초록 ▼

A metal beam with a thermal break between opposite sides and method of making is disclosed. In a first embodiment a huck rivet extends through aligned holes in a pair of opposed beam sections having a base wall portion and a side wall portion. In a second embodiment a punch/swedge operation forms a

A metal beam with a thermal break between opposite sides and method of making is disclosed. In a first embodiment a huck rivet extends through aligned holes in a pair of opposed beam sections having a base wall portion and a side wall portion. In a second embodiment a punch/swedge operation forms a rivet in the base wall portion of one beam section that extends through the other base wall portion of the other beam section. In a third embodiment a series of spaced, alternating tabs and recesses are formed in the beam section and the tabs overlap and are riveted at overlapping tabs only to form a gap in the formed beam. In a fourth embodiment oppositely opening hooks are formed in the inner sections of first and second beam sections that interfit and are seamed together to fasten the two beam sections with a continuous seam along the center of a composite beam.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A metal beam with a thermal break between opposite sides comprising:a first metal beam section including a first base wall portion and first side wall portion extending transverse to said first base wall portion,a second metal beam section opposite said first beam section

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A metal beam with a thermal break between opposite sides comprising:a first metal beam section including a first base wall portion and first side wall portion extending transverse to said first base wall portion,a second metal beam section opposite said first beam section, said second beam section including a second base wall portion and a second side wall portion extending transverse to said second base wall portion,said first and second base wall portions being oppositely disposed and having adjacent first and second inner edges, said first and second base wall portions being in an overlapping relation to one another to provide overlapping portions,a thermal barrier between said overlapping portions of first and second base wall portions to thermally isolate said first and second beam sections, andfastening means to mechanically fasten said first and second base wall portions together adjacent said inner edges with said thermal barrier between said overlapping portions of said first and second base wall portions to form a structural composite beam,said fastening means being provided by first and second inner sections extending from said first and second inner edges along said first and second base wall portions, said first and second inner sections being roll formed to form a first hook having a first opening in said first section and a second hook having a second opening in said second section interhooking with said first hook, a bend in one of said base wall portions of one of said beam sections, said bend being disposed opposite and extending transverse to the opening of the hook of said one beam section and opposite the hook of the other of said beam sections to prevent separation of said interhooking hooks, said hooks being compressed together by roll forming to form a continuous seam along the center of said composite beam to provide a rigid connection between said first and second beam sections that is not separated by loading forces on said composite beam.