GB2106948A

GB2106948A - Metal floor-grating

Info

Publication number: GB2106948A
Application number: GB08208353A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Harmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-09-22
Filing date: 1982-03-22
Publication date: 1983-04-20
Also published as: AU8837782A

Abstract

Primary load-bearing members 2 are parallel metal bars, and transverse stiffening and spacing members 6 extend through, and are welded at, triangular apertures 5 in primary bearing members 2. Members 6 are of an angle cross section corresponding to two sides of the triangular apertures. Welds 8 and notches 3 impart slip-resistance. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Metal floor grating This invention relates to metal floor grating of the type wherein metal elements are located relative to each other in a grid pattern and are fixed relative to each other in this configuration.

Numerous different types of metal floor grating have been proposed and manufactured and generally such floor grating comprises a series of parallel members extending in one direction and which form the primary load bearing members and a second series of parallel members extending at right angles thereto and secured to the first series mainly to interconnect them and define the grid pattern.

Floor grating has to be designed to accept certain loadings according to the application for which it is to be used. Many different types of floor gratings are manufactured which have extremely high loading capacities and, in the past, the weight of metal employed to achieve a predetermined loading has not been a determined factor on its design. Thus large quantities of floor grating have been manufactured which comprise rods passing through perforated holes and at right angles to bars on-edge and the latter are of substantial construction.

In an effort to economise on the use of material, this being particularly important where costly materials of construction are used, the main load bearing members have been manufactured to a channel shape in cross-section. In such a case slots have been punched in the web section of the channel, which is employed in the inverted condition, and inter-connecting bars on edge have been secured thereto. This construction has the effect of appreciably saving in the employment of material but does not provide an entirely satisfactory surface. Also the material employed is nevertheless considerable in quantity and it is the object of the present invention to provide metal floor grating which is lighter in weight per unit area thereof without detracting from the required load bearing characteristics.

In accordance with this invention there is provided metal floor grating wherein the primary load bearing members are spaced parallel metal bars or strips located in an "on-edge" orientation and a series of transverse stiffening-cum-spacing members extend through apertures in the primary load bearing members and wherein the junctions between the two series of members are welded together, the grating being characterised in that the stiffening -cum-spacing members are of a channel shape in cross-section.

Further features of the invention provide for the stiffening-cum-spacing members to be in an inverted orientation in use, for the web section of the channel to be positioned a small distance below the uppermost operative edge of the load bearing bars or stips, for the channel shaped members to be formed by bending metal plate or strip to the required cross-sectional shape, and for the operatively upper edges of the load bearing bars or strips to be provided with notches along the lengths thereof to provide a slip resistant surface.

It will be understood that with the construction provided by this invention the stiffening-cum-spacing members actually contribute more structurally to the grating than the spacing members employed heretofore. Accordingly the thickness of the load bearing strips or bars need not be substantial and the required load bearing characteristics can be achieved by making the strips or bars sufficiently broad (or in the operative position, high) to provide the required characteristics.

Conveniently in order to manufacture the floor grating defined above the load bearing strips or bars are pre-punched to provide the notches along the operatively upper edge thereof and also to provide along the operatively upper edge the apertures through which the stiffening-cum-spacing members can be passed. These apertures can in fact open into the upper edge of the bars or strips as may be required. In the preferred instance where the stiffening-cum-spacing members are of a substantially inverted Vee-shape in cross-section, the apertures are triangular in shape with the apex thereof opening into the upper edge of the bars or strips.

In orderto manufacture grating ofthis type the required number of pre-cut bars or strips are located adjacent each other so that they are touching and the apertures therethrough are alinged and the stiffening-cum-spacing members can be threaded through the aligned apertures. The bars or strips can then be spaced apart along the lengths of the stiffening-cum-spacing members and the junctions between each pair of members where they cross can be welded as required.

Such an arrangement has been found to the eminently suitable for application where relatively costly materials of construction are employed such as in the manufacture of stainless steel floor grating.

However, the invention is not limited in application to such costly materials and can equally well be employed where the material of construction is mild steel or other relatively inexpensive materials. It has been found that an appreciable saving in weight per unit area of material employed can be achieved without sacrificing any load bearing characteristics of the floor grating.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a small area of grating made according to this invention, and, Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

In this embodiment of the invention floor grating generally indicated by numeral 1 is made of stainless steel, but could be made of any other desired metal.

The main load bearing members are a series of parallel spaced metal strips 2 orientated in the "on-edge" condition and having notches 3 cut out of their operatively upper edges 4.

These notches, as well as triangular shaped apertures 5, are stamped out of the metal strip and the apertures 5 communicate with the operatively upper edge 4 of the strip. The relative dimensions, in this particular instance, are that the height of the triangu lar apertures is about one-third of the width of the metal strip, thus providing an unperforated lower region of these members as this region will be in tension in use.

Inverted Vee-shaped stiffening-cum-spacing members 6, made by simply bending suitable metal strip material, define the transverse members and the web portion 7 thereof is located fractionally below the operatively upper edges of the load bearing strip members 2.

The inverted Vee-sectioned members are, as indicated above, threaded through the aligned apertures in a required number of metal strip members with the latter being held against each other in order to form the grating. The strip members are then separated to the required spacing and the uppermost zone of the Vee-sectioned members is welded to the adjacent edge of the strip member at each intersection.

It will be understood that the notches 3 provide an adequate non-slip characteristic to the operative surface of the grating and the stiffening-cum-spacing members 6 contribute appreciably in the structural sense to the load bearing characteristic of the grating. The welds indicated by numeral 8 between the members at their intersections also contribute to providing an anti-slip surface.

It will be appreciated that the gauge of metal required to be used in order to achieve a required load bearing characteristic for the grating can be appreciably less than in the case of the prior art types of grating. This results from the structural section of the stiffening-cum-spacing members whilst limiting the height of such members.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the above described embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. In particular the stiffening-cum-spacing members could be made to a somewhat different cross-sectional shape such as a U-shape or even part circular shape in cross-section. The shape of the apertures through the bars or strips which are located in "on-edge" orientation will be adjusted accordingly.

The invention provides a metal floor grating which employs appreciably less material per unit area of floor than in the case of prior art arrangements and, as a result, provide a less expensive floor grating as a result of the simplicity in construction as well.

Claims

1. Metal floor grating wherein the primary load bearing members are spaced parallel metal bars or strips located in an "on-edge" orientation and a series of transverse stiffening-cum-spacing members extend through apertures in the primary load bearing members and wherein the junctions between the two series of members are welded together, the grating being characterised in that the stiffening-cum-spacing members are of a channel shape in cross-section.

2. A metal floor grating according to claim 1 in which the stiffening-cum-spacing members are in an inverted orientation in use.

3. A metal floor grating according to either of claims 1 or 2 in which the web section of the channel is positioned a small distance below the uppermost operative edge of the load bearing bars or strips.

4. A metal floor grating according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the channel shaped members are formed by bending metal plate or strip to the required cross-sectional shape.

5. A metal floor grating according to any one of the preceding claims in which the operatively upper edges of the load bearing bars or strips are provided with notches along the lengths thereof to provide a slip resistant surface.

6. A metal floor grating according to any one of the preceding claims in which the load bearing strips or bars are pre-punched to provide the notches along the operatively upper edge thereof and also to provide along the operatively upper edge the apertures through which the stiffening-cum-spacing members can be passed.

7. A metal floor grating according to any one of the preceding claims in which the stiffening-cumspacing members are of a substantially inverted Vee-shape in cross-section, the apertures being triangular in shape with the apex thereof opening into the upper edge of the bars or strips.

8. A metal floor grating substantially as herein described and as illustrated with reference to either of the accompanying drawings.