BODY STRUCTURE

Abstract: A frame structure, composed of I beams (1, 2) joined together, each having two flanges (3, 4, 5, 6) and between them a web (7, 8). Both flanges of the I beam comprise two joining parts (9, 10) and a connecting part (11) between them, on which the web abuts. The inner surfaces (12) of the opposing joining parts are at substantially equal distance from each other as the outer surfaces (13) of the connecting parts. Hereby in the frame structure two I beams can be joined to each other by rendering the joining parts on the end of one beam flush with the connecting part and inserting the end of the beam between the joining parts of the other beam, for joining the beams.

Description: BODY STRUCTURE. The present invention concerns a frame struc¬ ture as defined in the preamble to Claim 1. The frame structure can be used in various applications, such as e.g. vehicles, building technology and interior deco¬ ration, and in shipbuilding. Metallic frame structures for use in various applications are traditionally made of I beams, U beams or square tubes, which are usually welded to¬ gether to form a latticed structure with a spacing as required by the strength and rigidity which one de¬ sires to achieve. In numerous applications, a significant char- acteristic of the frame structure, in view of overlay¬ ing and coating, is the evenness of its surface. This often implies, when beams, rails and tubes of prior art are used, necessity of cutting the end of a piece to be joined to suitable shape in order to fit it to the side of the mating piece. For instance, on an I beam the flanges are cut off so that the web can be inserted between the flanges of another I beam. Such joints are cumbersome and slow in implementation, and they cause extra costs in the manufacturing process. The object of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks. Specifically, the object of the in¬ vention is to present a novel frame structure which enables convenient and fast manufacturing of a frame structure and by which one obtains in a simple way, a frame structure with even surfaces, on which it is easy to fix, e.g. to cement, various surface materi¬ als, such as sheets on a metal or wood base. Regarding the features characterizing the in¬ vention, reference is made to the Claims section. The frame structure of the invention is com¬ posed of I beams connected to each other, these I beams consisting of two flanges and one web connecting these. As taught by the invention, both flanges of the I beams used comprise two joining parts and one con¬ necting part therebetween, the web resting on the lat¬ ter. These planar joining parts and connecting parts are so dimensioned and shaped that the inner surfaces of the opposed joining parts of the I beam are at a distance from each other which is substantially equal to that between the outer surfaces of the connecting parts. When this is the case, in manufacturing a frame structure in the way taught by the invention two I beams can be joined at an angle against each other by first rendering on one end of one beam the joining parts flush with the connecting part on both flanges and, thereafter, inserting the end of the I beam be¬ tween the joining parts of the other I beam for join¬ ing the I beams. Joining of the I beams may be effected with the aid of rivets, bolts, screws or, depending on the material of the I beams, also by welding. In a frame structure according to the invention the joined I beams are advantageously at right angles, but their joining to each other is equally possible at an oblique angle. In an advantageous embodiment of the inven¬ tion the I beams are made of extruded aluminium sec¬ tion. In an advantageous embodiment of the inven¬ tion the end of the I beam is pressed, or squeezed, so that the outer surfaces of the joining parts come to lie flush with the outer surfaces of the connecting parts, whereby the end of the I beam can be inserted between the joining parts of another similar I beam. The frame structure of the invention is ad- vantageously made by connecting together the requisite number of I beams according to the invention, at right angles against each other, so that a strong enough and rigid enough lattice structure is obtained which is substantially even on both sides, thus con¬ stituting a good mounting site for various kinds of surface sheet. Other advantages of the invention, and vari¬ ous alternative structural designs, will become appar¬ ent from the description following below, in which the invention is described in detail in the attached draw¬ ing, wherein:- Fig. 1 presents an I beam for use in a frame structure according to the invention, and Fig. 2 presents the joint between two I beams in a frame structure according to the invention. The I beam used in the invention comprises two flanges 3 and 4, parallel with each other, and a web 7 connecting them and located perpendicularly be¬ tween them. Both flanges 3 and 4 are in their breadth direction divided into three planar parts: two joining parts 9 and 10 on the margins, and a connecting part 11 between them. In the present embodiment, the join¬ ing parts and the connecting part are equal in width, i.e., the surface of the I beam is divided into three parts of substantially equal width. The joining parts 9 and 10 are coplanar, and the connecting part 11 con¬ stitutes a recess, or an upper surface lower down and closer to the web, between the joining parts, compared with the upper surface of the joining parts. In other words, the inner surfaces 12 of the opposed joining parts 9, respectively 10, of the flanges 3 and 4 have a distance from each other which substantially equals that of the outer surfaces 13 of the connecting parts. The frame structure of the invention is manu- factured, as shown in Fig. 2, as follows. The end of one I beam 2 intended to be joined to another I beam 1 is pressed, or by another appropriate means rendered uniform in thickness, i.e., the joining parts on the ends of both flanges 5 and 6 are bent so that the outer surfaces of the joining parts will be flush with the outer surfaces of the connecting parts. Hereby the end of the I beam 2 will be smooth on either side of the web 8, and the end of the I beam will be uniform over its entire breadth. It follows that the distance from each other of the outer surfaces of flanges 5 and 6 is substantially consistent with the distance be- tween the inner surfaces 12 of the joining parts 9 of the other I beam's 1 flanges 3 and 4. Hereby, when the end of the I beam 2 has been sawed, or in any other way cut off, at right angles, it can be inserted at right angles between the joining parts 9 of the I beam 1 and the joining parts of both I beams can be joined e.g. by means of rivets 14, as shown in Fig. 2. When making right-angled joints, one need not make any extra cuts, or other material removing, on the end of the I beam which is going to be joined: the I beam which has been cut straight across is merely pressed to appropriate shape. Similarly, when oblique angles are produced in the frame structure of the in¬ vention, the end of the I beam is merely cut off at the oblique angle one desires to make, and it is pres¬ sed into shape to be ready for installation. In the foregoing, the invention has been de¬ scribed in detail with the aid of the drawing, while different embodiments of the invention are feasible within the scope of the inventive idea delimited by the claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A frame structure, composed of I beams (1,2) joined together and comprising a first I beam (1) and a second I beam (2), each having two flanges (3,4,5,6) and between them a web (7,8), and which I beams have been joined to each other so that the end of the second I beam (2) lies between the flanges of the first I beam (1), characterized in that the flang- es (3,4,5,6) of the I beam (1,2) comprise two joining parts (9; 10) and a connecting part (11) between them, on which the web (7,8) abuts; and that the inner sur¬ faces (12) of the opposing joining parts (9,9; 10,10) are at substantially equal distance from each other to that of the outer surfaces (13) of the connecting parts (11); and that for joining together the first I beam (1) and the second I beam (2) in the region adja¬ cent to the end of the second I beam (2) the upper surface of the joining parts (9; 10) has been rendered substantially flush with the outer surface (13) of the connecting part (11) so that the end of the second I beam (2), shaped in the way described, can be inserted between the joining parts (9,9; 10,10) of the first I beam (1) . 2. Frame structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the I beams (1,2) are made of extruded aluminium section. 3. Frame structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end of the I beam (1,2) is squeezed or pressed so as to fit in between the joining parts of the other beam. 4. Frame structure according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the I beams (1,2) are joined by rivets, bolts or screws. 5. Frame structure according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that a plurality of I beams have been joined together at right angles or at oblique angles to form a frame structure which is sub¬ stantially smooth on both sides. 6. The use of a frame structure according to any one of claims 1-5 in vehicles, in building tech¬ nology, in interior decoration and/or in shipbuilding.

Inventors: FORSMAN TOM, FORSMAN, TOM
Applicants: FORSMAN TOM, SAAB VALMET AB OY, FORSMAN, TOM, OY SAAB-VALMET AB
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E04C3
IPC codes: B62D29, B62D33, E04B1, E04C3