Abstract:
A method of welding a deck plate and a closed section rib both constituting a steel plate deck, comprising: working a root portion of the closed section rib to have a flat surface in parallel with a surface of the deck plate; and welding the deck plate and the closed section rib while making the flat surface of the closed section rib to be in contact with the surface of the deck plate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method of welding and a steel plate deck. 
         [0003]    Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-186047, filed Jul. 17, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A steel plate deck is known as a flooring material used for buildings such as bridges. A steel plate deck is constituted of a deck plate (steel plate) and a plurality stiffeners (ribs) arranged on the deck plate, and the deck plate and the ribs are integrated with each other by longitudinal welding (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 2003-183769; Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. H08-281476; Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 2003-080396). Closed-section ribs, steel members having V-shaped or U-shaped closed sections are known as examples of the ribs. In the welding of the closed-section ribs and deck plate, an amount of penetration of the weld zone is required to be not less than 75% of the plate thickness of the ribs. In some cases, the amount of penetration of the weld zone is required to be not less than 80% of the plate thickness of the ribs. 
         [0006]    Full-penetration welding using a backing metal, gas-shielded metal arc welding, and submerged arc welding are generally known methods of welding. Particularly, full-penetration welding is known as an effective method in that a high amount of penetration is stably ensured. 
         [0007]    On the other hand, in the case of welding of a deck plate and a closed section rib, it is difficult to perform full-penetration welding since the structure of the closed-section ribs makes it difficult to use a backing metal. Therefore, gas-shielded metal arc welding, submerged arc welding or the like have conventionally been used in the welding of the deck plate and the closed-section rib. In such methods, welding is performed while edges of the closed section ribs are made to contact the deck plate. A portion of an edge of each rib, which is made to contact the deck plate, is called a root portion. 
         [0008]    In general, the edge of the rib has a root portion which is cut to have an orthogonal or nearly orthogonal angle. Therefore, when the edge of the rib is made to contact the deck plate, only the root portion is in contact with the deck plate, forming a clearance (groove) corresponding to a setting angle between the deck plate and the edge of the rib. 
         [0009]    When the welding is performed in that state, there is a case in which molten slag generated during the welding intrudes into the groove. In addition, blowholes are easily formed by the gas generated during the welding. When the molten slag and the blowholes generated during the welding intrude to an extent deeper than the target amount of penetration, the molten slag and blowholes remain in those states. The residual slag and blowholes cause slag inclusion and/or insufficient amount of penetration. 
         [0010]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H08-281476 describes a flux cored wire for gas-shielded metal arc welding. By means of the limited composition of the wire, it is possible to obtain a bead for providing satisfactory form and appearance of the weld zone. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-80396 describes a technique for obtaining a deep penetration by limiting the filling factor of the flux in addition to the limitation of the composition of the wire. However, there are still problems in that the slag inclusion in the root portion cannot be completely prevented, and a stable penetration cannot be achieved. 
         [0011]    In a technique proposed as a solution for these problems, generation of the above-described defects is avoided by increasing the amount of penetration such that the melting proceeds to a position deeper than the position of intrusion of the molten slag and the blowholes. However, the increased amount of penetration sometimes results in excessive melting that reaches the back surface (inner surface of the U-shaped member) of the closed section ribs, thereby making it difficult to control a stable amount of penetration, and causing unstable forms of beads. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    An object of the present invention is to provide a welding method which enables a stable amount of penetration while inhibiting generation of residual molten slag. Another object of the present invention is to provide a steel deck plate. 
         [0013]    A welding method according to the present invention is a method of welding a deck plate (steel plate) and a closed section rib that constitute a steel plate deck, including shaping a root portion of the closed section rib to have a flat surface in parallel with a surface of the deck plate, and welding the deck plate and the closed section rib while making the flat surface of the closed section rib to contact the surface of the deck plate. 
         [0014]    In the above-described method of welding, the root portion at the rib edge of the closed section rib has a flat surface, and the deck plate and the rib are welded in a state such that the flat surface of the closed section rib is made to contact the surface of the deck plate. Therefore, intrusion of the molten slag and blowholes is limited to the position bordered by the contact portion, and the molten slag and the blowholes are eliminated by the molten metal. As a result, it is possible to prevent the generation of residual molten slag and blowholes without increasing the amount of penetration, and to ensure a stable amount of penetration. In addition, since the amount of penetration can be controlled by controlling the dimension of the flat surface, it is possible to suppress any change in the amount of penetration caused by a change in the welding conditions. By this, a stable amount of penetration can be achieved. Since active heat conduction occurs at the contact portion between the closed section rib and the deck plate during welding, it is possible to suppress the melting of the closed section rib caused by the welding heat even when the welding temperature is increased. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the range of welding conditions can be enlarged. 
         [0015]    In the above-described welding method, it is preferable that the dimension of the flat surface along the surface direction of the deck plate be 5 to 50% of the rib thickness (thickness of a plate forming the rib) of the closed section rib. 
         [0016]    By controlling the dimension of the flat surface along the surface direction of the deck plate (in other words, the width of the flat surface in parallel to the surface direction of the deck plate) to be 5 to 50% of the rib thickness of the closed section rib, it is possible to set an appropriate value of the dimension of the flat surface in accordance with the rib thickness of the closed section rib. Where the dimension of the flat surface is smaller than 5% of the rib thickness, there is a possibility of melting occurring on the back surface side of the closed section rib. By controlling the dimension of the flat surface to be not smaller than 5%, it is possible to prevent the melting occurring on the back surface side of the closed section rib. Where the dimension of the flat surface is larger than 50% of the rib thickness, there is a possibility that the groove portion formed between the rib edge and the deck plate has a small size, thereby reducing the amount of penetration. By controlling the dimension of the flat surface to be not greater than 50% of the rib thickness, it is possible to ensure a high amount of penetration. 
         [0017]    In the above-described welding method, it is preferable that the welding be performed such that the penetration of the welding covers a portion of the flat surface. 
         [0018]    By performing the welding such that the penetration of the welding covers a portion of the flat surface, the groove portion formed between the rib edge and the deck plate is completely covered by the penetration of the welding. As a result, it is possible to eliminate molten slag and blowholes generated in the groove portion. 
         [0019]    A steel plate deck according to the present invention comprises: a deck plate; a closed section rib that is provided on a surface of the deck plate and has a root portion at the edge of the rib, where the root portion has a flat surface that is in parallel with the surface of the deck plate and made to contact the surface of the deck plate; and a weld zone that fixes the closed section ribs to the deck plate. 
         [0020]    According to the present invention, the closed section rib provided on the surface of the deck plate via the weld zone has a flat surface at the root portion at the rib edge, and the flat surface is made to contact the surface of the deck plate. Therefore, it is possible to provide a steel plate deck in which molten slag and blowholes hardly occur. By this constitution, it is possible to provide a steel plate deck having high static strength and high elastic strength. 
         [0021]    In the above-described steel plate deck, it is preferable that the dimension of the flat surface along the surface direction of the deck plate be 5 to 50% of the rib thickness of the closed section rib. 
         [0022]    According to the present invention, by controlling the dimension of the flat surface along the surface direction of the deck plate to be 5 to 50% of the rib thickness of the closed section rib, it is possible to set an appropriate value of the dimension of the flat surface in accordance with the rib thickness of the closed section rib. By controlling the dimension of the flat surface to be not smaller than 5%, it is possible to avoid melting occurring on the back surface side of the closed section rib. By controlling the dimensions of the flat surface to be not greater than 50% of the rib thickness, it is possible to ensure a high amount of penetration. 
         [0023]    In the above-described steel plate deck, it is preferable that the weld zone covers a portion of the flat surface. Where the weld zone covers a portion of the flat surface, the groove formed between the rib edge and the deck plate is completely covered by the weld zone. By this constitution, it is possible to provide a steel plate deck which is free of molten slag and blowholes in the groove portion. 
         [0024]    According to the present invention, the root portion at the rib edge of the closed section rib has a flat surface, and the deck plate and the closed section rib is welded in a state such that the flat surface of the closed section rib is made to contact the surface of the deck plate. Therefore, intrusion of molten slag and blowholes stops short of the contact portion, and the molten slag and blowholes are eliminated by the molten metal. By this constitution, it is possible to prevent the generation of residual slag and blowholes, ensuring a stable amount of penetration. In addition, since the amount of penetration can be controlled by controlling the dimension of the flat surface, it is possible to suppress any change in the amount of penetration caused by changes in the welding conditions. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a stable amount of penetration. Moreover, since heat conduction occurs actively at the contact portion between the closed section rib and the deck plate during welding, it is possible to suppress the melting of the closed section rib by the weld heat even when the welding is performed under high temperature conditions. Therefore, there is an advantage of providing a wide range of welding conditions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a drawing showing a steel plate deck according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a drawing showing a constitution of a steel plate deck according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a drawing showing a constitution of a joint portion of a steel plate deck according to the present embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a drawing showing a constitution of a closed section rib according to the present embodiment. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a drawing showing a welding process according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a drawing showing a welding process according to the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a photograph showing a joint portion of a steel plate deck according to the prior art. 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a photograph showing a ruptured face according to the prior art. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a photograph showing a contact portion of the steel plate deck according to the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a drawing showing a ruptured face according to an example of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    An embodiment of the present invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is a strabismus view showing a constitution of a steel plate deck  1  according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the steel plate deck  1  is mainly constituted of a deck plate  2  and closed section ribs  3 . The steel plate deck  1  is used as a floor member of a building structure, for example, a bridge. 
         [0037]    The deck plate  2  is a rectangular plate member having a predetermined thickness and is made of steel. 
         [0038]    A plurality of the closed section ribs  3  are provided on a surface  2   a  of the deck plate  2 . Each closed section rib  3  is a shaped steel having a U-shaped section formed by bending a flat steel plate having a predetermined thickness. Each of the closed section ribs  3  elongates along a side of the deck plate  2 , and in the direction perpendicular to the elongation direction, a plurality of the closed section ribs  3  are arranged with a predetermined pitch in between. The closed section ribs  3  are joined to the deck plate  2  by welding. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a strabismus view showing the constitution of the closed section rib  3  on the deck plate  2 . 
         [0040]    As shown in the figure, weld zones  4  are provided at the joint portions between the deck plate  2  and the closed section ribs  3 . Each of the weld zones  4  is provided so as to cover the outside region of the U-shaped closed section rib  3  along a rib edge  3   a . The weld zones  4  may be welded by using general welding consumables such as solid wire, fused flux, flux cored wire or the like. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a drawing showing a constitution of a section of the steel plate deck  1  sectioned along A-A in  FIG. 2 . While the figure only shows one rib edge  3   a  of the closed section ribs  3 , another  3   a  rib edge  3   a  has a similar constitution. 
         [0042]    As shown in the figure, each rib edge  3   a  of the closed section rib  3  is connected to the surface  2   a  of the deck plate  2  forming a predetermined inclination angle (setting angle) θ. Preferably, the setting angle θ is set to be in the range of 65° to 85°. A flat surface (root face)  3   b  is provided at the root portion of the rib edge  3   a . The root face  3   b  contacts the surface  2   a  of the deck plate  2 . A portion of the rib edge  3   a  from the outer end to the end of the root face  3   b  does not contact the deck plate  2 , forming a clearance (groove)  3   c  between the rib edge  3   a  and the deck plate  2 . The weld zone  4  is provided so as to cover the entire portion of the groove  3   c  and a portion of the root face  3   b.    
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a drawing showing a constitution of a portion (rib edge  3   a ) of the closed section rib  3 . 
         [0044]    As shown in the figure, the closed section rib  3  is constituted so as to have a plate thickness t of about 6 to 18 mm. A dimension RF of the root face is preferably set in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 times the plate thickness t of the rib (RF=0.05t to 0.5t), more preferably, in the range of 0.05 to 0.4 times the plate thickness t of the rib (RF=0.05t to 0.4t). 
         [0045]    A dimension s of the groove  3   c  along the plate thickness of the rib is determined in accordance with the plate thickness t of the rib  3  and a target value of an amount of penetration. For example, where the plate thickness t of the rib  3  is about 12 mm, the dimension s of the groove  3   c  along the plate thickness direction of the rib  3  is about 7.5 mm, and the target amount D of penetration is set to be about 75% to 80% of the plate thickness t of the rib  3 , a portion of the root face  3   b  where a weld zone  4  is formed has a dimension  1  in the range of about 1 mm to 1.5 mm. To ensure a stable amount D of penetration, the amount D of penetration may be controlled by controlling the dimension of the root face  3   b.    
         [0046]    Next a production method of a steel plate deck  1  having the above-described constitution is explained. The steel plate deck  1  is produced by welding the closed section ribs  3  to the deck plate. 
         [0047]    Firstly, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the root face  3   b  of the closed section rib  3  is made to contact the surface  2   a  of the deck plate  2 . In this state, as shown in  FIG. 5 , welding is performed from the side of the groove  3   c . As the method of welding, a general welding method such as submerged arc welding, gas-shielded metal arc welding or the like may be employed. The electric power supply for the welding may have a general characteristic such as DC constant voltage, DC drooping (constant current) characteristic, AC drooping characteristic, or the like. 
         [0048]    Molten slag  5  and blowholes are generated during the welding. However, intrusion of the molten slag  5  and blowholes stops short of the root face  3   b . Since the welding is performed from the groove  3   c  to a portion of the root face  3   b , molten slag  5  and blowholes are eliminated by the molten metal during the process of the welding. During the welding, heat conduction occurs actively in the contact portion between the closed section rib  3  and the deck plate  2 . Therefore, even when the heat input is increased, melting of the closed section ribs  3  caused by the welding heat is effectively inhibited. 
         [0049]    Thus, according to the present embodiment, the root face  3   b  is provided at the root portion of the rib edge  3   a  of the closed section ribs  3 , and the welding of the closed section ribs  3  to the deck plate  2  is performed in the state such that the root face  3   b  of the closed section ribs  3  is made to contact the surface  2   a  of the deck plate  2 . Therefore, intrusion of the molten slag  5  and blowholes stops in short of the root face  3   b , and the molten slag  5  and blowholes are eliminated by the molten metal. As a result, without increasing the amount of penetration, generation of molten slag  5  and blowholes is prevented, and a stable amount of penetration is ensured. 
       EXAMPLES 
       [0050]    Test samples (SM490A and 1000 mm in length) were produced to have a various root faces as shown in Table 1, where the plate thickness t of a rib was in the range of 6 mm to 18 mm, and a setting angle θ was in the range of 65° to 85°. Each sample was subjected to evaluation using submerged arc welding and gas shielded metal arc welding. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Rib plate 
                 Setting 
                   
                 Root face/rib 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 thickness 
                 angle 
                 Root face 
                 plate thickness 
                 Method of 
               
               
                   
                 Symbol 
                 t (mm) 
                 θ(degree) 
                 RF(mm) 
                 RF/t (%) 
                 welding 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Examples 
                 1 
                 6 
                 85 
                 0.5 
                 8 
                 Submerged 
               
               
                 of the present 
                 2 
                 6 
                 65 
                 3.0 
                 50 
                 Arc welding 
               
               
                 invention 
                 3 
                 12 
                 65 
                 0.5 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 12 
                 75 
                 2.0 
                 17 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 12 
                 65 
                 5.5 
                 46 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 12 
                 75 
                 6.5 
                 54 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 18 
                 85 
                 3.5 
                 19 
               
               
                   
                 8 
                 18 
                 65 
                 6.5 
                 36 
               
               
                   
                 9 
                 18 
                 75 
                 10 
                 56 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 12 
                 75 
                 2.5 
                 21 
                 Gas-shielded 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 metal arc 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 welding 
               
               
                 Comparative 
                 11 
                 6 
                 75 
                 0 
                 0 
                 Submerged 
               
               
                 Example 
                 12 
                 6 
                 75 
                 0 
                 0 
                 Arc welding 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 12 
                 65 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 12 
                 75 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 18 
                 85 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0051]    The submerged arc welding was performed by using a solid wire (JIS Z3351 YS-S6) and fused flux (JIS Z3352 FS-FP1). The gas-shielded metal arc welding was performed using a flux cored wire (JIS Z3313 YFW-C50DM). For each of the welding method and plate thickness of the rib, welding was performed using conditions shown in Table 2. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Rib plate 
                   
                 Wire 
                 Welding 
                 Arc 
                 Welding 
               
               
                 Welding 
                 Thickness 
                 Power supply 
                 diameter 
                 Current 
                 voltage 
                 Speed 
               
               
                 method 
                 t (mm) 
                 characteristic 
                 (mmΦ) 
                 (A) 
                 (V) 
                 (cm/min) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Submerged 
                 6 
                 AC 
                 2.0 
                 450 
                 32 
                 60 
               
               
                 arc welding 
                 12 
                 DC constant 
                 3.2 
                 650 
                 32 
                 55 
               
               
                   
                   
                 current 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 DC constant 
                 4.0 
                 800 
                 32 
                 45 
               
               
                   
                   
                 current 
               
               
                 Gas-shielded 
                 12 
                 DC constant 
                 1.4 
                 400 
                 36 
                 40 
               
               
                 metal arc 
                   
                 current 
               
               
                 welding 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 * torch angle: 45°, wire extension: 25 mm, 
               
               
                 * Shielding gas: CO 2 -25 l/min 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0052]    The results of evaluation tests of the welding are summarized in Table 3. The amount D of penetration was determined as an averaged value obtained from three test pieces obtained from each sample after the welding for macroscopic observation. Absence or presence of slag inclusion was examined based on the observation of the above-described test pieces of macroscopic sections and observation of ruptured face s formed by cleaving the test pieces after cutting a V-notch in a surface of a bead of a weld zone of each of the test pieces. The absence or presence of blowholes was also examined based on the observation of the rupture faces. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Burn 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 through 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 towards 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 the back 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Depth of 
                 Penetration 
                   
                 Generation 
                 surface of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 penetration 
                 rate 
                 Slag 
                 of 
                 the rib 
               
               
                   
                 Symbol 
                 (mm) 
                 D/t (%) 
                 inclusion 
                 blowholes 
                 plate 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Examples 
                 1 
                 5.5 
                 92 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                 of the 
                 2 
                 4.5 
                 75 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                 present 
                 3 
                 11.6 
                 97 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                 invention 
                 4 
                 10.5 
                 88 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 8.6 
                 72 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 8.0 
                 67 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 14.6 
                 81 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                   
                 8 
                 13.7 
                 76 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                   
                 9 
                 11.6 
                 64 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 9.8 
                 82 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 negative 
               
               
                 Comparative 
                 11 
                 &gt;6.0 
                 &gt;100 
                 negative 
                 negative 
                 positive 
               
               
                 Example 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (seven/m) 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 5.4 
                 90 
                 positive 
                 positive 
                 negative 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 11.8 
                 98 
                 positive 
                 negative 
                 positive 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (2/m) 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 10.8 
                 90 
                 positive 
                 positive 
                 negative 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 14.7 
                 82 
                 positive 
                 positive 
                 negative 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0053]    Each of the Examples 1 to 10 according to the present invention exhibited satisfactory penetration where slag inclusion or generation of blowholes was not observed (negative) and burn through towards the back surface of the rib did not occur. Excluding Examples 3, 6, and 9, Examples according to the present invention demonstrated that a complete penetration was effectively prevented (penetration ratio was no greater than 95%) while ensuring deep penetration of a penetration ratio of not larger than 70%. In Comparative Examples 11 to 15, root faces were not provided to the rib edges. In Comparative Examples 11 and 13, burn through occurred by penetration reaching to the back surface of the plate of the rib. In Comparative Examples 12, 14, and 15, molten metal did not reach the molten slag that intruded into the root portions of the rib edges and slag inclusion occurred. Comparative Examples 12, 14, and 15 also showed an occurrence of blowholes. 
         [0054]    As an example of the present invention,  FIG. 9  shows a photograph of a macroscopic test piece of Example 4 for sectional observation.  FIG. 10  shows a photograph of a ruptured face of the test piece. 
         [0055]    As a comparative example,  FIG. 7  shows a photograph of a macroscopic test piece of Comparative Example 14 for sectional observation.  FIG. 8  shows a photograph of a ruptured face of the test piece. 
         [0056]    In Example 4, according to the present invention, slag inclusion was not observed. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 14, it was observed that slag inclusion  10  occurred in the time of forming the weld zone  40  by welding the deck plate  20  and the rib  30 . 
         [0057]    As explained above, according to the present invention, molten slag and blowholes could be eliminated during the welding. Therefore, generation of residual molten slag and blowholes was inhibited and a stable amount of penetration could be achieved. 
         [0058]    While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.