BEAM

Abstract: A beam has two flanges (1, 2) and an intermediary web portion (3) interconnecting the flanges. The web portion (3) at least partly consists of extruded styrene plastic.

Description: BEAM The present invention relates to a beam which has two flanges and one intermediary web portion interconnecting the flanges. The object of the invention is to provide a beam which not only is light and dimensionally stable, but also easy to make. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a beam of the type mentioned by way of introduction, which is characterised in that the web portion at least partly consists of extruded styrene plastic. In an embodiment of the beam adapted for use as a structural member, the web portion preferably is made up of two spaced-apart plates, the space between said plates being filled with extruded styrene plastic. The invention will be described in more detail below, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodi- ment of a beam according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodi¬ ment of the inventive beam. The beam shown in Fig. 1 is especially adapted for use as a wall stud. This beam has two wooden flanges 1 and 2 interconnected by a web portion 3 which has the same width as the flanges 1 and 2 but nevertheless is termed web portion in this context. It consists of extruded styrene plastic, such as the styrene plastic marketed by Dow Chemical under the name of STYROFOAM. The web portion 3 is glued to the flanges 1 and 2, e.g. by polyurethane glue. The beam shown in Fig. 2 is of the I-beam type and is especially adapted for use as a structural member in floor structures and roof trusses. Also this beam has two wooden flanges 1 and 2 interconnected by a web por¬ tion 3. In this embodiment, the web portion 3, as is apparent from the Figure, is narrower than the flanges 1 and 2 and consists of two spaced-apart plates 4 which are made of plywood or other suitable material, and an intermediary layer 5 of extruded styrene plastic, such as the styrene plastic marketed by Dow Chemical under the name of STYROFOAM. The layer 5 fills up the space between the plates 4 and is glued to these plates, e.g. by polyurethane glue. The flanges 1 and 2 are formed with grooves 5 which are facing one another and in which the web portion 3 is fixed by glue, e.g. polyurethane glue.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A beam having two flanges (1, 2) and one inter- mediary web portion (3) interconnecting the flanges, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the web portion (3) at least partly consists of extruded styrene plastic. 2. The beam of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s ¬ e in that the web portion (3) is made up of two spaced-apart plates (4), the space between said plates being filled with extruded styrene plastic (5) .

Inventors: LARSSON BJOERN, LARSSON, BJOERN
Applicants: LARSSON BJOERN, LARSSON, BJOERN
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E04C3
IPC codes: E04C3