Two element building frame members, method and apparatus

A building frame member comprising:

• an elongated sheet metal first element having a planar first wall extending from a right angle first corner to a spaced right angle second corner, a planar second wall extending from said first corner, a first seam portion extending from said second wall and a second seam portion extending from said second corner,
• an elongated sheet metal second element, identical to said first element, having a planar first wall extending from a right angle first corner to a spaced right angle second corner, a planar second wall extending from said first corner, a first seam portion extending from said second wall and a second seam portion extending from said second corner,
• a roll formed, double overlapped first seam located between said first corner of said first element and said second corner of said second element, formed from said first seam portion of said first element and said second seam portion of said second element, and connecting said second wall of said first element to said second corner of said second element, and
• a diametrically opposed, roll formed, double overlapped second seam formed from said first seam portion of said second element and said second seam portion of said first element, and connecting said second wall of said second element to said second corner of said first element,
• whereby said first and second elements form a closed, substantially rectangular shape.

A method of making a building frame member comprising the steps of:

• providing identical, compactly stackable, substantially L-shaped elongated, sheet metal first and second elements each having a first wall with a first edge and a spaced second edge, a right angle first corner at said first edge, a planar second wall extending from said first corner, a partially formed first seam portion extending from said second wall and a partially formed second seam portion extending from said second edge,
• assembling said first and second elements with said first corners diametrically opposed, said first seam portion of said first element fitting with said second seam portion of said second element and said first seam portion of said second element fitting with said second seam portion of said first element,
• forming a first seam by roll forming said first seam portion of said first element and said second seam portion of said second element, and
• forming a second seam by roll forming said first seam portion of said second element and said second seam portion of said first element.

A portable apparatus for making an enclosed cross-section building frame member from elongated, sheet metal first and second elements, comprising:

• a floor mounted frame having a front end and a spaced back end,
• an elongated guide tube spaced above said frame and having a front end mounted to said front end of said frame and supporting said guide tube, said guide tube extending rearwardly to a spaced back end, said guide tube being sized for assembly of said first and second elements,
• a mandrel mounted to and supported by said back end of said guide tube, said mandrel extending rearwardly from said back end of said guide tube to said back end of said frame,
• spaced, diametrically opposed first and second inner seaming roller sections mounted on said mandrel, said first and second inner seaming roller sections each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced inner seaming rollers, and
• first and second outer seaming roller sections mounted on said frame, said first and second outer seaming roller sections each having a plurality of spaced, powered outer seaming rollers aligned with said inner seaming rollers,
• whereby said first and second elements are assembled on said guide tube and said inner and outer seaming rollers form diametrically opposed first and second seams between said first and second elements to form said frame member.