Wood-steel composite structural beam

Abstract

A composite structural beam includes a metal frame including frame members extending along at least three axes. The metal frame defines an interior cavity. An internal wood member is located within the interior cavity and is configured to provide structural support to the metal frame. At least one external wood member is connected to the metal frame such that at least a portion of the metal frame is captured between the at least one external wood member and the internal wood member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composite structural beam comprising:
 a metal frame including frame members extending along at least three axes, the metal frame defining an interior cavity;   an internal wood member located within the interior cavity and configured to provide structural support to the metal frame; and   at least one external wood member connected to the metal frame such that at least a portion of the metal frame is captured between the at least one external wood member and the internal wood member.   
     
     
         2 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 1 , wherein the frame members include a first pair of T-bars, each T-bar including a first portion and a second portion perpendicular to the first portion. 
     
     
         3 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 2 , therein the frame members include a second pair of T-bars. 
     
     
         4 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 3 , wherein the internal wood member is disposed within a central cavity defined by the first and second pairs of T-bars. 
     
     
         5 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 1 , wherein the internal wood member is a laminated wood member. 
     
     
         6 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 1 , wherein the internal wood member is sized to extend between opposed portions of the internal cavity such that the internal wood member is in abutting contact with opposed portions of the metal frame. 
     
     
         7 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 1 , wherein the frame members include a first corner bracket having a pair of flanges in orthogonal relation to each other, the first corner bracket being located at a first end portion of the metal frame. 
     
     
         8 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 7 , wherein the frame members include a second corner bracket having a pair of flanges in orthogonal relation to each other, the second corner bracket being located at the first end portion of the metal frame and extending in orthogonal relation to the first corner bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 1 , wherein the internal wood member includes a wood member void and the metal frame includes a frame member void aligned with the wood member void. 
     
     
         10 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a utility duct aligned with the wood member void and the frame member void. 
     
     
         11 . The composite structural beam recited in  claim 10 , wherein the utility duct includes a collar portion and a plate portion circumnavigating the collar portion, the plate portion having at least one surface co-planar with a surface of the at least one external wood member. 
     
     
         12 . A modular composite beam comprising:
 a plurality of beam modules, each beam module comprising:
 a metal frame including frame members extending along at least three axes, the metal frame defining an interior cavity; 
 an internal wood member located within the interior cavity and configured to provide structural support to the metal frame; and 
 at least one external wood member connected to the metal frame such that at least a portion of the metal frame is captured between the at least one external wood member and the internal wood member; 
   the plurality of beam modules being configured such that adjacent ones of the plurality of beam modules are engageable with each other.   
     
     
         13 . The modular composite beam recited in  claim 12 , wherein the frame members of each beam module include a first pair of T-bars, each T-bar including a first portion and a second portion perpendicular to the first portion. 
     
     
         14 . The modular composite beam recited in  claim 13 , therein the frame members of each beam module include a second pair of T-bars. 
     
     
         15 . The modular composite beam recited in  claim 14 , wherein the internal wood member is disposed within a central cavity defined by the first and second pairs of T-bars. 
     
     
         16 . The modular composite beam recited in  claim 12 , wherein the internal wood member is a laminated wood member. 
     
     
         17 . The modular composite beam recited in  claim 12 , wherein the internal wood member is sized to extend between opposed portions of the internal cavity such that the internal wood member is in abutting contact with opposed portions of the metal frame. 
     
     
         18 . The modular composite beam recited in  claim 12 , wherein the internal wood member includes a wood member void and the metal frame includes a frame member void aligned with the wood member void. 
     
     
         19 . The modular composite beam recited in  claim 18 , further comprising a utility duct aligned with the wood member void and the frame member void. 
     
     
         20 . The composite modular composite structural beam recited in  claim 19 , wherein the utility duct includes a collar portion and a plate portion circumnavigating the collar portion, the plate portion having at least one surface co-planar with a surface of the at least one external wood member.