Metal panel building system

Abstract

A metal building has panelled walls and roof, being based upon a frame incorporating a water barrier, to guide any water leakage outwardly of the building. The panelling for a major area such as the roof consists of roll-up prefabricated panels in permanently connected relation by way of knuckle joints, each panel portion having a plurality of corrugations to facilitate ready rolling and unrolling of the predetermined length of panel. This type of panelling may also serve as wall panelling, as well as for the roll-up door of the building. Where planar type (non-corrugated) wall panels are used, the panel end or ends may have a flange portion, to preclude bowing of the panel. The wall panels, in combination with corner piers of the building, are load bearing, to support the roof and applied snow loads. The corner piers may consist of two planar panels for easy shipping.

1 . A prefabricated metal building having a major structural stationary load bearing portion of predetermined surface area consisting of roll-up panels in adjoining side-by-side relation, wherein adjoining ones of said panels have interlocked joints at the respective adjoining edges, and said panels each has a plurality of longitudinal corrugations extending along the panel, to facilitate forming a plurality of said panels into a readily handled roll of predetermined size and weight.  
     
     
         2 . The building as set forth in  claim 1 , said panel corrugations having a pitch distance in the range of two to seven inches.  
     
     
         3 . A prefabricated metal building having metal wall panels of profiled cross section mounted in supported relation upon a longitudinal sill structure, a floor within said building extending in close proximity with said wall panels, said sill structure including an upstanding dam portion interposed between lower edge portions of said panels and said floor, whereby in use, water moving downwardly of said panels is deflected away from said floor and towards the exterior of the building.  
     
     
         4 . The building as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said sill structure and said dam portion form a unitary structure, including an open box section girder  
     
     
         5 . The building as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said metal wall panels include an edge flange extending normal to the plane of said profiled cross section, to stiffen said panel against lateral bowing deformation.  
     
     
         6 . The building as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said metal wall panels are load bearing, roof-supporting members.  
     
     
         7 . The building as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein adjoining panel edges have a knuckle joint consisting of a pair of reversed, mutually engaging U-section end portions in substantially aligned relation with surfaces of said panel, to facilitate rolling and unrolling of a plurality of said panels in mutually joined relation into a said roll.  
     
     
         8 . The building as set forth in  claim 7 , said corrugations having a length to width ratiogreater than 12:1.  
     
     
         9 . The building as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said corrugation length to width ratio is in the range 15:1 to 80:1.  
     
     
         10 . The building as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said roll-up panels are light weight metal having a guage as low as 26 gauge.