US3298153A

US3298153A - Sectional floor frame construction

Info

Publication number: US3298153A
Application number: US347294A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert C Rolland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-03-04
Filing date: 1964-02-25
Publication date: 1967-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-17
Also published as: DE1509782A1; GB1023063A

Description

1967 R. c. ROLLAND 3398,15

SECTIONAL FLOOR FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-$heet l Jan. 17, 1967 R. c. ROLLAND SECTIONAL FLOOR FRAME CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1964 3,298,153 r Patented Ja on, 1967 United State t Q 1 3,298,153' SECTIONAL FLOOR FRAME CONSTRUCTION Robert C.- Rolland, 7Place. Stanislas, Cannes, France FiledFeb. 25,1964, Ser. No..347,2 9.4 rity, application ,G/rgegat Britain, Mar. 4, 1963,

.Ct m' r spams-isle H) I and. transport; to provide improved cruciformjoining members for interassembling the-components of the improved floor frameand simultaneously to develop prestressing forces which will considerably increase the rigidity and strength of the resulting frame structure; Otheriobjects will appear. Exemplary embodiments ofthe invention willnow be described for purposes of illustration but not of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG; l is a broken-away perspective view of an iItT- proved profiled sectional member used inthe invention; FIG. 2 is an explodedperspective'view of part of a prefabricated floor frame togetherwith one of the supporting beams over whichthe frarneds tobe fitted; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective viewof a cruciform joining device used in assemblingand prestressing the square Tmesh components or cellsof the frame shown in FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section showing one manner in which acruciform joining andprestressing member according to the invention may be used;' .FIGpS is-a perspective viewof parrot; floor frame assembled on site in 'the'area surrounding a joint thereof, and also showsin explodedview upper and lower colurnn members as well as a cruciform joinin'gand prestressing devicey t X.

'1 FIG. 6.is a perspective View, broken away and partly exploded of part of acomplete floorstructure including panelfillingmeans. i In .the exemplaryuform shown in: FIG. j l a profiled sectionalmember which constitutes a basiccomponent of an improved floor frame according to the inventionis shown as including a web 21Whichin the normal erected condition of the member in a horizontal floor frame structure is canted to the verticalplane. The Web 2 is formed with a-step shelf or. ledge 6 extending longitudinally of it at an intermediate level somewhatnearer the base than the top of the web. Longitudinally elongated slots 6a are" web and then upwardly to provide afold 5 defining a longitudin-al groove; the upper side of t the fold is extended back overthe upperuedgeof the web 2 in spaced relation with it and includes. aj bevel portion 2a followed by a flat horizontal portion 3. The fiat portion 3-of the flange is in turn. followed by anL-shaped flange extension 3a pro-r jecting fromthe rear or outer. face of theweb.

At its lower end below the. ledge 6 the web Zhas an inwardly projecting flatflange portion 4 which is extended by an inverted L-shaped forrnationa4a. .Holes 7 are formed at spaced points of web 2.

Itwillbenoted that the flat flange portions 3 and 4 which define the uppermostand lowermost planes of sectionalmember 1 formanglesgreater than90 with the plane of the canted Web 2, so asto lie in parallel planes which are horizontal in the normal, erected condition of the memberL FIG.2 illustratesa floor framework constructed from lengths of sectional members similar to the memberjust described. The framework comprises a regular lattice work pattern ofelementary cells or mesh elements ofrec tangular;preferably square, form. Each such cell such as'ABCD ismade up from four lengths ofsectional mem bers eaclisimilar tothe member 1 describedabove, cork nected at their endsiat welded mitre joints; It will be seen that each square cellthus providedhas a sectional areaas seen in plan whichta pers downfrom the top to the bottomof the cell owingto the canted positionof the webs Z'forming its sides. In otherwords eachsquare cell is generally in the form ofan inverted frustopyra mid. This provides for a convenient stacking of the cells in interfitted "relation to facilitate storage and transportation,as well as other important functionsthatwill laterappear. The square cellsthus construct-ed arefiinterconnected through means laterdescribed to provide a complete floor framework suchras that "partlyshownih FIG. 2. When thus interconnected it Willbe seen that the resulting floor frame can be considered as including border or edging joists such as1q, 1b,each similar in shape to a single one ofthe sectional membersl shownin FIG. 1, and intermediate joists such as 10, 1d, 1e, the intermediate joists thusprovided each defineinvertedVs in cross section,

The resulting: frame is thus adapted to be fitted over a corresponding square framework of beams, the beams having upwardly tapering cross sections generally corhplementary to theV-shaped recesses defined by the joists such as-lb, 1c, 1d, whereupon the floor frame may be firmly supported in position. FIG. 2illustrates one suchsupporting beam at 9,underlying the border joist 1a of the floor -frame. The supporting beam 9 is shown as being of generally trapezoidal boxshaped configuration with side ledges 10 adapted, e.g., to underlie the ledges 6 of th sectional members comprising the border joist 1a.

:The square cells of the floor frame of FIG. 2 are preferably interconnected at the joints between *the'cells by means of joining devices such as the one shown in FIG. 3.

cruciform member 12having each of its four equal branches formed with side depressions in its upper surface and. bordered with upstanding lugs or flanges 12a which do :not quite extend to the junction between adjacent branches. :-Referring to FIG. 4it will be understood that 6a formed in theledges 6 of'therespective sectional memsurfaces of the four joists meeting at a node or joint of the lattice frame shown in FIG: 2 with the flanges 12a of the cruciform member projecting upwardly through slots hers I constitutingsaidjoists. t

"In the joining arrangement showni n-FIG. 4, the joining member 12is retainedinposition by means of a bolt 13 membersto be joined, and a nut 14 which can be screwed sionthereto s s 1 s s j Returning to FIG. 3, the joining arrangement there on to the lower end of the bolt to apply substantial tenshown furtherin cludes an upper cruciform retainer member 11 having each of its four branchces formed with downwardlyprojecting flanges 11a canted at an angle cor:

responding to that, of the webs 2. Theseflanges can be inserted intotheinner grooves defined by the folds 5 of the related joist "members meetingat the jointunder consideration.

Both

cruciform members

11 and 12 are formed with central holes, the hole in the upper member 11 preferably being square as shown. A bolt 13 is insertable through the holes in both cruciform members and preferably has a square locking section just below its head as shown, engageable in the square hole in upper member 11 so as to prevent relative rotation between the bolt and the member. A nut 14 is engageable over the lower end of th bolt 13.

The resulting cruciform joining assembly as shown in FIG. 3 or 4 not only provides a simple and convenient means of quickly interconnecting the square cells into a lattice-like floor frame of the type shown in FIG. 2, but serves at the same time to prestress said frame at each node or joint thereof by simply applying a suitable screwing torque to the nut 14. Such a prestressing of the framework at each node thereof. greatly strengthens and rigidifies the resulting frame and thus makes it possible substantially to reduce the gauge thickness of the component sectional members 1 with respect to what would be necessary in the absence of such prestressing means.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, there is illustrated a node of a floor frame which may-be generally similar to the one shown in FIG. 2. It is here assumed however that a vertical column is to be assembled to the node of the frame under consideration and is to extend upward and downward therefrom. The column is shown as being composed of aligned upper and

lower sections

18 and 20 which are generallytubular, and the upper section 18 is provided at its lower end with a centrally perforate, flanged baseplate 18a. The lower column section 20 similarly has an upper end wall formed with a threaded hole 20a. The joining device used in this case includes a lower cruciform member 12 similar to the member 12 shown in FIG. 3 and similarly disposed. The upper cruciform member 11 of FIG. 3, however, is replaced with a cruciform member 15 of modified shape. Each branch of the member 15 is provided with side flanges of relatively long vertical extent canted at an angle corresponding to that of the webs 2 in the joist members to be joined and adapted to engage between such webs of the mutually opposed members 1 constituting said joists. Lugs 15a project from the upper surfaces of the branches. Further, the cruciform member 15 is here provided at the central junction of its branches with an integral upwardly tapered frustoconical bush 16.

, In this arrangement there is further provided an uppermost cruciform clamping member 17, the four branches of which have transverse notches 17a formed in their under surfaces. The clamping member 17 is adapted to overlie the joists of the node, and the lugs 15a projecting from the member 15 are adapted to pass through notches (not shown) provided in the flange portion 3 of the joists adjacent a joint of the type being described, and to engage upwardly into the notches 17a of the clamping member 17. A screw rod 19a provided with a frustoconical wedging block 19 secured thereon is adapted at its lower end to pass through the central hole in lower cruciform member 12 and to engagethe threaded hole 20a provided 'in the upper end of the lower column member 20.

With the wedging block 19 engaged in the complementaryfrustoconical bushing 16, the upper end of screw rod 19a extends up through a central hole in the upper cruciform clamping member 17 and is screwable into the threaded hole provided in the baseplate 18a of the upper column member 18.

If desired, there may here be additionally used a socketted shoe member 171) formed with a suitable contour at its under surface so as to be clampable between the upper surface of one arm of the upper clamping member 17 and the lower surface offiange plate 18a. 'The shoe member 17b has a canted leg projecting upward from it and socketted as at 170 for connection to the lower end of an angular brace member, not shown, which may be used for interconnecting under tension the frame node shown in FIG. 5 with another node, forming part of a different floor level and horizontally displaced from the first. More than one shoe member such as 17b may of course be provided where necessary.

FIG. 6 illustrates how a complete floor including panel filling can be constructed from a framework such as the one described with reference to the previous figures' FIG. 6 shows parts of two

intermediate joist members

1c, 12 interconnected at a node or joint of the frame. Underneath the joists is positioned a ceiling slab 21 of expanded concrete or the like provided along each edge with a metallic supporting strip 22 having hooking lugs 23 attached to it for engagement with the bottom flanges 4 of the members 1 so as to support the slab 21 in position. Resting on the upper surfaces of the ledges 6 of the members 1 is a slab 24 of expended concrete provided on its under surface with a coating of suitable sound'and heatisolating material 24a. The upper sla'b 24 is held in position by means of metal strips 25 inserted through the slots 7 in the webs 2 of the joist members and permanently locked in position by means of pins 25a. Overlying the slab 24 is a slab 26 the edges of which are provided with a chamfer surface adapted to bear against the upper bevel portion 2a of a related joist member by wayof an interposed sealing strip 27. The corner of the slab 26 may be cut away as at 26a so as to provide a recess facilitating handling operations. Overlying the slab 26 is a sound-and heat proofing plate '28 capped in turn with a topmost facing panel 29 provided at its side edge surfaces with lugs and slots for interengagement with corresponding slots and lugs of similar adjacent panels.

The floor described above with especial reference to FIG. 2 is intended to be preferably prefabricated in a workshop. For this purpose thesectional members constituting the edging joists and intermediate joists are first cut to their predetermined equal lengths with their ends cut at an angle to provide the requisite mitre joints. The cut sections are then secured in a suitable jig to maintain them in position with their mitre-cut end surfaces in engagement and are welded to one another to provide the framework. A large number of such frameworks can in this way be quickly and economically assembled in sequence on a single jig.

In accordance with one desirable embodiment of the invention, the cut sections are secured in groups of four in a square jig-which holds them in the proper relationship to provide the square cell or mesh elements of the framework, and the four members in each group are welded to. one another at their ends. There may thus be provided a plurality of identical square cell elements, of the frustopyramidal form earlier described, which can be interfitted into stacks for convenient storage and trans port to the building site. At the site the square cell elements may then be interassembled into the framework by means of joining devices similar to the one shown in FIG. 3.

Thus the flanges 12a of the lower cruciform member owing to the engagement of the square section under the head of the bolt in the square hole of member 11, and the nut 14 is screwed on to the lower end of the bolt. As earlier'explained tightening the nut on the bolt subjects the' fr'ame components to tension forces locally at the nodes or joints .ofthe frame, thereby stiffening the frame.

Frame'wofks of the type described above can be constructed in the shop to large over-all sizes, e.g., 5 meters to a side, and then transported to the'building yard.

Transport is facilitated since a number of such frameworks can be stacked by interfitting the frustopyramidal cells so as to take up minimum space ou a lorry or other vehicle. The unitary weightof each frameis relatively small since the section elements can be made "from thin metal sheetfdue to the great irigidity imparted to the erected framework by the prestressing or tensioning feature just described. r it Thecrecting operations also 'aresimple andpractical to performi The framework in its upright position shown in FIG, 2 is positioned so that the lowerflanges 4 of the border joist suchas 1a are supported on the ledges of borderjbearns such as 9of thebuilding framework If desiredfinterniediate joist such as 1d, le, mayalso be sirnilarly snpported on intermediateibearns of the building, not shown, which thenwou ld alsohavea suitable crosssection complementary to that of the inverted-V recessesdefined between the adjacent section members of said intermediate joists. Flexible sealingstrips are preferably interposed betweenthe rnatingfiange surfaces tefirnprove the seal, theloaddistribution and isolation. Flexible sealing strips may also beinterposed between the ni atlng fianges 3a of the adjacent sectional members 1 constituting adjacent sides of the square cells; such strips may have longitudinal "groovesfittable about the longittidinal marginal edges of thefianges3a. r r

With the floor "framework thus erected the flooring is completed by placingthe various filling' elements as illus tratedin FIG. 6 described above. Thus the sounde -and heatproofing slabs24 are inserted so as to rest upon the upper surfaces of flan-ges 3.. The retainer. strips areinserted through the siots 7 and a relocked to the joist structnre each b y meansjof the pins 25:; positioned inside and outside thejoist. Itwill be noted that the slots7are positioned substantially at the corners of each s quare cell. This distribution of the retainer slots and strips prevents disen gagements of a slab 24. from the cavityin whic hfit is received even if theslab is inclined along a diagonal of the square cell. In fact when the slab 24 is i n position the pins 254 prevent removal of the strip 25 from above or below the floor st ructure,so that unauthorized access between adjacent floors of a building is prevented. Thetop slabs 26.maythenbe placed in position followed by the facing panels or

tiles

28 and 29. It will be noted that the slabs 26 are not in engagement with the strips 25 but, owing to the't-aper of the laterally projecting flanges of the slabs, engage. the correspondingly tapered upper portions of thejoist members. Thus the over-all rigidity and strength of the complete floor structure including both themetallic structural frame and the filling and coveringmeans associated with it are considerably. increased, Ifrequi red, the ceiling slabs 21 are placed with their lugs 23 engagingthe lower side flanges 4 of thejoists. r r r ,The sound-and heat isolating characteristics of the resulting fiooring are very high. The grooves defined by the matingflange portions 3a in the tops of the profiled joist rnembers 1, and which run continuously the length of the frame as will be seen from FIG. 2, provideacon venient means ofl-aying conduits for the fiowofwater, gas andelectricycurrent. The entire floor structure can be dismantled if required and its elements reused elsewhere. As an alternative to the method of. construction and erectionde'scribed withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the method shown in FIG/5 and describedfabove can be used, this method being especially designed for direct con struction on the building site starting with individual lengths of profiled sectional members 1 not previously assembled with one another. In this case the cut lengths of sectional members 1 may be positioned in symmetrical pairs with the free longitudinal edges of their respective upper flanges Sain mating engagement and the mating edge surfaces maythen be welded together if necessary. There are thus provided the inverted-V shaped intermedi ate joistrnembers of the frame. Alternatively, aslater described, such intermediate joist members may be direetly provided in the form of inverted-V section members each corresponding inshape toa pair of members such as 1 (FIG. 1) integrally connected along the margins of theirflanges 3 a. I Q Four inverted- V joist memberswhich are to meet at the node of the frame under consideration are positioned in the cross-like relationship shown inFIG. Sand their inner ends are fitted around the respective four arms of the upper crticiformmen1ber 15, earlier described, so that the" lugs 15a projectthrough slotsj.(notlshown) in the upper flanges3and int othenotches 17a ofthe over} lying clamping cruciform member-J17. The inner ends of the four joist memlberswill thus be clamped firrnly between the cruciform members 15. and l7 when the Wedge block .19 has been inserted into sleeve and thie screw rod 19a screwed into the threaded endholes in the respective columnmembersl il, 20; It will beunderstood that]the joining meansjust described and shown inFlG. 5 are nse d at an inner node of the lattice framework iJe. at the interconnection between four intermediate joists. Atfthe interconnection of an intermediate joistwith a border j oistat aside of the frame, similar joining rneans would be'used exc'ent that one of the four armsof each of thecruciforni rne nbers such as 12, 15 and 17 woilld be'frnis's'ing; in other Words the corresponding members w ould then be T; shaped ratherthan cruciform. Similarly the co rner".join ingde'vic es for assembling two border joistsiwould again be generally similar e ceptthatfthsywbuld n ktwe adjacent arms, and would'hence .be L-shaped. Sirnila r statements apply to the jeining device illustrated in The joining arrangement shown in :FIG. 5 will serve to apply local tension stressto the nodes'of the framework in a manner similar to what was described with reference to the joining device of FI GQB 'In'addition however, it will noticedthat the joining arrangernent of FIG.5 can serve to interconnect under tension and hence in rigid prestressed relationship not only the inter} secting joist members "of the floor" frame but also tl ie vertical columns 1820 and, where ne cessary, ;dia gonal cross bracingmembcrs or ties such as earlier described as being connected to the node by wayof shoe members such as 1712. n will bee/idem that such a anneale node will provide for an extremely eflicient distribution and transfer of the loadf orces of the strnctural frame in all directions"extendingtofand from such a node; and thereby increase the strength of the strticturaljframeas The arrangement shown in FIG, Sfurt he r differs from that described with referencetoFIGS Zjand in th t the floo rframe is shewnin FIG. 5 as being supported columns whereas the floor frame in F IGQZ is "primarily designed'tobe supported on beamssuch as 9 over which the inverted-V section joists may be .fitted as earliendescribed. It, shouldfbe understood however that the at-I rangements snewnji IGS. 2-3 on the onejhand and'in FIG. 5 on the other, possess features which ar largely interchangeable according to re quirementsh, Thus jafjoin ing device sirnilarto the one shown inrro. sfandincluding acentral frustoconical bush such as 16 may be used in conjunction with the floor frarne, structnre of FIG. 2 insituationsnwhere columnsmay be desirable 1 Conversely, referring to 't hestructureshown in FIG, 5:,- at points where no enum at to: be provided, the joining device niay be. modified to resemble the joining device of FIG. 4 with the sleeve 16 omitted and a simple bolt and nut arrangement substituted for the screw-rod and wedging bloc]; arrangement 19 190., It will also be understoodthat the panel filling means shown in FIG. 6 is applicable indiscriminately t .either the floor structure shownin FIGS. 2-3 or to that shown.

;The erection.of the floor frame structures especially as des cribed with reference to FIG QS need not involve welding operations on site, The structural members can thus readily be provided with suitable corrosion protesting coatings in the manufacturing plant. Moreover, the structures can be dismantled in whole or in part and reused elsewhere, or they may be retained in place and reassembled according to some different pattern. Thus edging joists of the structure may at any time be removed together with the'relatedincomplete (T- or L- shaped) joining devices. 'These latter can then be replaced with complete four-armed cruciform joining devices and additional joist can thereupon be mounted in order to extend the flooring in the requisite direction.

It will be noted that in the complete floor structure shown in FIG. 6 the various slabs and panels are not stacked on top of one another but are supported in spaced superimposed relationship through the means described, thereby improving the strength of the assembly. The spaces defined between the superimposed elements can be used to house conduits and the like which may be passed from one space to another by way of the openings such as 7 in the webs ofthe members.

It will be clear that various changes may be introduced into the structures shown and described without exceeding the scope of the invention.

One modification that is expressly contemplated and was briefly mentioned above, is to provide the intermediate joist members, e.g., in the floor structure shown in FIG.. 5, in the form of a complete, inverted-V section member similar in shape to .a pair of symmetrically ar= ranged sectional members such as 1 (FIG. .1) disposed symmetrically and with their upper flanges 3a integrally connected. Such an arrangement is especially desirable because it eliminates on-site welding operations and is economical also for the following reasons.

A sectional member such. as 1 (FIG. 1) can be conyeniently manufactured by means of a shaping bench using appropriate contoured rollers to form the flanges and other features of the contour of the member 1. In the interests of a better balancing of the high pressure forces developed on such a shaping bench it is desirable to provide two symmetrical sets of such rollers and to shape simultaneously two similar and symmetrical sectional members such as 1 from a common metal strip having twice the requisite width corresponding to one such member.

.Thus such a method of manufacture will per se provide the dual or inverted-V section members referred to above and illustrated in FIG. 5. On completion of the shaping process, a majority of the resulting members may then be retained unchanged to provide intermediate joist members, while some of said members may be cut in half alongtheir mating flange portions in order to provide the'single sectional members similar to 1 (FIG. 1), required for the edging joists of the floor frame.

The precise contour of the sectional member as here disclosed may be altered in various ways without exceeding the scope of the invention. Thus, the folded-over portion 5 may be omitted and the upper flange 3 directly connected to the upper edge of web 2. Conversely, an additional fold similar to fold 5 but in inverted relation to it may be provided as .a substitute for the shelf 6 at the lower part of the member.

Floorstructures constructed according to the invention may have many uses, especially as floors for large buildings,warehouses and workshops since they are capable of supporting very high loads, such as industrial trucks and other handling and hoisting equipment.

What I claim is:

1. A sectional member for use in floor structure comprising two oppositely canted webs diverging in a downward direction, upper flange portions extending towards each other from the tops of said webs and integrally interconnected at the marginal edges, lower flange portions extending away from each other from the bottom of said webs, said upper and lower flange portions including integral extensions respectively in the form of an upright and an inverted L, and means intermediate the vertical extent of each said web for longitudinally supporting a related edge of a filling panel.

2. A sectional member as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a ledge formation extending longitudinally of each said web.

3. A floor structure comprising an array of juxtaposed rectangular, e.g., square, cells wherein the sides of said cells are provided by sectional members having a cross sectional contour shaped to impart to the inner spaces defined by each cell a cross section in the general form of an inverted frusto-pyramid adapted to support filling panel means therein, and means joining the adjacent cells into a rigid lattice frame structure, said joining means comprising joining members disposed at each joint between at least two cell sides, each member having orthogonal radial arms equal in number to the number of cell sides meeting at said joint, means on said arms engageable with the sec tional members constituting said meeting cell sides, and screw threaded means engageable with said joining member and tensionable to apply the joining member under pressure against said section members so as to subject the sectional members meeting at said joint to a vertical com pression stress between the top and bottom thereof, said sectional members having canted web portions formed with longitudinal ledges intermediate their vertical extent, and said joining members being engaged with the under surfaces of said ledges of the sectional members meeting at said joint and having upwardly directed projections engaged with said perforations in the ledges.

4. A floor structure comprising an array of juxtaposed rectangular, e.g., square, cells wherein the sides of said cells are provided by sectional members having a cross sectional contour shaped to impart to the inner spaces defined by each cell a cross section in the general form of an inverted frusto-pyrarnid adapted to support filling panel means therein, and means joining the adjacent cells into a rigid lattice frame structure, said joining means comprisv ing joining members disposed at each joint between at least two cell sides, each member having'orthogonal radial arms equal in number to the number of cell sides meeting at said joint, means on said arms engageable with the sectional members constituting said meeting cell sides, and screw threaded means engageable with said joining member and tensionable to apply the joining member under pressure against said section members so as to subject the sectional members meeting at said joint to a vertical compression stress between the top and bottom thereof, each joining means'including a lower joining member and an upper joining member respectively engageable with lower and upper surfaces of said sectional members and said screw threaded means comprising a screw rod engageablewith-both joining members and tensionable to draw them vertically toward each other, said sectional members having canted web portions formed with longitudinal ledges intermediate their vertical extent and inwardly directed upper flange portions defining grooves extending longitudinally of said web portions above said ledges therein, and said lower joining members being engaged with the under surfaces of said ledges of the sectional members meeting at said joint and said upper joining members having their arms seatable in said grooves.

5. A floor structure comprising an array of juxtaposed rectangular, e.g., square, cells wherein the sides of said cells are provided by sectional members having a cross sectional contour shaped to impart to the inner spaces defined by each cell a cross section in the general form of an inverted frusto-pyramid adapted to support filling panel means therein, and means joining the adjacent cells into a rigid lattice frame structure, said joining means comprising joining members disposed at each joint between at least two cell sides, each member having orthogonal radial arms equal in number to the number of cell sides meeting at said joint, means on said arms engageable with the sectional members constituting said meeting cell sides, and screw threaded means engageable with said joining member and tensionable to apply the joining member under pressure against said section members so as to subject the sectional members meeting at said joint to a vertical compression stress between the top and bottom thereof, said joining means being provided with means connecting vertically aligned upper and lower column sections with said sectional members at said joint and said threaded means being engageable with said upper and lower column sections to tension them into load-transmitting relationship with each other and with said sectional members meeting at said joint.

6. A floor structure comprising an array of juxtaposed rectangular, e.g., square, cells wherein the sides of said cells are provided by sectional members having a cross sectional contour shaped to impart to the inner spaces defined by each cell a cross section in the general form of an inverted frusto-pyramid adapted to support filling panel means therein, and means joining the adjacent cells into a rigid lattice frame structure, said joining means comprising joining members disposed at each joint between at least two cell sides, each member having orthogonal radial arms equal in number to the number of cell sides meeting at said joint, means on said arms engageable with the sectional members constituting said meeting cell sides, and screw threaded means engageable with said joining member and tensionable to apply the joining member under pressure against said section members so as to subject the sectional members meeting at said joint to a vertical compression stress between the top and bottom thereof, said sectional members having canted Web portions formed with longitudinal ledges intermediate their vertical extent, and said joining members being engaged with the under surfaces of said ledges of the sectional members meeting at said joint and having upwardly directed projections engaged with said perforations in the ledges, each joining means including a lower joining member and an upper joining members respectively engageable with lower and upper surfaces of said sectional members and said screw threaded means comprising a screw r-od engageable with both joining members and tensionable to draw them vertically toward each other, said joining means being provided with means connecting vertically aligned upper and lower column sections with said sectional members at said joint and said upper joining member having an upwardly tapered frusto-conical bush disposed centrally thereof and said screw rod having a complementary frusto-conical wedging block secured thereto and seatable in said bush, and said column sections having threaded holes at their adjacent ends engageable by the opposite ends of said screw rod.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 661,336 11/1900 Dyarman 9226 X 1,818,014 8/1931 Snaman 94-3 2,776,735 1/1957 Bancroft 189-36 3,185,833 5/1965 Blitzer 240-9 3,203,150 8/ 1965 Serneblad 52-664 3,219,810 11/1965 Hickman 2409 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 262,768 2/ 1929 Italy.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A SECTIONAL MEMBER FOR USE IN FLOOR STRUCTURE COMPRISING TWO OPPOSITELY CANTED WEBS DIVERGING IN A DOWNWARD DIRECTION, UPPER FLANGE PORTIONS EXTENDING TOWARDS EACH OTHER FROM THE TOPS OF SAID WEBS AND INTEGRALLY INTERCONNECTED AT THE MARGINAL EDGES, LOWER FLANGES PORTIONS EXTENDING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID WEBS, SAID UPPER AND LOWER FLANGE PORTIONS INCLUDING INTEGRAL EXTENSIONS RESPECTIVELY IN THE FORM OF AN UPRIGHT AND AN INVERTED L, AND MEANS INTERMEDIATE THE VERTICAL EXTENT OF EACH SAID WEB FOR LONGITUDINALLY SUPPORTING A RELATED EDGE OF A FILLING PANEL.