AU2001267147B2

AU2001267147B2 - A building structure

Info

Publication number: AU2001267147B2
Application number: AU2001267147A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian Davies
Original assignee: Brian Investments Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Brian Investments Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-26
Filing date: 2001-06-26
Publication date: 2006-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-26
Also published as: AU6714701A

Description

1 A BUILDING STRUCTURE

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The present invention relates to a building structure.

The specification accompanying Australian patent application number 27615/00 describes a building structure having a wall including a plurality of wall elements. Each wall element is connected to a plurality of other wall elements so as to

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Cl form the wall, wherein each wall element includes a O 10 connecting means for connecting the adjacent wall elements together to form the wall.

This structure is particularly suited for grain storage as it may be constructed to be of a dome shape. The inventor has developed an improvement to this structure.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a building structure having a wall including a plurality of tessellated hexagonal wall elements, each wall element connected to a plurality of other wall elements so as to form the wall, wherein the wall is formed of at least three consecutively connected rings of interlocking wall elements, each of the wall elements in each ring being of the same size, each of the wall elements in a first ring of the consecutively connected rings being larger than the wall elements of a second ring of the consecutively connected rings and each of the elements in the second ring being larger than the wall elements of a third ring of the consecutively connected rings.

Preferably, each wall element includes first and second adjacent sides that are each of the same length, third and fourth opposing sides that are each of the same H:\emilyw\keep\retype\P48255 pages 2-3.doc 22/12/05 2 length and shorter than each of the first and second Sadjacent sides, and fifth and sixth adjacent sides that are each of the same length and shorter than each of the C-i third and fourth opposing sides, and wherein the wall elements are tessellated to form a dome-shaped structure.

_Typically each wall element includes a connecting means for connection to adjacent wall elements.

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Preferably, the connecting means of each wall element includes an interlocking portion located on each side of the wall element for connecting each said side to another side of another wall element.

Preferably, the interlocking portions connecting two wall elements together include a complementary projection and recess, one of each formed on each respective connecting sides.

Preferably, each wall element includes a first face and second face opposite the first face, the first face of each wall element is of concave shape.

Preferably, the first face of each wall element, in use, collectively forms an interior face of the wall.

Preferably, the second face of each all element is convex in shape.

Preferably, the second face of each wall element, in use, collectively forms an exterior face of the wall H:\emilyw\keep\retype\P48255 pages 2-3.doc 22/12/05 2a Also in accordance with the present invention there is O provided a method of constructing a building structure Shaving a dome-shaped wall including the steps of: C providing a first ring of a first sized hexagonal wall elements, providing a second ring of a second sized hexagonal wall elements, which are smaller than the first sized wall elements, such that the second ring tessellates with the IND first ring, providing a third ring of a third sized hexagonal wall elements, which are smaller than the second sized C wall elements, such that the third ring tessellates with the second ring, wherein the first, second and third rings form the dome-shaped wall.

Preferably each wall element has first and second adjacent sides that are each of the same length, third and fourth opposing sides that are each of the same length and shorter than each of the first and second adjacent sides, and fifth and sixth adjacent sides that are each of the same length and shorter than each of the third and fourth opposing sides.

Preferably, adjacent wall elements are connected by placing them with the sides of each of the adjacent wall elements abutting, and connecting an interlocking portion located on each side of each of the adjacent wall elements.

Preferably, an inside face of each wall element forms a part of an inside surface of the wall.

Preferably, an outside face of each wall element forms a part of an outside surface of the wall.

H:\emilyw\keep\retype\P48255 pages 2-3.doc 22/12/05 3 Preferably, a curve in the body of each wall element contributes to the dome-shape of the wall. O C- Preferably, a concave curve of the inside face of each wall element contributes to form a constant concave curve in the inside of the wall.

Preferably, the wall elements are placed so that a convex

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C curve of the outside face of each wall element contributes to form a constant convex curve in the outside surface of the wall.

Preferably the consecutively connected rings of interlocking wall elements are placed such that each successive ring is disposed of top of a respective preceding ring.

Preferably, two wall elements are coupled together by an interlocking means of the wall element. More preferably an adhesive is used to permanently couple the wall elements together.

Preferably, a couple between the wall elements is sealed by the adhesive acting as a sealant.

In order to provide a better understanding, of the present invention, an embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a schematic representation of an embodiment of a building constructed in accordance with the present invention Figure 2 is a plan view of a wall element used to construct a building in accordance with the present invention; H:\emilyw\keep\retype\P48255 pages 2-3.doc 22/12/05 WO 02/01024 PCT/AU01/00762 4 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a wall element of figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a section of a wall if the building of Figure 1; and, Figure 5 is a perspective view of an example of a section of a wall showing the irregular nature of the wall elements in each ring of wall elements.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a building structure 10, which includes a wall 16 comprising a plurality of wall elements 12. The wall elements 12 are connected together to form the wall 16. The wall elements 12 are arranged in rings 15. The wall elements 12 in each ring 15 are of the same size and shape. The rings 15 are of decreasing radius (size) and sit one on top of the other in an interlocking manner. The wall elements 12 of each consecutive'ring are smaller than the wall elements of the previous ring.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each wall element 12 in the form of a tile. The wall element 12 includes an inside face 20 and an opposed outside face 22. The wall element 12 also includes a plurality of sides 24. The wall element is roughly hexagonal in plan view, therefore there are six sides 24. The wall elements 12 are not true hexagons though as the length of the sides are not the same size. Sides 24a and 24b are the same length, 24e and 24d are the same length and 24e and 24f are the same length. However sides 24a and 24b are longer than sides 24c and 24d, which are longer than sides 24e and 24f. It can also be seen that opposite sides (for example 24e and 24d) are not parallel.

The body of the wall element 12 is curved. More specifically, the wall element 12 is shaped with a concave curve on the inside face 20. The wall element 12 is also shaped with a convex curve on the outside face 22. The curvature of the body, and the inside and outside faces is such that when the wall elements 12 are coupled together to form the wall 16 the wall is curved so as to form a hollow hemisphere. That is, the radius of curvature of the inside face 20 is the inside radius of the hemisphere and the radius of the curvature of the outside face 22 is the outside radius of the hemisphere.

3 0 Each wall element 12 is connected to another wall element by abutting sides of adjacent wall elements and interlocking a complementary projection 30 and recess 32 between the adjacent wall elements. One side of one of the abutted wall elements has the projection WO 02/01024 PCT/AU01/00762 and the other has the recess 32. In this case, three of the sides 24 have the projection and three of the sides 24 have the recess 32. There are three projections 30 on three adjacent sides and three recesses 32 on the other three adjacent sides. In this embodiment each projection 30 is in the form of a tongue and each recess 32 is in the form of a groove adapted to receive the tongue in close-fitting relation.

The wall elements may be constructed of high-density foam, aerated concrete, plastic epoxy resin, foamed plastic or any other suitable building material. The wall elements may even be injection moulded on site to reduce transport costs.

An adhesive may be used between the projections and recess of each wall member to permanently connect the wall elements together. The adhesive may also act as a sealant so that the join between each wall member is air tight.

The interconnection between each wall element may be reinforced by using pins secured through each projection and recess when they interlock together. The pins increased tensile strength across the interlock and provide improved internal loading. Internal reinforcing may be required within each wall element to withstand load stress of the pins on the wall element.

The building structure 10 may be constructed by positioning wall elements in their correct position in each ring 15. There may be, for example, 20 wall elements in each ring. It is preferred that the number of wall elements evenly divide into 360. Layers of wall elements may be formed by placing wall elements in concentric rings. Each ring is formed one on top of the other. In particular, layers rings of the same size of wall element are used. When the layer is completed the next is commenced, with smaller wall elements needed to create the next layer in another ring of smaller radius. Each ring will have the same numbers of elements as the previous ring. Typically there are about 10 rings.

The process is repeated until a single top element can be positioned in the remaining hole.

The top element will have a number of sides equal to twice the number of element in each ring.

WO 02/01024 PCT/AU01/00762 6 The first layer of wall elements placed on the foundation 14 may alternate between half elements 12A and complete wall elements 12. This allows the base edge of the wall to be flat and secured on the foundation 14.

Each wall element in the first ring may be, for example, 2 to 3 metres in height. The actual size of the wall elements will vary depending on the desired radius and size of the building structure to be constructed.

Because of the curve (shown as lines 40) the included angle between each side of the wall elements is'not 60° as in the case in an ordinary hexagon This problem is solved by reducing the size of the tile in each ring as described above) and by adjusting the shape of the tile. Figures 2 and 5 show the tile narrowing towards the top just as the lines narrow the closer to the top of the structure you go. Example measurements are shown in figure 5 which represent the relative size relationship between tiles of each ring.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention has at least the following advantages: The building structure may be of a dome shape which is well suited to storing, for example, grain and is also well suited to resist wind loading; (ii) The building structure may be constructed relatively quickly and easily and will thus provide cost efficiencies.

Modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the basic inventive concepts, such as the projections and recesses of each wall element may alternate from one side to the next side rather than three projections in a row and three recess in a row.

All such modifications are intended to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description and appended claims.

Claims

2. A building structure according to claim 1, wherein each wall element includes first and second adjacent sides that are each of the same length, third and fourth opposing sides that are each of the same length and shorter than each of the first and second adjacent sides, and fifth and sixth adjacent sides that are each of the same length and shorter than each of the third and fourth opposing sides, and wherein the wall elements are tessellated to form a dome-shaped structure.
3. A building structure according to claim 2, wherein each wall element includes a connecting means having an interlocking portion located on each side of the respective wall element for connecting each side of the respective wall element to a corresponding side of another wall element.
4. A building structure according to either claim 2 or 3, wherein each wall element includes a first face and a H:\emilyw\keep\retype\P48255 claims.doc 22/12/05 9 o second face opposite the first face, the first face of O each wall element is of concave shape. A building structure according to claim 4, wherein c 5 the first face of each wall element, in use, collectively forms an interior face of the wall.
6. A building structure according to either claim 4 or NO 5, wherein the second face of each wall element is convex in shape.
7. A building structure according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the second face of each wall element, in use, collectively forms an exterior face of the wall.
8. A building structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein interlocking portions are provided for connecting two wall elements together include a complementary projection and a recess, and the projection is formed on a connecting side of one of the two wall elements while the recess is formed on a corresponding connecting side of the other of the two wall elements.
9. A method of constructing a building structure having a dome-shaped wall including the steps of: providing a first ring of a first sized hexagonal wall elements, providing a second ring of a second sized hexagonal wall elements, which are smaller than the first sized wall elements, such that the second ring tessellates with the first ring, providing a third ring of a third sized hexagonal wall elements, which are smaller than the second sized wall elements, such that the third ring tessellates with the second ring, H:\emilyw\keep\retype\P48255 claims.doc 22/12/05 o wherein the first, second and third rings form the Sdome-shaped wall. A method according to claim 9, wherein each wall 5 element has first and second adjacent sides that are each of the same length, third and fourth opposing sides that are each of the same length and shorter than each of the first and second adjacent sides, and fifth and sixth ND adjacent sides that are each of the same length and shorter than each of the third and fourth opposing sides.
11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein adjacent wall elements are connected by placing the adjacent wall elements together so that the sides of each of the adjacent wall elements are abutting the sides of other adjacent wall elements, and connecting an interlocking portion of the connecting means located on each side of each adjacent wall element with a corresponding interlocking portion located on a side of another adjacent wall element that abuts the respective side of each adjacent wall element.
12. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the wall elements are placed in an arrangement where an inside face of each wall element forms a part of an inside surface of the wall.
13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the wall elements are placed in an arrangement where an outside face of each wall element forms a part of an outside surface of the wall.
14. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the wall elements are placed in an arrangement where a curve in the body of each wall element contributes to a curve in the wall. H:\emilyw\keep\retype\P48255 claims.doc 22/12/05 11 o 15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the wall Selements are placed so that a concave curve of the inside Sface of each wall element contributes to form a constant concave curve in the inside surface of the wall. C-I
16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the wall elements are placed so that a convex curve of the outside face of each wall element contributes to form a constant INO convex curve in the outside surface of the wall.
17. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 16, c-I wherein the consecutively connected rings of interlocking wall elements are placed such that each successive ring is disposed of top of a respective preceding ring.
18. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 17, wherein an adhesive is used to permanently couple the wall elements together.
19. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 18, wherein the wall is sealed at joins between wall elements with a sealant. A building structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. A method of constructing a building structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 22 nd day of December 2005 BRIAN INVESTMENTS PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\emilyw\keep\retype\P48255 claims.doc 22/12/05