Structural steel lintel

Abstract

Where N≥2

1 . A lintel, comprising:
 a beam structure having a top flange and a bottom flange with a web extending therebetween, the beam having an internal depth extending from an internal surface of the top flange to an internal surface of the bottom flange, the internal depth being equal to the sum of the number of brick courses to be received between the top and bottom flanges multiplied by the depth of a brick, plus the depth of mortar courses between the brick courses.   
     
     
         2 . The lintel of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom flanges each have a thickness equal to the depth of a mortar course. 
     
     
         3 . The lintel of  claim 1 , wherein the web has a thickness not greater than the depth of a mortar course. 
     
     
         4 . The lintel of  claim 1  wherein the top flange is narrower in the width than the bottom flange. 
     
     
         5 . The lintel of  claim 4  wherein the top flange is offset relative to the web. 
     
     
         6 . The lintel of  claim 4  wherein the top flange is centrally located relative to the web. 
     
     
         7 . The lintel of  claim 1  further comprising spaced holes in the web at heights corresponding to the mortar courses. 
     
     
         8 . The lintel of  claim 1  wherein the width of the bottom flange is less than the sum of the widths of two bricks plus a vertical mortar joint between them. 
     
     
         9 . The lintel of  claim 1  wherein the top and bottom flanges have a thickness of 10 mm and the web has a thickness no greater than 10 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The lintel of  claim 1  wherein the bottom flange width is between 200 mm to 210 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The lintel of  claim 1  further comprising tie-down formations along the top surface of the top flange. 
     
     
         12 . The lintel of  claim 11  wherein the tie-down formations comprise lugs mounted in a spaced manner along the top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The lintel of  claim 12  wherein the lugs comprise upside down U-shaped rods with ends thereof mounted by welding to the top surface. 
     
     
         14 . The lintel of  claim 1  wherein the web is disposed to extend from corresponding aligned side edges of the top flange and the bottom flange. 
     
     
         15 . The lintel of  claim 14  further comprising spaced holes in the top flange. 
     
     
         16 . The lintel of  claim 14  wherein the upper and lower flanges have a thickness of 5 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The lintel of  claim 14  wherein the beam has an external depth extending from an external surface of the top flange to an external surface of the bottom flange, the external depth being equal the sum of the number of brick courses to be received between the top and bottom flanges multiplied by the depth of a brick, plus the number of brick courses multiplied by a mortar course depth, plus the depth of the top flange. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly, comprising: a lintel of  claim 1 ; and brick and mortar courses disposed between the internal surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly, comprising: a lintel of  claim 17 ; and brick and mortar courses disposed between the internal surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly, comprising; a lintel of  claim 11 ; and straps fed through the tie-down formations, wherein ends of the straps are attached to a timber plate or a roof truss.