US385624A - Cowlposite beam - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

H. C. HODGES.

COMPOSITE BEAM. No. 385,624. Patented July 3, 1888.

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HENRY C. HODGES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMPCSV'E BEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,624, dated July 3, 18538.

Application tiled February Sl, 1F85. Sei ial No. 268,440. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, HENRY C. Hononsa cit i- Zen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Composite Beams; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the sanne, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specilication.

In the drawings, Figure l is a cross-section of a composite beam embodying my invention and representing how the same may be employed in connection with bracing as licorjoists. Fig. 2 is a variation in which the metal is made to grasp the outer face of the wood at its edges. Fig. 3 is another variation in which the beam embraces a wood element at one edge, while its other edge is bent into tubular form. Fig. a illustrates a variation in which the wood element is embraced between the portions which constitute the web at the upper and lower edges of the beam. Fig. 5 is another variation in which the wood is embraced between the parts which constitute the web at its upper and lower edges, and the usual out'- standing flanges at these edges are dispensed with. Fig. o is another variation in which the spaces between the two webs are made to contain diagonal braces.

It is the purpose of my invention to produce a composite beam of wood and metal, the said beam designed to rely for strength more particularly upon the metallic web, while the wood is employed to afford convenience for the attachment of ilooring, rooting, lathing, die., by simply nailing thereto.

In carrying out my invention, A A represents two metallic sheets. These sheets are rolled in such form that when placed side by side they will constitute, in general appearance, an eye-beam, the outer edges, a, being carried forward parallel with the web, so as to embrace a strip of wood, B. As thus made up, the sheets A A and the wood element B may be fastened together by bolts or rivets a', and there may, in addition thereto, be bolts or rivets f, uniting the sheets along the web, and these are passed through intermediate thimbles, a, or other equivalent metallic separating part, which will serve to hold. the webs apart from cach other at the points where they are thus bolted or riveted, and so truss and stifl'en the web portion ot' the composite beam.

It is apparent that a composite beam ot' this construction is well adapted for all building purposes where strength and cheapness of material are essential. They afford at once the strength of metal beams, while they possess all the conveniences of wooden beams. lt used as joist's,tlicy afford ready means for nailing to them both the l'loorand the lnthing,and the diagonal bracing C may, if desired, be readily adjusted thereto. If used as studding, they possess the sante facilities, affording strength of metal, yet readily adapted for lathing upon both sides-as, for instance, in partitions, or for ceiling upon one side and lathing upon the other. So, also, in rootingrafters, they aitord the same features of strength and convenience. In addition tothe strength and convenience of these composite beams, they are in most localities practically lire-proof', since the exposed portions in almost all localities where they would be used would be metal. It is also apparent that a Very light metal-such as would be sufficient to give adequate strength along the web-might not be sutil cien tly strong to give the requisite strength to the upper and lower edges of the beam, which become, respectively, the compression and extension members ot' the beam. rlhese members, however, are greatly rc-enforced by the wood elements,and so the composite beam as a whole, although made of comparatively light material, is exceedingly strong.

The invention admits ol" many variations withoutdeparting therefrom-as, for instance, theA metallic sheets may be shaped 'to embrace and lap over the exposed surface of the wood, as shown in Fig. 2, and so hold the wood without other fastening, it being only necessary to bolt or rivet the web portions of the metallic sheets.

Again, as shown in Fig. 3, the sheet maybe bent into a tube at one edge and flanged outward to receive the wood element at the opposite edge. This construction might answer well for roof-girders and in other localities where the lower edge ofthe beam remains un-.

used and exposed.

Again, as shown in Fig. 4, the metal might IOO be bent to form web portions and with simply outstanding flanges at their upper and lower edges, and the wood elements be embraced between the webs at the upper and lower edges; or, as shown in Fig. 5, the wood element might be embraced between the web portions of the metal at the upper and lower edges andthe outstanding ilanges be entirely omitted. This latter l'orm would suffice in Very many locali ties-as, for instance, for studding, flooring, joists, and the like-and would constitute a very cheap and effective beam. This is applicable in all localities where joists, studding, girders, and frame-work of any kind are required; and, instead of fastening the webs together or the wood to the metal by bolts or rivets,thcy.may be fastened in any other con venient way.

lt will be understood that instead of wood any other similar substance-such as papiermache or the like-might be employed, and al though wood is doubtless the most convenient for the purpose,l would have such other substances regarded as equivalents.

These beams have upon or embodied between their webs braces D, as shown iu Fig.

6. These braces will serve to stiilen the beam very materially, either throughout its whole length or atany particular portion of its length where it maybe subjected to great strain. The webs are riveted or bolted through the braces.

Vhat I claim is- 1. A composite wood and metal beam consisting of two sheets of metal bent to form, when placed side by side, a web, and in connection therewith wood elements embraced between their edges, said metal sheets being united along` their web portions by bolts or rivets passing therethrough and through intermediate metallic separating parts, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with a composite wood and metal beam', of diagonal braces upon or embodied between the web and bolted or riveted thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l sign this speciticatiou in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY C. HODGES.

lVit-n esses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, SAMUEL E. THOMAS.

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