Profiled beam element for constructing a cellular element

Abstract

A profiled beam element for constructing a cellular element comprising a top flange, a bottom flange, and a web wherein the top flange and the bottom flange extend in the same direction from the web and together with the web enclose an inner space configured to accommodate at least two further profiled beam elements placed in a sequence. The profiled beam element is characterized in that at least one of the top flange or the bottom flange comprises at least three substantially flat portions interconnected and vertically displaced with respect to each other by interconnecting regions comprising linear interlocking members wherein, the portions and the interlocking members are configured to cooperate with the portions and the interlocking members of further profiled beam elements placed in the sequence in order to fasten profiled beam elements together.

Claims

1. A profiled beam element (10) comprising a top flange (11), a bottom flange (12), and a web (13) wherein the top flange and the bottom flange extend in the same direction from the web and together with the web enclose an inner space (17) configured to accommodate at least two further profiled beam elements (10, 10) placed in a sequence; characterized in that at least one of the top flange or the bottom flange comprises at least three substantially flat portions (14abc, 15abc) interconnected and vertically displaced with respect to each other by interconnecting regions (23abcd, 25abcd) comprising linear interlocking members; wherein the portions and the interlocking members are configured to cooperate with the portions and the interlocking members of further profiled beam elements placed in the sequence in order to fasten profiled beam elements together.

2. The profiled beam element according to claim 1, wherein the portions and the interconnecting regions are integral parts of the top flange and/or the bottom flange arranged such that the portions are of the same or similar size and bound in a longitudinal direction by the interconnecting regions.

3. The profiled beam element according to any preceding claim, wherein the interlocking members are configured to form snap-fit connections with the interlocking members of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence.

4. The profiled beam element according to any preceding claim, wherein a vertical separation between the top flange and the bottom flange is smallest between the portions that are closest to the web and increases with each successive portion away from the web.

5. The profiled beam element according to any preceding claim, wherein the profiled beam element further comprises a plurality of linear mating protrusions (37) along at least one portion of at least one flange, wherein the linear mating protrusions are located away from the interconnecting regions and configured to cooperate with the linear mating protrusions of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence in order to fasten profiled beam elements together.

6. The profiled beam element according to any preceding claim, wherein the top flange and/or the bottom flange further comprise at least one linear protrusion (22) along an edge in the longitudinal direction configured to cooperate with at least one linear depression (24) located in the interconnecting region of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence in order to fasten two profiled beam elements together.

7. The profiled beam element according to any preceding claim, wherein the top flange and/or the bottom flange comprise at least one linear protrusion (26) and/or linear depression (24) in the region between two consecutive portions configured to cooperate with at least one linear depression and/or protrusion of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence.

8. The profiled beam element according to any preceding claim, wherein the portion of the top flange that is the furthest from the web has a wear surface coating (16).

9. The profiled beam element according to any preceding claim, wherein the top flange and/or the bottom flange comprise a region of relatively reduced thickness configured to cooperate with the top flange and/or the bottom flange of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence in order to form a recess for adhesive (41).

10. The profiled beam element according to any preceding claim, wherein the top flange, the bottom flange, and the web are made from a continuous sheet of self-supporting material.

11. The profiled beam element according to any preceding claim, wherein the top flange and/or the bottom flange comprise a lip (33) along the longitudinal edge of the top flange and/or the bottom flange and a slit (35) located at a distance from the longitudinal edge configured to engage with the lip of the further profiled beam element placed in the sequence in order to fasten two profiled beam elements together.

12. A method for constructing a cellular element (1) comprising a plurality of profiled beam elements according to any of claims 1-11; wherein the method comprises arranging the plurality of profiled beam elements in a sequence such that at least one profiled beam element has at least two further profiled beam elements partially accommodated within the inner space characterized in that the portions of the top flange and/or the bottom flange not enclosed within the inner space of the profiled beam element, form a substantially flat surface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises a step of placing an adhesive in the recess for adhesive in order to fasten two profiled beam elements together.

14. A cellular element constructed according to the method of claim 12 or 13.

15. The cellular element according to claim 14, wherein the cellular element further comprises a plurality of closing elements (51) configured to close plurality of longitudinal openings (18), wherein each opening is bound in a vertical direction by the top flange and the bottom flange of the profiled beam element and in the transversal direction by the webs of the profiled beam element and the further profiled element placed in the sequence, and wherein the closing elements are placed at least at each end of the cellular element in the longitudinal direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a cellular element comprising plurality of profiled beam elements according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2a depicts a perspective view of a profiled beam element according to the invention;

[0038] FIG. 2b depicts a side view of the profiled beam element of FIG. 2a;

[0039] FIG. 3a depicts a plurality of profiled beam elements of FIGS. 2a and 2b placed in a sequence;

[0040] FIG. 3b depicts a side view of the profiled beam arrangement of FIG. 3a;

[0041] FIG. 4 depicts an enlarged area of a profiled beam element according to the invention having a recess for an adhesive;

[0042] FIGS. 5a and 5b depict alternative embodiments of a profiled beam element according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 6 depicts a closing element for longitudinal openings;

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0044] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings in which illustrative embodiments thereof are shown. The drawings are intended exclusively for illustrative purposes and not as a restriction of the inventive concept which is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the definitions presented in the appended claims.

[0045] In the following description and figures, the numbering of different features is assisted by using letters and accents. The letters a, b, c, . . . are used to indicate elements of the same kind appearing within a certain embodiment of the invention while the accents are used to indicate a plurality of embodiments of the same kind appearing within an embodiment of the invention of a different kind. When placing the embodiments in a sequence, accents before the number indicate that the embodiment is placed in the sequence before the current embodiment, while the accents after the number indicate that the embodiment is placed after the current embodiment.

[0046] Taking a random embodiment from the sequence as a current embodiment, we can use the above mentioned system to describe its position with respect to its neighbours as the following. The current embodiment 100 is placed between the first successive embodiment 100 and the first preceding embodiment 100. The first successive embodiment 100 is followed by the second successive embodiment 100 and the first preceding embodiment 100 is preceded by a second preceding embodiment 100.

[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view a cellular element 1 comprising a plurality of profiled beam elements 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The profiled beam elements are placed in a sequence such that a top flat surface 3 and a bottom flat surface 5 are formed. A direction along the profiled beam element 10 is a longitudinal direction X and a direction in which the profiled beam elements 10 are placed in the sequence is the transversal direction Y. A direction in which the bottom flat surface 5 is displaced with respect to the top flat surface 3 is a vertical direction Z.

[0048] The profiled beam element according to the first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2a in perspective view. The profiled beam element 10 extends in the longitudinal direction X and comprises a top flange 11, a bottom flange 12 and a web 13 which are made as integral parts of the profiled beam element 10. The top flange 11 and the bottom flange 12 extend from the web 13 in the same direction. The web 13 is substantially perpendicular to the top flange 11 and the bottom flange 12 and together, these three elements enclose an inner space 17. The top flange has three top flat portions, generally marked 14, which are bound in the transversal direction Y by top interconnecting regions, generally marked 23. A first top flat portion 14a is the closest to the web 13. A second top flat portion 14b is in the middle and a third top flat portion 14c is the furthest from the web 13. Similarly, the bottom flange 12 has three bottom flat portions, generally marked 15: a first bottom flat portion 15a, a second bottom flat portion 15b, and a third bottom flat portion 15c. All flat portions have same thicknesses. They are bound in the transversal direction by bottom interconnecting regions, generally marked 25. The top flat portions 14 are separated vertically by the web 13 from the bottom flat portions 15. Each top flat portion 14 is substantially parallel to the bottom flat portion 15 located under it. A wear surface coating 16 is placed only on the top flat portion 14c and the bottom flat portion 15c (not visible). The wear surface coating 16 is placed on the side of flange that is not facing the inner space 17.

[0049] FIG. 2b illustrates a side view of the profiled beam element 10 of FIG. 2a. The successive flat portions of the top flange 11 and the bottom flange 12 are vertically displaced by the interconnecting regions 23, 25. This means that the profiled beam element 10 widens away from the web 13 as a vertical distance Za, Zb, Zc between the top flange 11 and the bottom flange 12 incrementally increases for a double the value of a vertical step dZ with each flat portion away from the web 13. The vertical steps dZ between the successive flat portions are all equal. This simplifies significantly placing the profiled beam elements 10 in the sequence. The wear surface coatings 16 are present on both flanges at flat portions 14c, 15c that are the furthest from the web 13.

[0050] FIG. 3a illustrates the perspective view of a plurality of profiled beam elements 10, 10, 10 placed in the sequence. That is: All profiled beam elements are identical and are placed such that a first successive profiled beam element 10 is placed within the inner space 17 of the current profiled beam element 10. A second successive profiled beam element 10 is placed simultaneously within the inner space 17 of the first successive profiled beam element 10 and the inner space 17 of the current profiled beam element 10. In this manner, longitudinal openings 18, 18, 18 are formed. Each longitudinal opening 18 is bound by the top flat portion 14a, the bottom flat portion 15a, the web 13 of the current profiled beam element 10 and the web 13 of the first successive profiled beam element 10 placed in the sequence.

[0051] FIG. 3b illustrates the side view of the profiled beam elements placed in the sequence. Particularly, relations between interconnecting parts of the neighbouring profiled beam elements placed in the sequence are shown. Flat portions 14, 15 of the neighbouring profiled beam elements are stacked on top of each other such that the top flat surface 3 and the bottom flat surface 5 are formed. The flat portions are stacked such that the first flat portion 14a for the current profiled beam element 10 is the closest to the longitudinal opening 18. The second flat portion 14b of the first preceding profiled beam element 10 is placed above it and the third flat portion 14c of the second preceding profiled beam element 10 is placed on the top. Additionally, the third flat portion 14c has the wear surface coating 16 placed on top of it. Thus, the thickness of the top flat surface 3 equals the sum of the thicknesses of stacked flat portions and the thickness of the wear surface coating 16. Similar can be stated for the bottom flat surface 5 with the exception that the third bottom flat portion 15c in this particular embodiment does not have the wear surface coating 16 on its outer side.

[0052] The successive flat portions of the profiled beam element 10 are vertically displaced by the interconnecting regions 23, 25. The vertical displacement dZ between the successive flat portions is constant and approximately matches the thickness of the flat portion. Thus, when the second successive profiled beam element 10 is placed within the inner space 17 of the first successive profiled beam element 10, the first interconnecting region 23a, 25a of this element engages with the second interlocking region 23b, 25b of the first successive profiled beam element 10. The first interlocking region 23a, 25a is slanted such that it fits into a complementary slated second interlocking region 23b, 25b. The second interlocking region 23b, 25b has a linear protrusion 22b, 26b facing the inner space 17 and a linear depression 24b, 28b facing the second flange 14b, 15b of the current profiled beam element 10. The linear depression 24b, 28b is configured to form a snap-fit lock with the linear protrusion 22c, 26c of the current profiled beam element 10 in order to fasten profiled beam elements together. The current profiled beam element has the linear depression 24c, 28c on the opposite surface from the linear protrusion 22c, 26c. The linear depression 24c, 28c is configured to form a snap-fit lock with the linear protrusion 22d, 26d of the first preceding profiled beam element 10 in order to fasten these two profiled beam 10 elements together.

[0053] In this manner the profiled beam elements are fasten together to form a cellular element 1.

[0054] To additionally fasten profiled beam elements placed in the sequence, a recess for adhesive 41 can be formed as illustrated in FIG. 4. The recesses 41 are formed by reducing the thickness of the flat portions 14a, 14b; 14b, 14c such that when the profiled beam elements are placed in the sequence the reduced thickness regions align to form the recesses 41.

[0055] FIG. 5a illustrates an alternative embodiment of the profiled beam element 10 where the linear depressions and the linear protrusions are replaced with a slit, generally marked 35, and a lip, generally marked 33, configuration. The lip 33 is configured to fit within the slit 35 in order to fasten profiled beam elements together. This configuration provides better grip between the profiled beam elements placed in the sequence as it forms a tighter lock between the connecting members. A top flange lip 33a is extending outwards from the top flange 11 and the top flange slit 35a is located on the surface of the top flange 11 lying opposite to the inner space 17. On the other hand, a bottom flange lip 33b extends inwards, towards the web 13, and a bottom flange slit 35b is located on the surface of the bottom flange 12 lying opposite to the inner space 17. The interconnecting regions 23, 25 are much wider compared to the previous embodiment due to more prominent interlocking members they comprise.

[0056] FIG. 5b illustrates another embodiment of the profiled beam element 10 according to the invention wherein the interconnecting regions 23, 25 have rather simple interlocking members in a form of slanted regions. However, the flat portions 14, 15 additionally have a plurality of linear mating protrusions, generally marked 37, on each side of each flat portion 14, 15 that is in contact with a flat portion 14, 15 of another profiled beam element 10 placed in the sequence. Inner linear mating protrusions 37b are on the surface of the flat portion 14, 15 which faces the inner region 17 while outer linear mating protrusions 37a are on the surface of the flat portion 14, 15 that is opposite to the inner space 17. Both the inner linear mating protrusions 37b and the outer linear mating protrusions 37a have a sawtooth profile in a transversal direction with the difference that the teeth are tilted in opposite directions. The inner linear mating protrusions 37b have the teeth tilted towards the web 13 while the teeth of the outer linear mating protrusions 37a are tilted away from the web 13. In this way, when the profiled beam elements are placed in the sequence, the teeth of the inner linear mating protrusions 37b of one profiled beam element interlock with the teeth of the outer linear mating protrusions 37a of another profiled beam element and fasten two profiled beam elements together.

[0057] FIG. 6 illustrates the cellular element 1 wherein the longitudinal openings 18 are closed by closing elements 51 that match with the dimensions of the longitudinal openings. The closing elements 51 are placed on each longitudinal opening 18 at both ends of the cellular element 1 in the longitudinal direction X. This increases the strength of the cellular element 1 and also prevents accumulation of dirt, water, and other unwanted objects within the longitudinal openings 18.

[0058] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive to the inventive concept. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that alternative and equivalent embodiments of the invention can be conceived and reduced to practice. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular configuration or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.

[0059] All modifications which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.