US2164681A - Metallic plate element for building parts - Google Patents

Description

July 4, 1939.

M. FOULD 2,164,681

METALLIC PLATE ELEMENT FOR BUILDING PARTS Filed Feb. 14, 1936 Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES amsu METALLIC PLATE ELEDIENT FOB BUILDING min-rs Maurice Fould, Paris, France, assignor to Forges de Strasbourg (Societc Anonymc), Paris France, a company of France Application Februaryld, 1938, Serial No. 63,952 In France November 18, 1935 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to systems of metallic plate elements for the construction of various structures, such for instance as inner partitions in buildings, ceilings, panels for external walls, roofs, fences, and, in a general way, any building elements -or parts.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system of plate elements the assembly of which permits of obtaining a simple and strong structure, easy to assemble and to take to pieces.

According to the essential feature of the present invention, each plate element is provided with one male assembling edge curved in the shape of a gutter which is preferably substantially semi-cylindrical in section and one female assembling edge forming a nearly closed recess of corresponding shape, with a slot running longitudinally along the end thereof. A plane end part making an angle of 90 with the body of the plane element prolongs the female edge thereof.

The plate elements are arranged in such manner as to form two series running parallelly to each other, each series consisting of elements assembled in successive adjacent relation, with the male edge of each engaged in the slot of the gutter of the next one. Said series of elements are so arranged that the plane end parts thereof a a are turned toward one another respectively, and

interconnected by cross members.

Other features of the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, given merely by way of example, and showing some a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. l is a sectional view showing in detail the connection between two adjacent plate elements:

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical sectional view of a series of elements in Fig. l, assembled together;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a structure according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 shows the application of the invention to corrugated plates;

, Fig. 5 shows the application of the invention to ribbed plates;-

Fig. 6 shows an angle plate.

Fig. 1 shows the adjacent edges of two plate elements iand 2 assembled together. The male edge of metallic plate element I is bent so as to have a semi-cylindrical section as shown at I, in such manner that the end generatrix of said semi-cylinder is located nearly in the plane of plate I, but slightly behind it.-

The corresponding female edge of element 2 is first folded upon itself, as shown at iii, then bent so as to form a semi-cylinder of a diameter slightly larger than that of the male edge 3 that is en a ed th Pa ts 0 and 4 fo ms cavity which is nearly wholly closed and inside which said male edge 3 is imprisoned.

The female edge 4 is terminated by a plane end part 5 which is bent at right angles to the general plane of panel 2. This end part 5 serves to stiffen the panel and to assemble it to another building element.

- Between the semi-cylindrical part 4 and the plane edge I there is provided a small stop surface 6 intended to be applied, when the plate elements are assembled, against plate i. This surface 6 thus maintains the elements in predetermined relative positions.

When the elements form the external lining of a building, the gutter-shaped part 3 can serve to evacuate rain water, which ensures the watertightness of the assembly over its whole length without requiring the adjunction of any supplementary piece.

In order to assemblethe plate elements together, the male edge of a plate element may be caused to slide longitudinally in the corresponding female recess of the adjacent plate, in the same manner as for assembling spills. However, preferably, the edge of gutter-shaped part 3 is first engaged in recess 4 along its whole length, as shown at I in Fig.2, then plate .1 is caused to pivot about the joint in the direction of arrow 1 until it has been brought into the position it is to occupy finally, as shown by I in dotted lines,

said-position being determined by the stop surface 6 of the preceding plate element.

The whole taken to pieces quite as easily in the inversemanner.

The method of assembling the plate elements together by pivoting is particularly advantageous owing to the fact that it is not necessary to bring plate I to a level higher than its final position.

Of course, it is clear that the structure of the male and female gutter-shaped parts 3 and 4 is not limited to the cylindrical shape, although most of the other possible shapes do not permit of assembling the elements together by pivoting.

.According to the invention, these plate elements serve to ake walls of box-like structure, as shownby Fig. 3. In this latter case, two parallel series of elements II, ii are built, the eleand 5), so as to increase the stiffness or to improve the appearance of the structure formed by the assembly of the elements.

I may also provide, according to my invention, angle plate elements, the parts of which are for instance at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

In a general way,- while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efiicient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I, do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A structure of the type described which comprises, in combination, a plurality of metal plate elements, said elements consisting of a body having a male edge formed by a bent part of gutter shape, and a female edge made of a bent part forming a corresponding gutter nearly closed, with a slot running along said last mentioned gutter, and a plane end part making an angle of 90 with the body of the plate element prolonging said female edge, afirst series of these elements being assembled together in line with one another, so that the male edge of one element engages in the slot of the female gutter of the next elementof the series, a second series of such elements being assembled in a similar manner in parallel relation with the first mentioned one, these two series of elements being so arranged that their corresponding plane end parts at right angles to the bodies of said elements are turned toward one another, respectively, and means for rigidly interconnecting said corresponding end parts, respectively.

2. A structure of the type described which comprises, in combination, a plurality of metal 7 plate elements, said elements consisting of a body having a male edge formed by a bent part of circular semi-cylindrical shape and a female edge formed by a bent part forming a gutter of corresponding semi-cylindrical shape, nearly closed, with a slot running along said gutter, and a. plane end part, making an angle of 90 with the body of the plate element, prolonging said female edge, a first series of these elements being assembled together in line with one another, so that the maleedge of one element engages in the slot of said gutter of the next element of the series, a second series of such elements being assembled in a similar manner in parallel relation with the first mentioned one, these two series of elements being so arranged that their corresponding plane 7 end parts at right angles to the bodies of said elements are turned toward one another, respectively, and transverse means for rigidly interconnecting said end parts with each other, respectively.

3. In a prefabricated structure, the combination with a series of plate elements, each such element comprising a body having a male marginal portion shaped to provide a gutter extending lengthwise of such marginal portion and an oppositely disposed female marginal portion shaped to provide .a complementary gutter ex.- tending lengthwise of such marginal portion with the body of said element partly overlying said last named gutter, said female marginal portion being-further shaped adjacent its outer edge to provide a flange extending laterally of the plane of the body on that side of the body on which the gutter is formed, said elements being assembled with the gutter formed at the male marginal portion of one element received within the gutter formed at the female marginal portion of the adjacent element, of a second series of such elements shaped and assembled in a similar manner in spaced relation with the elements of the first series and with the said flanges of the elements of the two series extending toward one another, and means for rigidly connecting the said flanges of the two series.

4. In a prefabricated structure, the combination with a series of plate elements, each such element comprising a body having a male marginal portion shaped to provide a parti-cylindrical gutter extending lengthwise of such marginal portion and an oppositely disposed female marginal portion shaped to provide a complementary parti cylindrical gutter extending lengthwise of such marginal portion with the body of said element overlying the major portion of said last named gutter, the complementary gutters on adjacent elements being shaped to fit snugly one within the other, said female marginal portion being further shaped adjacent its outer edge to provide a flange extending laterally of the plane of the body on that side of the body on which the gutter is formed, said elements being assembled with the gutter formed at the male marginal portion of one element received within and contacting closely with the gutter formed at the female marginal portion of the adjacent element, of a second series of such elements shaped and assembled in a similar manner in generally parallel relation with the elements of the first series and with the said flanges of the elements of the two series extending toward one another, and means for rigidly connecting the said flanges of the two series.

5. In a prefabricated structure, the combination with a series of plate elements forming a structural wall, each such element comprising a body having a male marginal portion shaped to provide a gutter extending lengthwise of such marginal portion and an oppositely disposed female marginal portion shaped to provide a complementary gutter extending lengthwise of such marginal portion with the body of said element partly overlying said last name d gutter, said female marginal portion being further shaped adjacent its outer edge to provide a flange extending laterally of the plane of the body on that side of the body on which the gutter is formed, said elements being assembled with the gutter formed at the male marginal portion of one element received within the gutter formed at the female marginal portion of the adjacent element, of a second series of plate elements forming a second structural wall disposed in spaced relation and in general parallelism with said first wall, the elements of the second series being formed to provide laterally extending

Images