Panel crimping machine having a gap adjustment mechanism

#This invention relates to a building panel and a building structure comprising a plurality of interconnected building panels. This invention also relates to a panel forming apparatus and more particularly, to a crimping machine within the panel forming apparatus.

#Most buildings are constructed of a combination of columns (i.e., posts) and beams, which are covered by plywood or some sort of metal or plastic sheeting. In an effort to reduce the overall construction time, however, contractors often construct buildings, and particularly, the exterior walls of buildings, with prefabricated building panels. Constructing a building with such panels increases efficiency because rather than assembling individual components on site, entire wall panels are manufactured on the construction site so that they can be swiftly combined and installed. These prefabricated panels are typically manufactured from steel sheet metal. Thereafter, two panels are placed adjacent to one another and the sides of the panels engage and form a sealed joint.

#These interconnected panels may by straight or arched (i.e., curved). Arched panels are typically used to construct an entire metal building. For example, the roof panels are completely arched and extend to the foundation. The design of these buildings is such that the roof panels continue downward and also form the side walls of the building, thereby creating a semi-circular shaped building when viewed from the end.

#FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of one example of a known building panel.

#FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an example of a building structure comprised of plurality of building panels illustrated in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a building panel comprising the present invention.

#Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a panel 300 formed from a single roll of ASTM standard A-653 steel sheet metal having a thickness ranging from about 24 gauge to 16 gauge. It shall be understood that the panel 300 may be formed of numerous gauges and other materials, such as aluminum or plastic as long as the material has the desired engineering requirements and provides the necessary structural integrity. The panel 300 comprises a central portion 302 from the ends of which extend, preferably at a 450 angle, a pair of inclined side wall portions 314, 316. The panel 300 also comprises wing portions 334, 336, which extend from the outer ends of the inclined side wall portions 314, 316 in a generally horizontal fashion parallel to the central portion 302.

#At the end of one wing portion 336 is a hook portion 348, which is parallel to the wing portion 336 and the central portion 302. The hook portion 348 comprises an inclined section 344 and an end section 346. Located at the end of the other wing portion 334 is a complementary receptacle portion 350 capable of receiving the hook portion 348. The receptacle portion 350 comprises an inclined section 338, an intermediate section 340 and a downward edge section 342.

#The inclined section 338 of the receptacle portion 350 is parallel to the inclined section 344 of the hook portion 348. The intermediate section 340 of the receptacle portion 350 is parallel to the end section 346 of the hook portion 348, and both the intermediate section 340 and the end section 346 are parallel to the wing portions 334, 336. Thus, when two panels 300 are adjacent one another, the receptacle portion 350 from one panel and the hook portion 348 of another panel matingly engage and form a connection therebetween.