Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Fabric or lattice; e.g. – indeterminate grating
Patent
1996-02-20
1997-08-19
Kent, Christopher Todd
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Fabric or lattice; e.g., indeterminate grating
52665, 5274505, 5274519, 403188, 403201, 403400, 4034081, E04C 242
Patent
active
056576056
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
THIS INVENTION relates to metal lattice and to a method and means for the manufacture of such lattice.
BACKGROUND ART
The materials most commonly used in the manufacture of lattice comprise slats or strips of timber. The use of timber for the making of lattice has proven to be labour intensive and expensive to paint and maintain. If the exposed surfaces of the timber lattice are not painted or in some other way protected, the appearance of the lattice becomes shabby and aesthetically unacceptable due to weathering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate the above disadvantages or at least provide an alternative to the known lattice by providing improved lattice and a method and means for the manufacture of same. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
The present invention thus provides in a first aspect a method of manufacturing metal lattice comprising a plurality of first and second slats, said slats being formed from metal strips and having a hollow cross section and opposite side faces, said method including the steps of forming apertures in said strips such that the opposite side faces of said first slats have aligned apertures in opposite side faces and said second slats have apertures in one said side face, placing said first slats in an overlying relationship to said second said slats so that said apertures are aligned, and interconnecting said first and second slats by fastener means passed through said apertures in said first and second slats.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides metal lattice comprising a plurality of first and second slats, said slats having a hollow cross section and opposite side faces, said first slats having aligned apertures in opposite side faces and said second slats having apertures in one side face, said first slats overlying said second slats so that said apertures are aligned, said slats being interconnected by fastener means passing through said apertures in said first and second slats.
Suitably, the slats are formed from continuous strips of sheet metal which are roll formed into a hollow profile or form. Such apertures as referred to above are formed at spaced apart locations along the slats so as to enable interconnection between a plurality of slats.
For forming the apertures in the strips of sheet material, punching apparatus is provided, the punching apparatus being operated such as to ensure that the apertures in the strips are punched at an even spacing. The apertures in the strip are suitably punched during movement of the strip from a storage location for example on a roll to the roll forming apparatus. For this purpose the punching apparatus includes a punching device which is supported on a movable carriage and the carriage of the punching device is movable with the strip. Actuating means are provided for causing actuation of the punching device to cause its operation, the actuating means being actuable upon movement of the carriage a predetermined distance. Sensing means are provided to sens movement of the carriage the predetermined distance. Suitably the sensing means is a limit switch. The punching device is suitably actuated by a pneumatic actuator and the sensing means causes operation of a valve to supply air to the actuator.
Positioning means are provided for correctly positioning the punching device. The positioning means suitably includes a probe or pin which is connected to the carriage of the punching device and which is locatable in a previously formed aperture in the strip such as to cause the carriage to be positioned in a fixed attitude relative to a previously formed aperture prior to operation of the punching device. Releasing means are provided to release the probe or pin from the aperture and returning means are provided to return the carriage to its initial position.
The hollow profile formed by roll forming is substantially of C-section or closed tubular form in cross section with substantially flat
REFERENCES:
patent: 3380203 (1968-04-01), Peterschmidt
patent: 3540178 (1970-11-01), Altissimo
patent: 4723388 (1988-02-01), Zieg
patent: 4821481 (1989-04-01), Woodman
patent: 5069009 (1991-12-01), Suzuki
Kent Christopher Todd
Metalat Holdings Pty.
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