US3641303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for continuously making truss elements
Assignee: INTEGRATED BUILDING INDUSTRY I
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Filing: 1970-01-26
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1990-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for continuously making truss elements in successively formed unit lengths from supplies of web forming and chord-forming strip. A unit length of supporting web is shaped at a die station while in position overlying a longitudinal portion of chord member formed of the chord forming strip. The web is joined at a welding station by resistance welding to the chord. The shaping of the unit length of web imparts to the web a pair of alternate opposite bends separated by straight portions. The bends include flat portions for joining to chord members and the straight portions between the bends are shaped to a curved cross section to provide rigidity. The chord member is provided with outwardly projecting ribs which melt to form the weld when pressed between resistance welding electrodes. The forming dies and welding heads move from the path of the truss element as the truss element is intermittently advanced by a three-latch advancing mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard W Collins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:02
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K11/00; B23K11/002; B23K11/008; B21; B21D; B21D47/00; B21D47/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
An apparatus for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with the bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said apparatus comprising: a forming station having a material guiding path extending therethrough from a feeding end upstream of said station to a delivery end downstream of said station; means at said feeding end, for feeding linear chord member forming material into said station along said path, and for feeding flat web forming strip material into said station along said path adjacent said chord member forming material; said forming station including means for successively forming unit lengths of truss element from said chord and web member forming materials; means at said delivery end for engaging said formed truss element and for advancing it step by step, in one unit length distances, along said path; and said forming station including: a. cooperating die sets for shaping unit lengths of supporting web, said sets having forming surfaces for imparting said bends to said web and having forming surfaces for imparting said contoured cross sections to the lengths between the bends of said web, , b. cooperating welding heads for resistance welding the bends of said one of said sets to said chord member, c. said die sets being operative to impart both said bends and said contours to a given unit length during a single dwell between consecutive ones of said advancing steps, and d. said welding heads being positioned along said path to operatively engage one of said bends during said dwells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
305 words
An apparatus for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with the bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said apparatus comprising: a forming station having a material guiding path extending therethrough from a feeding end upstream of said station to a delivery end downstream of said station; means at said feeding end, for feeding linear chord member forming material into said station along said path, and for feeding flat web forming strip material into said station along said path adjacent said chord member forming material; said forming station including means for successively forming unit lengths of truss element from said chord and web member forming materials; means at said delivery end for engaging said formed truss element and for advancing it step by step, in one unit length distances, along said path; and said forming station including: a. cooperating die sets for shaping unit lengths of supporting web, said sets having forming surfaces for imparting said bends to said web and having forming surfaces for imparting said contoured cross sections to the lengths between the bends of said web, , b. cooperating welding heads for resistance welding the bends of said one of said sets to said chord member, c. said die sets being operative to impart both said bends and said contours to a given unit length during a single dwell between consecutive ones of said advancing steps, and d. said welding heads being positioned along said path to operatively engage one of said bends during said dwells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said welding heads are positioned along said path a distance of one unit length downstream from the die surfaces which shape the bend of the web which is to be welded to the chord member; and said welding heads operating to weld a given bend during a dwell immediately succeeding the dwell during which said given bend was formed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said die sets comprise: a first die of said first set positionable between said chord and web-forming materials; and a second die of said second set positioned opposite said web-forming material from said chord-forming material and relatively movable toward said first die in the plane of said members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first die includes a pair of die halves movable from rest positions on opposite sides of the plane of said members into operative position in said plane between said members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein: said first die includes a forming block having an apex over which one of said bends is formed; said second die includes a forming block having an apex over which an opposite one of said bends is formeD; and said forming blocks being positioned one-half of a truss element unit length apart along said path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first die set includes a pivotal die having an arcuate forming stroke away from said chord member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said dies operate simultaneously to shape, to its ultimate configuration, an entire unit length of web, including an aggregate of two complete bends and two contoured lengths between bends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a clamp to grip a previously formed unit length of web during said forming of said unit length of supporting web.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said dies include flat forming surfaces to shape a flat portion in one of said bends of said web, said flat portion and said chord member presenting opposing welding surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: one of said bends and said chord member present opposing welding surfaces; and one of said welding surfaces has outwardly projecting ribs for welding to the other of said welding surfaces whereby said chord member is welded to said web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said ribs are carried by said chord member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first die set includes an anvil for preventing deformation of said ribs upon operation of said dies in shaping said web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first die set includes an anvil having concave rib-receiving surfaces therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein: the tips of said ribs present a surface having less area than the corresponding length of said other of said welding surfaces; and said resistance weld is formed by the melting of said ribs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said welding heads include means for pressing said chord and web together through a distance of approximately the height of said ribs to form said weld.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said ribs consist of two longitudinally extending ribs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said advancing means includes a plurality of latches for engaging respective points of different unit lengths of truss element, whereby said advancing means is operable to advance a continuous truss element having a gap in said chord member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising: a stop being mounted adjacent said path at said delivery end, said stop movable into the path of said chord member to provide for initial registration thereof, and to control said gap, and said stop being movable out of said path to permit the advancing of said truss element by said advancing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a cutoff station positioned downstream of said forming station whereby a plurality of truss elements can be continuously made.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said apparatus comprising; a forming station having a material guiding path extending therethrough; means for feeding linear chord member forming material and flat web-forming strip material into said station and for advancing said chord and web along said path through said station; said forming station including means for successively forming unit lengths of truss element from said chord and web member forming material comprising: a. cooperating die sets for shaping an entire unit length of supporting web to its ultimate shape adjacent a corresponding unit length of saId chord member, said sets having forming surfaces for imparting said bends to said web and for imparting said contoured cross sections to the lengths between the bends of said web, and b. cooperating welding heads for resistance welding said bends of said one of said sets to said chord member.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said apparatus comprising; a forming station having a material guiding path extending therethrough; means for feeding linear chord member forming material and flat web-forming strip material into said station and for advancing said chord and web along said path through said station; said forming station including means for successively forming unit lengths of truss element from said chord and web member forming material comprising: a. cooperating die sets for shaping an entire unit length of supporting web to its ultimate shape adjacent a corresponding unit length of saId chord member, said sets having forming surfaces for imparting said bends to said web and for imparting said contoured cross sections to the lengths between the bends of said web, and b. cooperating welding heads for resistance welding said bends of said one of said sets to said chord member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said die sets comprise: a first die of said first set positionable between said chord and web forming materials; and a second die of said second set positioned opposite said web-forming material from said chord-forming material and relatively movable toward said first die in the plane of said members.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said first die includes a pair of die halves movable from rest positions on opposite sides of the plane of said members into operative position in said plane between said members.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein: said first die includes a forming block having an apex over which one of said bends is formed; said second die includes a forming block having an apex over which an opposite one of said bends is formed; and said forming blocks being positioned one-half of a truss element unit length apart along said path.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said first die set includes a pivotal die having an arcuate forming stroke away from said chord member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising a clamp to grip a previously formed unit length of web during said forming of said unit length of supporting web.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said dies include flat forming surfaces to shape a flat portion in one of said bends of said web, said flat portion and said chord member presenting opposing welding surfaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein: said welding heads are positioned along said path a distance equal to an integral number of unit lengths downstream from the die surfaces which shape the bend of the web which is to be welded to the chord member.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said apparatus comprising: a forming station having a material guiding path extending therethrough; means for feeding linear chord member forming material and flat web forming strip material into said station and for advancing said chord and web along said path through said station; said forming station including means for successively forming unit lengths of truss element from said chord and web member forming material comprising: a. cooperating die sets for shaping unit lengths of supporting web, b. one of said bends and said chord member present opposing welding surfaces, c. cooperating welding heads for resistance welding one of the bends of said web to said chord member, and d. one of said welding surfaces has outwardly projecting ribs for welding to the other of said welding surfaces whereby said chord member is welded to said web.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said apparatus comprising: a forming station having a material guiding path extending therethrough; means for feeding linear chord member forming material and flat web forming strip material into said station and for advancing said chord and web along said path through said station; said forming station including means for successively forming unit lengths of truss element from said chord and web member forming material comprising: a. cooperating die sets for shaping unit lengths of supporting web, b. one of said bends and said chord member present opposing welding surfaces, c. cooperating welding heads for resistance welding one of the bends of said web to said chord member, and d. one of said welding surfaces has outwardly projecting ribs for welding to the other of said welding surfaces whereby said chord member is welded to said web.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said welding heads, when operative are positioned in the plane of said chord and web members.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said ribs are carried by said chord member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein: the tips of said ribs present a surface having less area than the corresponding length of said other of said welding surfaces; and said resistance weld is formed by the melting of said ribs.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein: said die sets have forming surfaces for imparting said bends to said web; and said first die set includes an anvil for preventing deformation of said ribs upon operation of said dies in shaping said web.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein: said die sets have forming surfaces for imparting said bends to said web; and said first die set includes an anvil having concave rib-receiving surfaces therein.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said welding heads include means for pressing said chord and web together through a distance of approximately the height of said ribs to form said weld.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with the bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said apparatus comprising: a forming station having a material guiding path extending therethrough from a feeding end upstream of said station to a delivery end downstream of said station; means at said feeding end, for feeding linear chord member forming material into said station along said path, and for feeding flat web forming strip material into said station along said path adjacent said chord member forming material; said forming station including means for successively forming unit lengths of truss element from said chord and web member forming material comprising: a. cooperating die sets for shaping unit lengths of supporting web, and b. cooperating welding heads for resistance welding the bends of said one of said sets to said chord member; means at said delivery end for engaging said formed truss element and for advancing it step by step, in one unit length distances, along said path; and said advancing means including a plurality of latches for engaging respective points of different unit lengths of truss element, whereby said advancing means is operable to advance a continuous truss element having a gap in said chord member.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with the bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said apparatus comprising: a forming station having a material guiding path extending therethrough from a feeding end upstream of said station to a delivery end downstream of said station; means at said feeding end, for feeding linear chord member forming material into said station along said path, and for feeding flat web forming strip material into said station along said path adjacent said chord member forming material; said forming station including means for successively forming unit lengths of truss element from said chord and web member forming material comprising: a. cooperating die sets for shaping unit lengths of supporting web, and b. cooperating welding heads for resistance welding the bends of said one of said sets to said chord member; means at said delivery end for engaging said formed truss element and for advancing it step by step, in one unit length distances, along said path; and said advancing means including a plurality of latches for engaging respective points of different unit lengths of truss element, whereby said advancing means is operable to advance a continuous truss element having a gap in said chord member.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising: a stop being mounted adjacent said path at said delivery end, said stop movable into the path of said chord member to provide for initial registration thereof, and to control said gap, and said stop being movable out of said path to permit the advancing of said truss element by said advancing means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 35 further comprising a cutoff station positioned downstream of said forming station whereby a plurality of truss elements can be continuously made.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with the bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said method comprising the steps of: feeding linear chord member forming material along a predetermined path and feeding flat web-forming strip material along said path adjacent said chord member forming material; shaping an entire unit length of supporting web to its ultimate shape while in its ultimate position adjacent a corresponding unit length of said chord member, said shaping step including the substep of: a. shaping a pair of alternate opposite bends in said web, one of said bends being shaped while in position adjacent the point on the chord member to which it will be joined, b. shaping the lengths between said web to a contoured transverse cross section while said bends are maintained in their ultimate positions; and subsequently resistance welding said one of said bends to said point on said chord memBer.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for continuously making truss elements of arbitrary length, said truss elements having a linear chord member and a supporting web member joined to said chord member, said web member having bends of alternating opposite sets with the bends of one of said sets being welded to said chord member, and said web member being formed of flat strip material shaped to a contoured transverse cross section along the lengths between said bends; said method comprising the steps of: feeding linear chord member forming material along a predetermined path and feeding flat web-forming strip material along said path adjacent said chord member forming material; shaping an entire unit length of supporting web to its ultimate shape while in its ultimate position adjacent a corresponding unit length of said chord member, said shaping step including the substep of: a. shaping a pair of alternate opposite bends in said web, one of said bends being shaped while in position adjacent the point on the chord member to which it will be joined, b. shaping the lengths between said web to a contoured transverse cross section while said bends are maintained in their ultimate positions; and subsequently resistance welding said one of said bends to said point on said chord memBer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 38 further comprising the step of: advancing said truss element one unit length along said path between said shaping and welding steps.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 39 wherein said advancing step includes the substep of engaging said truss element at a plurality of points one unit length apart whereby said advancing step may proceed when gaps occur in said chord member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |