Metal sheet for building purposes, and method and apparatus for marking such sheets

Abstract

The invention relates to a metal sheet for building purposes, comprising a panel and two standing flanges lengthwise at opposite sides of the panel. According to the invention one or both flanges have a non-rectilinear form in the plane of the panel. The invention also relates to a method and an apparatus for forming such metal sheets.

1 . Metal sheet for building purposes, comprising a panel and two standing flanges lengthwise at opposite sides of the panel, wherein one or both flanges have a non-rectilinear form in the plane of the panel, wherein the panel contains one or more corrugations substantially parallel to one or both of the flanges, which corrugation or corrugations give the flange or flanges the non-rectilinear form.  
     
     
         2 . Metal sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both flanges have a substantially convex form.  
     
     
         3 . Metal sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both flanges have an a substantially concave form.  
     
     
         4 . Metal sheet according to  claim 2 , wherein a corrugation or corrugations are present in the portion of the panel at the end or the ends of the length of the sheet.  
     
     
         5 . Metal sheet according to  claim 3 , wherein a corrugation or corrugations are present in the portion of the panel substantially halfway the length of the sheet.  
     
     
         6 . Metal sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is a substantially tapered sheet.  
     
     
         7 . Metal sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is a curved sheet.  
     
     
         8 . Metal for forming a metal sheet for building purposes, the sheet comprising a panel and two standing flanges lengthwise at opposite sides of the panel, the method comprising the step of forming one or more corrugations in the panel substantially parallel to one or both of the flanges so as to give one or both of the flanges a non-rectilinear form in the plane of the panel.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 8 , wherein one or more corrugations are formed over part of the length of the panel.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 8 , wherein one or more corrugations are formed having different portions with a different height.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 8 , wherein the corrugation or corrugations are formed by using one or more profiled rolls.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for forming a metal sheet for building purposes, the sheet comprising a panel and two standing flanges lengthwise at opposite sides of the panel, the apparatus comprising means for forming one or more corrugations in the panel substantially parallel to the flange, such that the flange gets a non-rectilinear form in the plane of the panel.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , comprising means for aligning the flange of the metal sheet, parallel to which the corrugations have to be formed by the forming means.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , comprising means for guiding the flange after the corrugations have been formed by the forming means.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the forming means comprise one or more rolls having a circular protrusion, where the cross-section of the protrusion substantially corresponds to the cross-section of the corrugation to be formed.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the roll or rolls with a circular protrusion are motor driven.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the rolls are replaceable.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , comprising means for aligning the flange of the metal sheet, parallel to which the corrugations have to be formed by the forming means, and comprising means for driving the sheet through the forming means.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , comprising means for guiding the flange after the corrugations have been formed by the forming means, and preferably comprising means for drawing the sheet through the forming means.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the forming means comprise one or more rolls having a circular protrusion, where the cross-section of the protrusion essentially corresponds to the cross-section of the corrugation to be formed, and one or more cooperating rolls having a complementary circular recess.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the roll or rolls with a circular protrusion are motor driven and adjustable in height.