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US 2004/0000118 A1Published application
Fire-resistant beams
OwnerRichard D. Fuerleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vertical and horizontal beams in a building are hollow and are filled with at least one container, such as a sack, a ball, or a liner, filled with a heat sink, such as water. In a vertical column, the weight of the containers rests on the foundation and is not carried by the beams. When a fire vaporizes the water inside vertical columns, it is replaced by water falling from higher up in the column.
Claims20
A structural unit comprising
- (A) an elongated member enclosing a space;
- (B) within said space, at least one container enclosing a heat sink;
- and
- (C) means for attaching said elongated member to other structural units:
1 more element
A vertical column comprising at least two stacked structural units, where each structural unit comprises
- (A) a hollow elongated steel member that encloses a space, where said space is continuous from one unit to the next;
- (B) filling said space, a multiplicity of flexible, waterproof sacks filled with water;
- and
- (C) steel flanges welded to said structural units.
1 more element
A vertical column comprising
- (A) at least two hollow stacked structural units, each unit enclosing a space, whereby a continuous space runs the length of said column;
- (B) filling said continuous space, a single liner filled with water;
- and
- (C) steel flanges welded to said structural unit.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.