GB504933A - An improved metal section for use in the construction of motor vehicle bodies and other purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

504,933. Vehicle bodies; aircraft structures; furniture frames; making profile bars. MELTZ, M. Oct. 29, 1937, No. 29604. [Class 108 (i)] [Also in Groups XIV, XXII, and XXXIII] A metal section for use in the construction of motor-vehicle bodies, aircraft, furniture, &c. is of I-form and built up of two sheet-metal channels, having outwardly-projecting flanges, the head and foot of the section being constituted by sheetmetal strips having edges bent to engage the flanges of the channels which are relativelyslidable at least to one of the head and foot members to facilitate flexure of the section. After bending the parts are united, e.g. by spot-welding to provide the necessary rigidity. In a modification the channels are replaced by two - sets of separated connecting elements. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 one part constitutes the left-hand side and the head and the other constitutes the right-hand side and foot of the I-shaped section which has a core of compressed paper, millboard, or the like constituting a tacking strip 10. Each part consists of two portions comprising a flanged metal channel 11 fixed by one of its flanges 12 to an upper or lower flat metal strip 13 or 14, the other flange 17 being slidable in the bent-over edge of the adjacent strip 14 or 13. Bending is further facilitated by the provision in the channels of transverse slits 18 which extend throughout the width of one of the flanges and inwardly into the web and terminate in apertures 19 for receiving tacks for fastening fabric to the tacking strip. In modifications in which the tacking strip is omitted (1) the channels 11 lie in close proximity to each other, and (2) the two channels and upper strip form one sliding unit and the lower metal strip 14 forms the other unit. Figs. 6, 7 show a section built up of two channels 20, 21 and upper and lower strips 22, 23 there being a sliding connection between the webs of both channels and between both channels and the strips. Instead of slits for facilitating bending transverse corrugations 30, 31 are punched out in each web, and slots 40 and, if desired, lightening holes 50, provided as shown. In the construction shown in Figs. 9, 11 the channels are replaced by two sets of elements 62 each formed from an elliptical piece of steel having its ends turned up for engagement with the respective bent-over edges 61 of a pair of metal strips 60.