US2323271A - Grating - Google Patents

Description

June 29, 1943- R. .1. BARRY 2,323,271

GRAHNG Filed Feb. 19, 1942 :5 sheets-sheet 1 1 I? 7/ a ZJ DMT,

' R. J. BARRY `lune 29, 1943.

GRATING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb'. 19 1942 y INVENToR. /P/CHA/Po c/ 4R/Py. E@

ATTORNEYS June 29, 1943.

R, J. BARRY GRATING l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 19 1942 -J HHIIHIIIIIIIHII W. m5 m ma/m 2H A 23a BY ZOG Patented June 29, 1943 GRATING Richard J. Barry, New York, N. Y., assignor vto Walter Edward Irving, Glenbrook, Conn.

Application February 19, 1942, Serial No. 431,503

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in gratings and more particularly to a novel means of coupling grating panels in edge to edge relation to provide a continuous grating of a required area.

The invention set forth herein constitutes an improvement over the gratings se-t forth in the present pending patent applications Serial No. 358,598, led September 27, 1940, and a divisional application thereof Serial No. 372,706 filed J anuary 2, i941, in which I lam a joint inventor with Carl Rasmussen.

The primary object or this invention resides in a continuous grating and means for release-bly connecting the grating panels together for emergency use as` portable air eld mats land for the formation of other large grating areas.

One of the present type of grating air field mats and means of connecting the grating panels is dangerous to those handling them, for they provide pointed coupling bars along the outer edges of the panels which cause injury to the handlers and tear their clothing. Another grating panel section with which I am familiar is constructed with broken bars about the sides and ends thereof, or which have their side and end bars provided with wing-.type connectors. The former construction is weakened by reason of the broken bars, and the latter produces a hinge effect when two or more panels are coupled together which effect weakens the continuity of the mat formed by the coupled panels. Furthermore,I the means of connecting the panel sections above referred to are expensive of construction, for the broken bar construction requires the making and handling of small pieces during fabrication of the grating panels. The Wing-type connector construction requires the making, handling and riveting or relatively small pieces to the outside edges of the panels 'after the same are made up. Also, the ends of broken bars and wing connectors are easily bent in handling and transportation which necessitates time and labor to straighten out for assembly in the eld. Whereas the two aforementioned censtnictions of grating panels have been placed into practice and the broken bar structure is superior 'to the wing-type connector method, grating manufacturers employing welding methods cannot ,economically use it because of the extra work and expense involved in making the outside bars broken and in pieces. type oi mat section with which Iam familiar and which is known as 'the Pierced steel plank type also has certain of the above mentioned objections, for each mat section consists of a perforated panel having bent tongues along one of the A third edges and tongue receiving slots -alon-g the opposed edge. vThese tongues are exposed to bending and breakage during vhandling and may not be in positionfor Aforming an interlockwith the slots of a companion panel.v

Some of the features ofthe invention are to provide a grating panel f-h-aving continuous bars on the outside edges which permits edge bars of adjacent panel `unitst-o belocked-flush against each other, thereby eliminating any hinging action between adjacent panel units; which eliminates dangerof bending of side bars in handling and in transit; which hastens fabrication of the panels in the shop, and assembly of the-same 1n the field; which standardizesall longitudinal bars in the panel as to length-andbends at the ends, and vall transverse end bars as to length; Awhich reduces scrap and waste in manufacturing; which eliminates the danger of injury to 'a personhandling the panels and any liability of tearing ones clothes yduring handling; and by use of' continuous outside bars, the same may be welded together with all otherbars in thepanel unit.

`Another feature ofthe invention is to provide a novel construction-of releas'able coupling means between adjacent panels 4consisting of suitably spaced C-shaped -coupling 1 members captively slidable on the meeting side bars of adjacent companion -panel units, the C-shaped couplingmembers on one ofthe meetlngbars having interlocking engagement with :t'h'e meeting bars of companion panel units, said C-shaped :coupling members being freelyengageable with the side -bar of a companion panel unit upon positioning of the panel sections edge Vto edge, so thatv an assembler need only hammer the C-shaped ycoupling membersto locking positions alongthe meeting side bars, said C-shaped members being held against .sliding to releasing position by stops struck out vfrom one of the `meeting' side bars, which stops may be struck a hammer blow ,to restore the bar toga straight form to enable sliding of the couplingmembers to release position when separation of the panels for removal, repainor vreplacement is desired. t Other novel-features of the-:invention will become apparent; as the vfollowing specification v1s read in conjunction with the accompanying of the bar coupling meansin released position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but illustrating the coupling member in coupling position.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line 1 -'lof Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan View partly in section of the meeting bars of two adjacent grating panels, the coupling slide members being shown in locking position and held against sliding to release position by bending one of the bars outwardly relative to the otherat a point intermediate the spaced apartvcoupling members.

Figure l9 is a side elevational lview of one of the grating panels per se.v

Figure 10 is an end elevational view of one of the grating panels per se.

Figure 11 is a sectional side` elevational view of a modified Iform of stop means for limiting sliding of the coupling members from coupling to release position, the stops being illustrated in normal position prior to being struck to stop 'forming position.

tion shown in Figure 11 and showing the stops in lstruck-out .obstructing position.

-3 ,Figure 13 is a sectional side elevational view of amodication to facilitate the guiding of the coupling members to coupling position; the coupling members being illustrated in release position in full lines and in locking position in dotted lines. l

Figure 14 is a top planview of the modification shown in Figure 13, and showing the coupling `members in locking position. -.Referring to the drawings by reference characters and at present to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 10` inclusive, the numeral IU designates one metal grating panel or unit in vits entirety. For the construction of a continuous grating, a number of metal grating panels l0 are provided as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which have abutting ends and sides coupled together in a novel manner hereinafter described. The panels I0 are all of the same size, shape, and construction to render them interchangeable, and a description of one of such grating panels will suice for the others.

i A grating panel IU is elongated rectangular in form and of any desired length and width which facilitates ease of handling during manufacture, transit, and assembly of the panels in use for the'making of continuous grating. In practice, dimensions of approximately twelve and one half feet length, and between one to two feet width have proven satisfactory for convenient handling of the grating panel but such dimensions arnotto be construed as limitation of the scope of-the invention, for the panels may be made in other sizes if desired.

The panel I0 is constructed of flat metal bars or strips arranged on edgeand which dene the grating meshes. 'Ihe panel includes an elongated rectangular frame F` comprising straight parallel side bars II-.I I, and straight end bars I2-I2a. The ends of the side bars II-II are provided with right angular inwardly bent flanges I3 to which the respective ends of the end bars I2-I2a are riveted or welded as at I 4. Equidistantly spaced and disposed parallel to the side bars II-II is a series of straight bars I5, the ends of which are bent at right angle to provide anges I6 which abut the adjacent end bars i I2-I2a and are secured thereto by rivets I1 or welding. If the meeting ends of the bars are welded, the flanges I6 may be eliminated. 'I'he transverse spacing of the bars II-II from the bars I5 corresponds to the spacing of the latter from each other.

In the spacing between the bars I5 and between the outermost bars I 5 and side bars I I-I I there are strips I8 bent into appropriate zig-zag form and permanently secured at their point of contact to the respective bars I I and I5 by rivets I9 or by welding. Thus, all of the bars II, I2, I2a, I5 and I8A are rigidly and permanently united in a unitary panel structure, the open spaces between adjacent bars constituting meshes.

Each side bar II beginnning with the mesh next to the corner mesh, is provided with equidistantly elongated reduced portions 2|). These reduced portions 20 are formed by cutting away opposite edges of the bar II and are disposed medial of the height of the bar. The cut-away portions provide opposed notches 2I-2I in the bar, the end walls of which are inclined as at 22. The reduced portions 20 in the bar II are disposed at alternate meshes along the length of the bar as best illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 9. Slidably mounted on each bar I I within each of those meshes intermediate those in which the reduced portions 20 are formed, are a pair of C- shaped coupling members 23-23. One C-shaped coupling member 23a is slidable on each bar Il within the length of each corner mesh. Each coupling member 23 and 23a has its open mouth 24 facing outwardly and the size of the mouth is greater than the width of the reduced portions 20 to facilitate the free insertion of the reduced portion 20 of one panel I0 into the mouths 24 of the coupling members of a next adjacent panel I during the forming of a continuous grating as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The cross sectional space Within each C-shaped coupling member is of a size to receive the cross sectional areas of the abutting side bars II of a pair of adjacent grating panels.

The end bar I2 is provided with two suitably spaced reduced portionsl 20a which are similar to the reduced portions 20. In this instance the reduced portions 2M are respectively disposed within those meshes next to the corner meshes as best illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and l0. Only one of the ends of the notches formed by providing the reduced portions 20a have their ends inclined as at 22a, however, in instances where space permits, both ends may be inclined. The inclined end walls 22a are those disposed nearest the ends of the bar I2.

The end bar I2a is of uniform shape and has two suitably spaced C-shaped coupling members 23h slidably mounted thereon within those meshes next to the corner meshes as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The C-shaped coupling members 23h are identical in construction as the coupling members 23 and a further description of the same is not believed necessary, except that their open mouths face outwardly to confront the reduced portions of companion bars of adjacent aelzaavi vpanels tobe connected to form a continuous gratcoupling members 23-23, to releasing position to" ward each other, that is, to a position substantially midway between adjacent bendsof the adjacent zig-zag strips I8, so as to be disposed in a position to receive the respective reduced portions 20 of the next panels to be connected. The single coupling members 23a are slid to a releasing position adjacent the end bars I2 and I2a. After placing one panel Ill flat upon the ground or other supporting surface, a second companion panel I is likewise placed in staggered relation thereto and adjacent side bars II- of the two panels are brought vintoparallel abutting engagement with the open sides of the coupling members 23 of the side bar II- of one panel in confronting relation to thev reduced portions 20 of the companion panel. An operator, now, with the aid of a hammer may strike the members 23-23 toslide them tolocking position, clear of the vends of the reduced portions 20. Also, the single couplingmembers 23a will receive one of the reduced portions 20 and is driven to locking position clear of one end thereof. Two panel sections are now connected, side by side and in staggered relation. Other panels I 0 may be similarly connected to the outer free sides ofv the two 'connected panels to form a grating surface of t-he desired width.

For connecting the panels I0, end to end, a slightly different procedure takes place. The panel I 0 may be considered as having a female end on which the coupling members 23b are mounted, and a male end on which the reduce-d portie-ns 20a are provided in the end bar I2. The male end of one panel is brought into edge to edge relation with the female edge of a com-- panion panel, or vice versa. The couplingmernbers 23D are slid to releasing position prior to bringing the ends of the panels together, whereupon the reduced portions 2a will freely enter the mouths of the coupling members 23h, after which an operator hammers the coupling members 23h outwardly toward the inclined walls of the notches formed by the cutting away of the bar I2 to form the reduced portions- 20a. The third panel overlaps the side of the rst mentioned panel, and the confronting side bars I`I-i I of thesetwo panels are joined toof such means being illustrated in Figures -8, 11,Y

and 12. In Figure 8, a pointed instrument may be inserted' between the reduced portions 20--2011 and the adjacent confronting side rail or end rail I-Za respectively, and a hammer Vblow imp'a .rtedV to the instrumentV to cause the same to.

force the reduced portionsl 20 and 20a outwardly to bulged shape. The bulged shape or outwardly deformed reduced coupling portions act as stops for-limitingfthe slid-ing movement of the C-shaped cou-plingmembers to releasing position. However, the deformed coupling portions may be flattened to their originali positions by` strik-ing the same a blow with a hammer when itis desired to slide the C-shaped coupling members to release positions for purposes of disassembling the connected grating panels or when repair or replacement of the same is in order.

In Figures 11 and 12, the bar I I is slit on horizontal lines coextensive with the ends of the top and bottom edges of the reduced portions 29 as indicated by the numeral 25 to provide pointed bendable lugs 26. The lugs 26 are bent out'- wa-rdly by the use of a suitable instrument tothe position shown in Figure 12, where they are in obstructing position to prevent sliding movement of the pair of coupling members 23-23 to release positions. The lugs 26 may be bent to original positions Within the plane of the thickness of the bar from which they are formed when it is desired to slide the coupling members 23-23 toward each other to release position. I

In Figure 14, the end walls of the opposed notches 2| are beveled outwardly as at 21 for engagement by the walls of the mouth opening 24 of the C-shaped coupling members 23 when they are driven from release to locking position. The beveled surfaces 21 act to guide the coupling members to locking engagement with the bar II on which the reduced coupling portion 2U is formed.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the grating panels and coupling means carried thereby are convenient for rapid assembly and coupling of the panels, and also, for convenient and rapid dismantling of the continuous grating, or for removal and replacement of a damaged panel located in any position in the length and width of the assembled grating. Any one of the panels may be uncoupled by merely driving those coupling members t0 their releasing position which fasten the panel to adjoining panels, after which the uncoupled panel may be freely lifted from the assembly.

I-n addition to the above stated advantages, the continuity of the side and end bars of the panel and the Vnovel coupling means, permits the close coupling of the meeting outer bars, and prevents any objectionable hinge effect between the coupled panels. Also, the C-shaped coupling members are captively slidable on their respective supporting bars and theirsliding movement is restricted rby the sections of the various bars forming the meshes.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be the preferred embodi-V ments of the invention, it is to be understood that such changes in construction and design as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A sectional grating including a panel having a side bar, a reduced portion provided in said side bar, a compa-nien panel having a side bar iiatl'y abutting the rst side bar, and a pair of C-shaped coupling members slidably mounted upon these'c ond side bar. having` their open sides facing. the first side bar to freelyv receive the reduced por.. tion, said C-shaped coupling members being .slid in oppositev directions beyond the ends of the re-V duced portion to cause the same to clampingly embrace both side bars to prevent separationof the'panels one fromthe other.

2. A sectionalgrating as set forth in claim 1. including meansv bentv outwardly from the firstside bar at-the ends of the reduced portion and disposed in the path of sliding movement of the respective coupling members toward each other when in spaced apart coupling position to prevent accidental uncoupling of the panels.

3. A sectional grating including a panel having a side bar, said side bar having opposed notches in the longitudinal edges thereof, 'a companion panel having a side bar flatly abutting the first side bar, and a pair of C-shaped coupling members slidably mounted upon the second side bar having their open sides facing the first side bar and clampingly embracing the rst side bar beyond and adjacent the ends of said notches, said notches being of a length greater than the combined widths of the pair of coupling members whereby the coupling members may be slidtoward each other to release position within the confines of the length of the notches to facilitate the uncoupling and subsequent coupling of the panels.

4. A sectional grating including a panel having a side bar and open meshes along said side bar, C-shaped coupling members slidable upon said side bar within the limits of certain of said meshes and having the open sides facing outwardly; a companion panel having a side bar and open meshes along the last named side bar, the last named side bar having sets of opposed notches in the longitudinal edges thereof, each set of opposed notches being disposed within the limit of certain of the meshes of the companion panel, the bars being arranged in abutting engagementwith sets of notches in opposed relation to the C-shaped coupling members to facilitate the passage of the open sides f the coupling members through the opposed Ynotches to enable the sliding of the coupling members beyond the ends of the respective notches to coupling engagement with the notched side bar. i

5. A grating section comprising an elongated rectangular shaped panel having a structure forming the grating meshes bounded by straight continuous side bars, the two opposed longitudinal side bars having reduced portions spaced therealong, said reduced portions being within the limit of alternate meshes along the said bars, and C-shaped coupling members slidably mount` ed on said longitudinal bars within the limits of the other of said meshes, the open sides of the C-shaped coupling members facing outwardly to enable the same to be brought into coupling relation to the reduced portions of 'a companion panel to facilitate the sliding of ther coupling members onto the complementary side bar of a companion panel. f

6. A grating section comprising an elongated rectang-ular shaped panel having a structure forming the grating meshes and includi-ng straight continuous end bars, one of the end bars having reduced portions Within the limits of suit-V ably spaced meshes along said bar, and C-shaped coupling members slidably mounted upon the other end bar Within the limits of those meshes corresponding to those aforementioned spaced meshes, the open sides of the C-shaped coupling members facing outwardly to enable the same to be brought into coupling relation to the reduced portions at the end of a companion panel to facilitate the sliding of the coupling members onto the complementary end bar of a companion panel.

7. A sectional grating including agrating panel comprising a structure forming grating meshes and including a bar forming a side of the lclosed meshes at an edge of the panel, reduced portions provided in said bar and suitably spaced therealong within the limits of certain of the meshes, a companion panel comprising a structure forming grating meshes and including a bar forming a side of the closed meshes at an edge of the companion panel and arranged in abutting engagement with the rst bar, and a series of C-shaped coupling members slidably mounted on the second bar within the limits of certain of the meshes, said C-shaped coupling members having their open sides facing outwardly to respectively receive the reduced portions of the first bar when slid to release position and being slid beyond the ends of the reduced portions to coupling position for coupling the panels together.

8. A sectional grating as set forth in claim 7, including means bent out from the bar of the first panel after the coupling members are slid to coupling position for-preventing the accidental sliding of the coupling members to release position.

9. A sectional grating as set forth in claim 7, including prongs, bent outwardly from the ends of the reduced portions and disposed in the path of sliding movement of the coupling members to release position for preventing accidental sliding of the coupling members from coupling to release position.

10. A sectional grating as set forth in claim 7,' including beveled guide surfaces provided on the rst bar at the ends of the reduced portions in the `path of sliding movement of the .coupling members to coupling position for guiding the coupling members onto the rst bar for coupling engagement therewith.

11. A sectional grating panel including a panel having a side bar, said side bar having sets of opposed notches in the longitudinal edges thereof, said sets of notches being arranged at suitable spaced distances apart, a companion panel having a side bar ilatly abutting the rst side bar, and C-shaped coupling members slidably mounted upon the second bar having their open sides facing the first side `bar and clampingly engaging the first side bar beyond the ends of the respective sets of notches, said sets of notches being of a length greater than the width of the respective C-shaped coupling members whereby the C-shaped coupling members may be slid to release position within the confines of the length of the respective sets of notches to facilitate the uncoupling and subsequent coupling Vof the panels. 12. In combination, a pair of grating panels having straight continuous complementary outer bars arranged in side to side abutting relation, a substantially C-shaped coupling member slidably mounted on one of said bars and having its open side facing the other of said bars, the other of said bars having a reduced portion provided therein intermediate the ends thereof, said C-shaped coupling member receiving the reduced portion through the open side thereof and being slid to a position beyond one end thereof to cause the same to embrace both of the bars and prevent accidental separation of the grating panels.

13. A sectional grating including a panel having a side bar, a reduced portion provided in said side bar, a companion panel having a side bar intermediate the ends thereof flatly abutting the first side bar, a C-shaped coupling member slidably mounted upon the second side bar having its open side facing the first side bar, said C-shaped coupling member being of a cross-sectional size to slidably embrace both side bars, said C-shaped coupling member receiving the reduced portion through the open side thereof and being slid to a position beyond one end of the reduced portion to cause the same to embrace both side bars to prevent accidental separation of the panels one from the other.

14. A continuous grating comprising in com-` bination, a rectangular shaped grating panel havbars, two corresponding side bars of the panels being arranged in parallel abutting engagement, C-shaped coupling members slidably and captively mounted on one of the side bars and engaging the other side ,bar and having their open sides facing the last named side bar, said coupling members being engageable and disengageable with the last named side bar by means of reduced portions provided thereon for securing the ing straight continuous side bars, a companion 410 pangs together in Side by Side relation grating panel having straight continuous side RICHARD J. BARRY.

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