Patent ID: 6397469
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: B21D,B23D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of forming end-supported louvers in a seam of a portion of structural steel decking comprising:selecting a first and second piece of structural steel decking, said first piece of structural steel decking having a female lip portion and said second piece of structural steel decking having a male lip portion, said female lip portion and said male lip portion being adapted to form a crimped seam; placing said female lip portion over said male lip portion; crimping said female lip portion over said male lip portion to form a seam; selecting a louver forming apparatus comprising a frame pivotally supporting a first and second pivoted jaw member, each of said first and second pivoted jaw members comprising a free end and a driven end, said free end of said first jaw member having a blade portion, said free end of said second jaw member having a die portion, said free ends of said first and second jaw members being moveable between an open position in which said blade portion of said first jaw member is displaced from said die portion of said second jaw member to form a gap therebetween capable of receiving the seam, and a closed position in which said blade portion of said first jaw member passes at least partly through said die portion of said second jaw member, said blade portion and said die portion having surfaces cooperating to shear a portion of the seam as said blade portion passes through said die portion; moving the first and second jaw members of the louver forming apparatus into the open position; positioning the louver forming apparatus over the seam such that the seam is within the gap formed between the first and second jaw members; and forming a louver in said seam by moving the jaw members of the louver forming apparatus to the closed position.