STABLE EQUIPMENT COMPRISING POSTS AND FRAMES MADE OF METAL PIPE

Abstract: While in the construction of boxes in e.g. pig houses it has been common practice to use galvanized iron tubes for the corner posts and frame parts in the wall and door elements of the boxes, the invention provides for an equipment system in which the posts (24, 50) and the frame parts (36, 46, 62) and other metal parts are made of profiled stainless steel sheet material. This involves a marked rupture with the relevant tradition and enables a long row of advantages to be obtained without the total costs necessarily increasing. By the production of the tube members the necessary mounting holes (30) are made in a flat sheet member (4) unrolled from a sheet supply reel (2), whereafter the tube member is bent into the desired profiled shape and is severed from the supply sheet (2), such that the mounting holes (30) are thereafter located in desired positions on the tube members. In particular it is possible hereby to produce a tube member (24) for use as a hinge post for a door (72) by providing it with piano hinge parts consisting of bent out sheet portions (26, 40) between the holes in a row of rectangular holes (28, 42), which are punched out in the sheet member prior to the profiling-bending thereof.

Description: STABLE EQUIPMENT COMPRISING POSTS AND FRAMES MADE OF METAL PIPE This invention relates to a stable equipment system for the construction of boxes confined by wall and door elements comprising posts and frame parts of metal tube material. It is quite usual that such a system in pig houses is constructed based on galvanized iron tubes, often square tubes, which form corner posts, of which those belonging to the fixed wall elements are cast into the floor, as well as frame parts about panel or grid wall elements of the boxes or pigpens. The installation has to be quite robust, and the tube surfaces should be well corrosion protected. In practice the various elements are assembled by welding in the element factory, whereafter they are sent out to be galvanized and possibly returned for storage before they are brought out to be mounted. The mounting includes casting down of the fixed posts and fastening of the various elements, preferably with the use of clamp fittings. It is the purpose of the invention to provide an equipment system which is easy to manufacture, handle, mount, and maintain. The system according to the invention is characterized in that the posts and the frame parts are made as profiled members of bent stainless steel sheet material and are preformed with the holes or recesses as necessary for the mounting of the system. The invention constitutes a marked rupture with the conventional technology in this field, in which a sustained use of stainless material would seem unthinkable in practice, because the basic price of such a material is much higher than for conventional materials. The invention, OMPI however, has made it clear that the posts and the frame parts may be produced with the required sturdiness from a reasonably thin stainless sheet material, which is thus not unrealistically costly, when the various tube lengths are made as profiled members bent from sheet strips having suitable widths, such that any waste of material can be_ avoided. Admittedly the price of the tube members will still be considerably higher than for relevant conventional members, but the difference is neutralized by several circumstances, of which the following should be emphasized: 1) Neither the posts nor the finished elements or frames shall need any separate anticorrosion treatment inside or outside the factory; 2) By the production of the profiled members these may easily be provided with holes for receiving mounting screws, whereby the elements may be mounted by a direct bolting together, without any risk of corrosion attacks adjacent the holes and without the use of special clamp fittings, this making the mounting work much easier; 3) The tube members may be produced with special adaption for specific purposes of use, e.g. with respect to the provision of integrated hinge parts or mounting flanges; 4) The tube members are easy to assemble into various elements, because the joints need not be full-welded. As far as the use of the system according to the invention is concerned it should be particularly emphasized as an advantage that the cleaning of the equipment will be highly facilitated by the surfaces of the tube members being smooth and not rough as for a galvanized material. The system also distinguishes itself by a high durability, and it is of special importance that the posts as cast down in the floor are resistant to such corrosion attacks, which occur particularly in the very agressive area adjacent the floor surface, where even carefully galvanized steel tubes are often corroded anyway. The invention also comprises the method as specified in claim 8 for manufacturing the said profiled members; it is hereby possible in a very easy manner to provide the said mounting holes without correspondingly machining the ready bent profiles. The method is advantageously carried out in a fully or semi automatical manner as specified in claim 9. It is a special feature of the invention, as specified in claim 10, that it is possible in an extremely simple manner to provide the relevant members with integral hinge parts for the formation of robust and easily joinable piano type hinges for the doors. In the following the invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the method according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of a prepunched plate member for a door post according to the invention, Fig. 3 is a lateral view of a post member as bent from the plate member shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4. is a plan view of a prepunched plate member for a door frame part according to the invention, Fig. 5 is a lateral view of a door frame part as bent from the plate member shown in Fig. 4, Figs. 6-11 are sectional views of different post and frame profiles for the stable equipment system according to the invention, Fig. 12 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a OMPI >. WWIIPPOO cast down door post and various equipment elements connected therewith, Figs. 13-17 are lateral views of different stable equipment elements according to the invention, and Fig. 18 is a top view of a further equipment element according to the invention. The production of the stable equipment elements according to the invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 , which illustrates a preferred detailed method according to the invention. From a supply reel 2 a thin band-shaped stainless steel sheet 4 is unrolled and fed to a punching apparatus 6, in which the steel sheet 4 - as also shown in Figs. 2 and 4 - is provided with the desired number of recess 28 and holes 30, which in the finished post and frame elements form hinge parts 26 and mounting holes 30, respectively. If necessary, the sheet band 4 may be guided through a straghtening device 3 before it is fed to the punching apparatus 6. In the punching apparatus 6 the steel sheet 4 is precut into measured lengths corresponding to the final lengths of the post and frame elements, the sheet band 4 hereby being partially cut through by punching out of narrow side notches 31 , which are later on used for final separation of the finished profile posts. From the punching apparatus 6 the propunched steel band 4 is fed to a roller device 8 comprising a high number of roller pairs 10 arranged so as to stepwise deform the steel sheet into a closed or partly closed post or frame profile as related to the single steel band members (Figs. 2 and 4) . From the roller device 8 the more or less profiled member length 12 is fed to a cutting device 14, in which the profiled member length 12 is cut into individual post and frame elements 16, which leave the production line via a chute 18. As indicated OMPI_ ~ by a double arrow 20 the operation control of the pre¬ punching apparatus 6 and the cutting device 14 is mutually coordinated in order to ensure a correct final cutting relative the prepunching and vice versa. The roller device 8 even includes special beading rollers 22 for the beading together of closed post or frame profiles. In Fig. 2 is shown a prepunched plate member 23 for the rolled up hinge post profile 24 as shown in Fig. 3 and in cross section in Fig. 6. The width of the plate .member 23 corresponds to the circumference of the post profile 24 including the beading 25. The profiled post 24 is: intended for use as a corner post, which additionally constitutes a stationary hinge post, of which a plurality of hinge parts 26 are formed by central, rectangular recesses 28, or perhaps rather by the plate material between these recesses 28 in the band sheet member 23. Additionally, this member is by the prepunching operation provided with a number of holes 30, which in the post profile form transverse mounting holes. In the prepunching apparatus 6 (Fig. 1) the plate member 23 is provided with narrow side incisions 31 along a transverse cutting line 32, these incisions from both side edges of the plate member extending inwardly sufficiently to cause the formation of a narrow cross opening 33 in the beaded together rear side of the closed post profile 24 as well as in the rear portions of the lateral sides thereof. This cross opening makes it possible that the post profile 24 can be finally cut free in the cutting device 14 (Fig. 1) by means of a chisel introduced from the rear through the cross opening 33, while the profile is supported ^ in a suitable counter die. In Fig. 3 it is shown that the post profile 24 by severing along the cutting line 32 will show a lowermost end portion 34 which is not provided with hinge parts ' 26,28, this end portion 34 being adapted to anchor the hinge post 24 by being cast down directly into the floor of the stable. In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown a prepunched plate member 38 and a door post or frame part 36, respectively, the latt being made of the plate member 38 and adapted for use together with a fixed hinge post 24 as shown in Fig. 3, this adaption being visible by the mutual positioning of hinge recesses 40 and hinge forming intermediate portions 42, respectively. The plate member 38 and the door frame part 36 are precut and finally cut along a cutting line 44, which is shown extended upwardly into Fig. 3 for indicating the use of the door frame part 36 in connection with the hinge post 24. The door frame part 36 is shown more clearly in Fig. 7, while other post and frame profile parts for the system according to the invention are shown in Figs. 8-11. In Fig. 12 is shown a fixed hinge post 24 cast into a stable floor 56. To the hinge post 24 is hinged a door member 72 comprising the profiled door post 36, and a hinge pin 70 is pushed down through the consecutive hinge parts 26 and 42 of the hinge post 24 and the door post 36 respectively. At its lower end the door member 72 is provided with a frame profile member 62, which is shown in cross section in Fig. 9, and in a manner not shown a corresponding profile member forms the top frame por¬ tion of the door member 72. Between the horizontal frame members 62 is mounted a number of vertical, profiled bars 64, which - as also shown in Fig. 11 - are open at one side, in. as far as opposed edge portions 65 of the sheet material are just bent inwardly next to each other. Opposite its door carrying outer side the hinge post 24 is connected with an open U-profiled beam 54, which * serves to hold the edge of a wall panel 68. Onto one lateral side of the hinge post 24 is screwn a special connector plate member 58, the cross sectional shape of ^ro OMP which corresponds to the side profilation of the hinge post 24, such that the connector plate member 58 partly surrounds a local reinforcing profilation 52 along the corners of the hinge post 24. This reinforcing profila- tion is refound in a simple post profile as designated 50 in Fig. 8, this profile in a way being a basic pro¬ file in the equipment system according to the invention. To the lower end portion of the connector plate member 58 is welded a horizontally extending frame profile mem- ber 46 shaped with interspaced edge flanges 66, between which the edge of a wall panel member 68 is secured. As shown in dotted lines the panel member 68 may be fixed along the connector plate member 58 by means of an open U-beam, which likewise the U-beam 54 * is secured to the adjoining profiled member by spot welding or by means of simple screws through the bottom flange of the ϋ-profile. Topwise the wall panel plate 68 may be pro¬ vided with the frame profile 46 as mounted horizontally projecting from the connector plate member 58 with the edge flanges 66-. pointing downwardly. The frame profile 46, which is shown additionally in Fig. 10, is likewise the door post profile 36 and the closed frame profile 62 provided with a reinforcing profilation 48 along its opposed sides. In Fig. 11 it is shown how the shape of the open profiled bar 64 may be fixated by way of solid grid rods 60 welded endwise thereto. In Fig. 13 is shown a fixed partition element which is framed by the basic profile member 50 (Fig. 8) and the hinge post 24 and is - as indicated - adapted to be fixed to the floor by casting. As an uppermost frame portion is used the closed frame profile 62 (Fig. 9) while the lower frame portion consists of the flange frame profile 46 (Fig. 10) . Between these profiles is mounted another flange frame profile member 46, to which is secured the upper edge of a panel plate 68, while the lower edge of this panel plate is secured to the lower flange frame profile member 46. The side edges of the panel plate 68 are secured to the post profiles 50 and 46 by means of U-beams 54. Topwise the partition ele¬ ment is connected with a grid system consisting of open profiled bars i , the opposed ends of which are welded to the horizontal profile members 62 and 46. In Fig. 14 is shown a door element as provided between the door hinge post 36 (Fig. 7) and a particular door post 74 having the same cross section as the post 36, though without the hinge parts 42, this door post serving as a lock post of the door element. Otherwise, this ele¬ ment is made of parts corresponding to the partition element of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 shows a lightweight partition element adapted to be mounted between profiled posts (not shown) , e.g. the said basic profiles 50. The partition element is made of parts already described, except that the lower edge of the panel plate 68 is secured between two profiled members 76 having the same profilation as the connector plate 58 (Fig. 12). As side edge elements may be used either the closed frame profile 62 or the open bar pro¬ file 64, as indicated by these respective reference nu- merals. In Fig. 16 is shown a lightweight partition ele¬ ment, in which the horizontal, open profile bars 64 are connected with rigid grid rods 60 as also shown in Fig. 11. In Fig. 17 is shown a fixed partition element made of parts described hereinbefore, while Fig. 18 shows ^a partition element, in which a fixed hinge post 24 is mounted such that its hinge parts are oriented cross¬ wise relative the partition element.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A stable equipment system for the construction of boxes confined by wall and door elements comprising posts and frame parts of metal tube material, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the posts (24,50) and the frame parts (36,46,62) are made as profiled members of bent stainless steel sheet material and are preformed with the holes or recesses (28,30) as necessary for the mounting of the system. 2. An * equipment system according to claim 1, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d . in that at least some of the posts (24,50) and the frame parts (36,46,62) are made of a thin sheet material and are profiled with local rein¬ forcing portions (48,52) preferably adjacent the corners of the tube cross section. 3. An equipment system according to claim 1, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d , in that at least the main part of the posts and the frame parts are made of entirely closed tubular profiles (24,36,50,62) . 4. An equipment system according to claim 3 and com- prising wall elements made as grid elements with grid bars mounted between opposed frame parts (46,62) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the grid bars are " constituted by stainless rod or profile members (60) , which are secured endwise by welding to frame elements (64) immediately adjacent a non-beaded joining seam therealong, such that the tubular shape of the frame elements is fixed by the welding * of grid bar ends to both sides of the seam area. 5. An equipment system according to any of the claims 1-4 and comprising wall elements at least partly con¬ stituted by a wall panel plate (68) mounted in a frame, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the frame is con- OMPI stituted by frame parts (46) profiled with one or more projecting flat flange portions (66) , against which the edge area of the panel plate (68) is tightened. 6. An equipment system according to claim 1, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d in that for mutual connection of two adjacent posts (25,50) or frame parts (36,46) the system comprises an elongate plate element (58) of stainless steel, which is profiled for surface contact against substantially flushing surface portions of the posts (24,50) or frame parts (36,46), respectively. 7. An equipment system according to claim 1, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the posts (36) adjacent the hinged side of the doors (72) as well as the fixed posts (24) , which are used for carrying the doors in a hinged manner, are made with mutually engaging piano hinge parts (26,42) provided as outwardly bent portions of the post wall material between holes (28,40) in a row of preferably rectangular holes therein. OMP

Inventors: DAHL C
Applicants: DAHL C
Application year: 1980
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01K1