to be mounted in place and fastened thereto by the simple fastening means 55 and 56.

It should be noted that automatic'spacing is provided between adjacent floor elements 21 of adjacent floor sections 41-43 because of the spacing flanges 40 projecting from the left hand floor elements 21 of each section 42 and 43.

The spacing between the floor elements 21 is filled with 'a suitable mastic substance, such as plastic cement 57,

, between adjacent floor elements when being filled.

If desired, the plastic cement 57 can be-added to the floor sections 41-43 before the same have been assembled to "the sub-floor 28,- and, thereafter, the spacing between adjacent sections 41-43 can be filled with the substance 57 after the floor sections 41-43 have been assembled to Obviously, the spacing between adjacent floor elements .21 can be controlled by varyingthe side of the spacing flanges 40 whereby various sized nails or fastening members 62 may be utilized. For example, it has been found that when the spacing flange 40 is approximately 0.233 inch long, twenty-penny nails are firmly held in the space between adjacent floor elements 21 by the bending action of such sinuous space while thirty-penny nails, which are slightly larger, score the side walls 33 and 34 of adjacent floor elements 21. However, such scoring does not produce an adverse effect, and, therefore, twenty or thirty-penny nails can be adequately utilized when the spacing flanges 40 are of the above. size.

- While the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 discloses arresting blocks 61 in addition to arresting blocks 60, it is to be understood that the blocks 61 may be eliminated as the load 59 normally tends to shift longitudinally on the vehicle when 'moving to right or to the left and not laterally thereof. Further, the smaller blocks 61 may be utilized in place ofthe larger blocks 60, as desired.

Therefore, it can be seen that there has been provided an improved floor construction that is easy to manufacture and assemble, strong, durable, and readily permits nailing of load arresting members thereon. Further, by

forming the spacing flanges throughout the entire length the sub-floor 28. However, the cement 57 can be added in all of the spacings after the sections 41-43 have been assembled to the sub-floor 28.

Since the sub-floor structures of vehicles vary with different manufacturers of the same, it is to be understood that the floor sections 41-43 of this invention can be modified to accommodate such variations in sub-floor structures. For example, see FIGURE 6 wherein the end members 24a have depending flanges 58 which positively locate the end members 24a in abutting relation with the side rails 26a of the sub-floor. Also, the wooden supports 54 of FIGURE 5 have been eliminated in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 6.

Further, when the floor elements 21 and support members 27 of the sub-floor 28 are formed from materials that are readily weldable together, the strip-like members 25 may be eliminated and the floor elements 21 welded directly to the sub-floor structure. Also, when the strip-like elements 25 are utilized, the channel-like end members 24 may be used in combination therewith or be eliminated as desired.

After the floor construction 20 has been formed in the above manner, loads may be placed thereon, such as load 59, FIGURE 1, and the ribs 39 of the floor elements 21 tend to prevent movement thereof relative to the floor construction 20.

. To further arrest movement of the load relative to the floor construction 20, it is merely necessary to place suitable load arresting members on the floor construction 20 and in abutting relation with the load 59, the arresting members comprising elongated wooden blocks 60 or small blocks 61 formed of two by four wood stock or the like.

The arresting members 60 or 61 are secured to the floor construction 20 by driving suitable nails 62, FIG- URE 7, through the blocks 60 or 61 into the spacing betweens adjacent side walls 33 and 34 of adjacent floor elements 21 whereby the nails 62 are deformed into the sinuous path between the elements 21 to securely hold the nails 62 in place. Preferably, but not necesof the floor elements in a simple manufacturing operation, such flanges provide automatic predetermined spacing between the floor elements, prevent loss of space filling material, and assist in holding the fastening members in place. e

While the embodiment'and form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed in accordance with the requirements of the statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a plurality of elongated floor elements secured together in side by side coplanar relation, each floor element having top surface means and bottom surface means interconnected together by opposed side surface means, one of said side surface means having an integral outwardly directed spacing flange extending between the opposed ends thereof and having a free end extendinglaterally and engaging the other side surface means of an adjacent floor element to space adjacent side surfaces of adjacent floor elements, a load arresting member disposed on a portion of said top surface means, and a fastening member disposed in said arresting member and extending into said space between two of said floor elements, said fastening member rupturing said spacing flange on one of said two floor elements.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said space between said two floor elements defines a sinuous path for receiving said fastening member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. JQSEPH REZNEK, Examiner.

Seim 189-34-

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY FO ELONGATED FLOOR ELEMENTS SECURED TOGETHER IN SIDE BY SIDE COPLANAR RELATION, EACH FLOOR ELEMENT HAVING TOP SURFACE MEANS AND BOTTOM SURFACE MEANS INTERCONNECTED TOGETHER BY OPPOSED SIDE SURFACE MEANS, ONE OF SAID SIDE SURFACE MEANS HAVING AN INTEGRAL OUTWARDLY DIRECTED SPACING FLANGE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE OPPOSED ENDS THEREOF AND HAVING A FREE END EXTENDING LATERALLY AND ENGAGING THE OTHER SIDE SURFACE MEANS OF AN ADJACENT FLOOR ELEMENT, A LOAD ARRESTING SIDE SURFACES OF ADJACENT FLOOR ELEMENTS, A LOAD ARRESTING MEMBER DISPOSED ON A PORTION OF SAID TOP SURFACE MEANS, AND A FASTENING MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID ARRESTING MEMBER AND EXTENDING INTO SAID SPACE BETWEEN TWO OF SAID FLOOR ELEMENTS, SAID FASTENING MEMBER RUPTURING SAID SPACING FLANGE ON ONE OF SAID TWO FLOOR ELEMENTS.

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