Method And Tool for Joining Side-Lapped Seams Of Steel Deck Panels And Steel Deck Structure Incorporating Interlocking Side-Lapped Seams

A method of forming an attachment in an interlocking side-lapped seam of a steel deck structure, wherein the steel deck structure comprises:

• a. a first steel deck panel, the first steel deck panel including an upturned male lip along one side edge thereof;
• and,
• b. a second steel deck panel including a downwardly-directed U-shaped female channel along one side edge thereof, the U-shaped female channel extending over and receiving the upturned male lip of the first steel deck panel to form the side-lapped seam, the U-shaped channel including first and second walls generally parallel to each other;
• the method of forming the attachment comprising the steps of forcing/pushing/punching a first punch tooth through the U-shaped channel first wall and into the side-lapped seam and a second die tooth through the U-shaped channel second wall and into the side-lapped seam and thereby forming:
• i. one or more slit openings extending through the male lip and through the first and second walls of the female channel;
• and,
• ii. a pair of semi-conical shaped lobes wherein each lobe bulges in an opposite transverse direction from the longitudinal center of the side-lap seam and extends longitudinally along the side-lapped seam, in opposite directions from the one or more slit openings, from a base located at the one or more slit openings towards an apex of each semi-conical lobe.

An apparatus for forming an attachment in an interlocking side-lapped seam of a steel deck structure, wherein the steel deck structure comprises:

• a. a first steel deck panel, the first steel deck panel including an upturned male lip along one side edge thereof, and,
• b. a second steel deck panel including a downwardly-directed U-shaped female channel along one side edge thereof, the U-shaped female channel extending over and receiving the upturned male lip of the first steel deck panel to form the side-lapped seam, the U-shaped channel including first and second walls generally parallel to each other;
• the apparatus comprising:
• i. a die member having one or more die teeth for engaging the first wall of the U-shaped channel;
• ii. a punch member disposed adjacent to and generally facing the die member, the punch member having one or more punch teeth for engaging the second wall of the U-shaped channel;
• and,
• iii. a linear actuator connected to the punch member for selectively moving the punch member towards or away from the die member;
• wherein as the punch member is moved towards the die member, the die teeth and the punch teeth of the die and punch members are forced/pushed/punched into the side-lapped seam and extend at least partially past each other for thereby forming the attachment.