US2014451A - Fastening device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1935. w'. 'PFEIFER, JR 2,014,451

FASTENING DEVICE Filed March 30, 1935 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to fastening devices and is more particularly directed to means for anchoring or securing corrugated or other metal sheeting to elements of a support- 5 ing frame, in various forms of construction work.

While my invention, as hereinafter will become manifest, possesses a wide range of utility in the erection of sheet metal structures of many. types in different fields, for the purposes of this disclosure I have elected to describe it, more or less specifically, as it may be practiced in the assembly of sheets of corrugated metal upon rigid supporting members for the formation of a metal roof for a building or the like. It will be understood, however, that this ismerely illustrative and is not to be construed, in any sense, as limiting my invention to this particular application.

As is well known, in constructing a building roof of corrugated metal sheeting, it is the standard practice to overlap the sheets inwardly of their edges and anchor the overlapped portions to the purlins or other supporting members of the roof framework. Numerous means for anchoring or fastening the sheets upon the framework have been proposed, none of which, however, has

proven entirely satisfactory in meeting the demand for low production and installation costs combined with efficient performance of the intended function thereof. For example, in some instances, the fastening devices are of a special design and their use is consequently limited to certain kinds of work, while in others the devices are such as to measurably increase the labor outlay in the erection of a roof in which they are em- 'ployed. In those forms of prior devices which are most generally utilized, a rivetting operation is necessary in securing the sheets to the purlins and in the performance of this operation it frequently happens that the ridges of the corrugations upon which the rivets are to be upset are indented to an appreciable degree, or the metal ruptured or broken about the rivet holes. This, obviously, not only endangers the security of the jointure of the sheeting with the purlins but makes it impossible to produce a watertight roof.

The same is true, to a considerable extent, where bolts are utilized in the assembly of the anchoring devices, it being evident that, unless the amount of tension exerted upon the sheet metal in the application of the securing nut to the bolt is carefully controlled, with the concomitant increase in labor costs, the relatively thin material of the sheeting will be susceptible to damage.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that none of the devices now available for securing corrugated metal sheeting to rigid supporting members responds to the demand for low production and installation costs with efficiency in the performance of the work to which they are to be 5 applied and, therefore, it is the general object of this invention to provide a means and method of fastening sheets of corrugated metal to their supporting elements which will meet this demand in a most simple and practical manner.

More specifically, it is the object of this invention to provide a device for fastening sheets of corrugated metal to cooperating supporting members whereby the erection of a structure in which they are employed will not only be expedited, 15 but a secure and water-tight jointure of the sheets will be effected simultaneously with their connection to the supporting members.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a means for fastening corrugated sheets to 20 relatively rigid supporting members, having the aforesaid characteristics and advantages, wherein the possibility of deformation or rupture of the ridges of the sheeting in the application of the fastening devices will be entirely eliminated, in a 23 simple and practical manner, thus obviating the waste in labor and material which frequently results from the necessity of disassembling and discarding sheeting that may have been rendered non-serviceable by careless or inexpert perfor- 3U mance of the jointure and anchoring operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means for anchoring metal sheeting to suitable supports, in different forms of construction work wherein the jointure between the sheets is ren- 3 dered water-tight or leak-proof co-incidentally with the interlocking of the sheets and the supports, my means comprising an assembly of cooperating elements for simultaneously effecting a leak-proof jointure of the sheets and their posi- 40 tive connection to their supports in a single installation operation. I

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will become evident as the description proceeds and I would have it clearly understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the full range of equivalents, both in structure and in use, to which I may be entitled under my invention in its broadest aspect.

A preferred embodiment of my invention which is particularly responsive to the requirements of roof construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a view in elevation, partly in section, showing my fastening device as it functions in anchoring corrugated metal sheets to a supporting member.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation, looking toward the web of the channel member, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective of an element of the fastening device assembly, which functions as a. support for the ridge of the sheeting, in the use of my invention.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the sheetsupport engaging component of my device.

Figure 5 is also a view in perspective, showing fragments of overlapped sheets of corrugated metal interlocked with their supporting member by the use of my invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the aperture sealing element of my assembly, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modification of the ridge supporting element shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing, in detail, in which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views, and more particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, 1 indicates a bracket or plate adapted for interlocking engagement with the sheet-supporting member of the roof or other construction, which, in the present showing, is a purlin of the conventional channel cross section, as shown at 8. This bracket, as will be observed, is of the so-called hook type, the body I and co-operating nose 1*, respectively, conforming to the-contour of the outer and inner faces of the purlin flange with which it is associated as and for the purposes hereinafter described.

It will be noted that the aforesaid bracket is provided with a plurality of alined apertures 9, l and H through a pre-selected one of which the threaded end of the bolt I0, which may be of the screw-head type, is adapted to be passed to receive the securing nut II, the assembled fastening device also including a preferably annular washer or gasket I2, preferably of lead or other soft metal or of any other material that will resist corrosion and cooperate with the bolt head in the functioning of my device in attaining the objectives to which the invention is directed.

In utilizing my fastening means, the corrugated sheets, l3 and M, are overlapped upon the purlin 8, in accordance with the usual practice, the sheets being provided with a series of registering apertures alined along their mated edges, through which the bolts of the several fastening devices are adapted to be passed, so that the shanks thereof will parallel the web of the purlin, substantially as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The aforesaid openings for the reception of the bolts may be formed in the sheets prior to their location upon the purlins or after their edges have been overlapped, either by drilling or punching, or, if desired, the end of the shank of the bolt may be tapered so that the bolt may be driven therethrough to provide the necessary apertures in the mated sheets, it being obvious, of course, that a washer I2 is applied to each bolt before it is entered in the apertures of the sheets with which it is to cooperate.

In order that the sheeting along the ridges l3 l4 in which the bolts are seated may not become distorted or the metal surrounding the bolt holes therein may not be broken or ruptured in the operation of anchoring the sheets to the purlins, I employ a shoulder or abutment 2,014,451 I I which is preferably formed from relatively flat which, of course, the complemental ridge of the outer sheet is in registration. As will be obvious, when the shoulder or abutment is in position, the bolt shank, adjacent the sheeting is straddled by the parallel arms thereof, the curved surface l5 connecting the arms being preferably extended below the plane of the lower edges thereof, as at l5 to form a stop I 5 which will abut against the web of the purlin when the shoulder is in its proper functioning position, it being apparent that by the provision of this stop, the alinement of the shoulder or support IS with the longitudinal axis of the ridge within which it is to be located in the placement of the shoulder is facilitated.

Following the location of the bolt within the sheeting apertures and the positioning of the abutment or shoulder l5, between the upper flange of the purlin and the sheeting, as just described, or at any other convenient stage in the sheet-anchoring operation, the lower end of the bolt shank is entered in the appropriate aperture of the bracket 1, depending upon the transverse measurements of the lower flange of the purlin, to position the bolt parallel to its web. The securing nut H is then applied to the bolt and turned up to draw the sheeting and the cooperating shoulder or abutment l5 into close association with the upper flange 8 of the purlin, it being manifest, of course, that the bracket is engaged with the purlin flange as it is designed to function in the employment of my invention. The pressure exerted upon the washer or gasket I5 by the head of the bolt, as a result of the turning up of the nut upon the bolt, tends to compress and spread the metal of the washer or gasket so that it not only effectively seals the sheeting apertures through which the bolt shank passes but functions as a medium for interlocking the surfaces of the two relatively harder metals between which it is interposed, thereby materially increasing the eificiency of my anchoring device in resisting forces detrimental to the constant maintenance of the jointure, as vibration and the normal expansion and contraction of the metals, due to climatic or other conditions.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, in lieu of the bolt l0 and the bracket 1, I employ a bolt H, the end of the shank of which has a hook formation to embrace the lower flange of the purlin similarly to the bracket 1, the threaded portion of the bolt, in this embodiment of my invention, extending through the alined apertures of the overlapped sheets to receive a cap or acorn nut l8, in threaded engagement therewith, a washer or gasket of a softer material than the cap nut being interposed between the latter and the outer surface of the sheeting. This washer may be similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 or it may be of a special design as illustrated in Figure 7, in which it will be noted that both faces in the zone of its central aperture are formed with substantially semi-spherical bosses I9 and 20, these bosses operating with the head of the bore of the cap nut i8 and the registered apertures of the sheets to provide a positive and water-tight jointure of the locking device and the sheets. I

In Figure 8 there is illustrated a slightly modifled form of abutment for interposition between a purlin and the ridges of the sheeting through which the fastening bolts are to be passed, from which it will be noted, the stop l is omitted and the ends of the arms 2| and 22 are of an a proximately wedge-shape formation, as indicated at 2| and 22 While I have described my invention more or less specifically with relation tothe preferred embodiment and modified forms thereof illustrated herein, it will be evident that the elements of my fastening device may vary in design, within certain limits, to meet various construction conditions, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined by the appended claims; also that, as heretofore pointed out, the simplicity and ease of application of my fastening device, as well as the cooperation of the several elements thereof, enables me to attain the objectives to which my invention is directed, not only in the formation of a sheeting metal roof, but in all of those forms of construction work wherein it is desirable or necessary to anchor corrugated metal sheeting to a relatively rigid supporting frame in a manner which will assure a positive and water-tight jointure of the sheetinc.

I claim:

1. A device for fastening corrugated metal sheeting to a channel member of a supporting framework, comprising a bolt, a bracket conformed to engage the inner and outer surfaces of the lower flange of said channel member and projecting beyond the web thereof, theprojecting portion of said bracket being provided with a plurality of apertures, through a pre-selected one of which said bolt is adapted to extend, means in threaded engagement with the protruding end of said bolt and co-acting with said bracket to anchor said sheets to said support and a U-shaped fitting embodying a portion to abut upon the web of said member adapted to be inserted between said sheeting and said channel member and embracing said bolt, to support the sheeting for perforation for the reception of said bolt and to resist distortion of the sheeting in response to the functioning of the aforesaid anchoring means.

2. A device for supporting the hill section of a piece of corrugated metal'sheeting from a flat surface of a structural element upon which the dale sections on either side thereof are superposed, for resisting distortion of the crest of said hill in its perforation for the reception of an anchoring bolt and in the functioning of the anchoring media, comprising a U-shaped member having its parallel sides provided with wedge shaped entering ends merging into flat top and bottom edges, adapted respectively to support the under part of the hill section of the sheeting and abut upon the flat supporting surface of said element, when said member is disposed within said hill, the base of said member connecting its aforesaid lower parallel sides being extended therebelow to form a shoulder, the face of which is adapted to abut against part of said structural element, disposed at a right angle to that with which said lower edges contact, whereby said shoulder will function as a stop and to center the longitudinal axis of said member on the longitudinal axis of said hill within which said member is located.

3. A means for fastening corrugated metal sheeting to a flanged member of a supporting framework, comprising a bolt, a bracket having one end conformed to engage the inner and outer faces of the flange of such member, the other end thereof extending beyond the web of said member and being provided with bolt-receiving apertures, a U-shaped fitting, embodying a portion formed to abut upon the web of said member, adapted to straddle said bolt with its parallel surfaces in bearing contact respectively with the flange of said member and the opposed sheeting, a seal f r the bolt orifice in the sheeting formed of I, compressible material and having a raised central zone apertured to embrace said bolt in juxtaposition to its head, and means for threaded engagement with said bolt to coact with said bracket in anchoring said sheeting to said support, the raised central portion of said seal being deformable into close association with the underside of the bolt head, to provide an hermetic jointure between the sheeting and the anchoring device.

WILLIAM PFEIFER, JR.

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