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US 4,047,341 AGranted
Frame structure
OwnerJames T. Bernardiinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerJames T. Bernardiinventor
Estimating the term…
The frame structure comprises a pair of spaced apart vertical steel columns with a generally horizontally extending steel beam interposed between but spaced slightly from the columns by spacers carried by the columns. The columns and beam each has a generally H-shape cross-section. Moment inducing wedges are interposed in the spaces between the end faces of the beam and the columns. A plurality of fastening elements are provided at each end of the beam for initially rotating the beam on the spacers and for thereafter fixedly securing the beam to the columns, with the wedges when the fastening means are stressed inducing an upward camber into the beam prior to the application of the dead load. With such a construction the inclined face on each of the wedges is at an acute angle with respect to the vertical. By varying the acute angle or the angle in inclination of the inclined face on the wedge, variable end moments can be induced into the beam. The beam will carry its maximum dead load when the end moments (-) and mid span moment (+) of the beam are numerically equal to (w1.sup.2 /16) but in opposite directions.
A frame structure comprising a pair of spaced apart vertical columns having vertically extending mounting members, the mounting member on one of said columns facing the mounting member on the other of said columns, spacing means forming a fulcrum secured to each of said mounting members at a place thereon spaced from the ends thereof, a horizontal beam extending between the mounting members of said columns, vertically extending end plates fixedly secured to the end portions of said beam, said end plates fixedly secured to the end portions of said beam, said end plates facing said mounting members and being spaced therefrom by and being engageable with said spacing means, moment inducing wedge means interposed in each of the spaces between the corresponding mounting members and end plates, rows of aligned openings in each of said mounting members and end plates which are horizontally and vertically spaced, and fastening means in the form of threaded bolts extending through said aligned openings in said mounting members and end plates and secured thereto by nuts, said fastening means at each end of the beam prior to the tightening of the nuts initially rotating the beam on said spacing means and thereafter after the tightening of the nuts fixedly securing the corresponding end plate of the beam to the opposing mounting member through said wedge means, each of said wedge means being arranged vertically and having an upwardly and outwardly inclined flat surface extending toward the corresponding mounting member and engageable with the opposing end plate of the beam, each wedge means having a vertically extending flat surface engageable with the opposing mounting member of the column, with said inclined flat surface and said vertical flat surface lying in planes which intersect at an acute angle, each wedge means being effective when the threaded bolts and nuts are stressed to induce as a result of the beam rotating on said spacing means an upwardly extending camber in the beam prior to the application of dead loads to the structure, said wedge means being held in the spaces between the corresponding members and end plates solely by the forces generated by said fastening means, without any physical attachment to said fastening means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.