BR112018002454B1 - ABOVE GROUND FOUNDATION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SUPERSTRUCTURES - Google Patents

Abstract

ABOVE GROUND FOUNDATION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SUPERSTRUCTURES. A foundation for building superstructures is formed by metallogs that define an above-ground compartment, a first confined infill that substantially fills the compartment to a height sufficient to anchor and support the superstructure, and a second loose infill that is placed over the first. backfill and leveled and compacted to form a hard floor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to foundations for building superstructures and, more particularly, to an innovative and effective above-ground foundation and method for its construction.

Description of the State of the Art

[0002] One of the simplest and fastest methods of constructing relatively small building structures uses fabricated “hollow logs”. They can be made from plastic or other materials, but are usually made from metal and are therefore commonly referred to as "Metalogs". To minimize delivery costs, the metal strip material used to form the metallogs is shipped in the form of coils, taking up little space.

[0003] On a construction site, it is formed locked into metallogs by a commercially available tube forming machine installed with the complementary equipment and tools on a containerized trailer. An internal combustion engine typically turns on an electrical generator that drives the machine. As there are no other power requirements, the building site can be in a remote location without any connection to the electrical power grid. This type of construction is ideally suited for employment in remote rural areas where housing and other construction needs are difficult to find.

[0004] In this type of construction, the connectors to be mounted on the ends of the metallogs, which have their axes oriented horizontally, are stacked vertically at corners where two walls of the superstructure meet and are locked together to stabilize the walls. Connectors are also used to connect metallogs that form a roof.

[0005] The present applicant is a leading developer of this type of construction, as exemplified by its US Patents Nos. 4,619,089, 5,282,343, 8,074,413, 8,099,917, 8,122,657, 8,215,105, 8,555,575, and 8,567,139 and an application with an indication of the matter subject to grant No. 13/507,289, in addition of numerous patents in other countries. Identified US patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0006] The superstructure of a relatively small building comprising metallogs can be assembled, from start to finish, in less than an hour using unskilled local labor. Its (typically) steel construction makes it impermeable to termites and resistant to water and fire damage, and its structurally integrated walls, upper floor and roof, combined with low weight, make it less susceptible than masonry and other conventional constructions to damage. by earthquakes. Roof sheeting or alternatively a water impermeable membrane is applied on top of the roof metallogs to shed rain. Hollow logs can easily be clad internally and externally when deemed desirable for aesthetic or other reasons.

[0007] These considerations have made this type of construction widely acceptable in several countries for the construction of buildings of all types up to two stories and especially as a means of providing new building structures and replacing those destroyed by natural or man-made disasters for the man.

[0008] One of the most complicated parts in civil construction is the foundation. In conventional practice, it requires, among other things, bringing cement, gravel, sand and iron bars from a distance, digging trenches, pouring concrete or doing both, which requires the involvement of masons and is time consuming.

[0009] To make constructions of this type even simpler, faster and more affordable, there is a need for further improvements in terms of solutions that can compensate for the need to bring skilled workers, cement, gravel, sand and iron bars from a distance , for digging trenches and pouring concrete, which is expensive and especially time consuming. Objectives and Summary of the Invention

[0010] An object of the invention is to provide a new foundation for building superstructures which is specially adapted for simple and rapid construction in remote locations.

[0011] Other objects of the invention include providing a foundation that: • can be easily placed on a horizontal piece of land, without having to dig and pour concrete in any trench and/or pour a cement slab; • is part of the superstructure itself, standing above ground level and providing a safety margin in case of floods, raising the ground floor; • counteract externally applied forces due to, for example, wind and earthquake; • does not require maintenance; and • be easy, quick and affordable to build.

[0012] The foregoing and other objectives of the invention are achieved, in a foundation for a building, which forms part of its superstructure by defining with metallogs an enclosure on top of the ground in the lower part and adding filling to the enclosure to a sufficient height to give it the weight required for the superstructure to withstand horizontal forces in the same way as it would if anchored to a conventional foundation. Preferably, the padding comprises a first padding that is contained in a plurality of bags each of which is relatively small relative to the envelope, and a second padding above the first padding that is initially loose but then is leveled and compacted to support furniture and furniture. human traffic.

[0013] The first padding has sufficient weight for the superstructure to withstand horizontal forces even in a strong wind, and is contained in bags to prevent horizontal pressure on the letalogs, which are made of light steel and would otherwise be deformed. The second infill only extends a small height above the first infill. While initially loose and touching the metallogs, it has insufficient weight to deform them. In more detail:

[0014] The metallogs are simply placed in a rectangular pattern with their axes horizontal to define an above-ground foundation casing. The bottommost metallogs rest directly on the ground, but are not embedded in the ground. Connectors at each corner of the rectangle connect the metalogs. Connectors with their attached metalogs are stacked to a height equal to the sum of the diameters of a number of metalogs.

[0015] Workers using any convenient means, such as shovels, carry a multiplicity of bags with earth, gravel, sand, a mixture of these or other locally available filler.

[0016] There are alternatives to bag designs and ways of filling these containers: • The containers can be wooden barrels, cloth or paper bags, cardboard boxes, short metallogs arranged with the axes oriented vertically, etc. • Containers can be filled and then placed in the wrapper as described below or (preferably if the containers are relatively large and heavy) placed in the wrapper as described below and then filled.

[0017] The loaded containers constitute a first filling and a large number of them, preferably as much as possible, are placed in the foundation casing in frictional contact with the metallogs that define the casing. The containers occupy the casing or at least its periphery at a height (and consequent weight) sufficient to resist foreseeable horizontal forces on the superstructure.

[0018] For a one-story superstructure, a high-density infill, or a low-wind region, a height of three to six metallogs may be sufficient; for a two-story structure, a low-density infill, or a high wind region, a height of six metallogs or more may be required based on case-by-case engineering calculations. Depending on the height of the containers and the height of the foundation, one or more layers of containers may be required.

[0019] The first filling is confined by the containers so as not to exert a significant lateral force on the metallogs. The metallogos, despite their light construction and the great weight of the first filling, are therefore not deformed by the first filling.

[0020] A second padding is added over the first padding. The second fill is initially loose (not confined by multiple containers) and makes direct contact with the metallogs and containers immediately below the second fill. However, the second fill only extends to a small height above the containers. While the second infill is in direct contact with at least one metallog in each wall of the foundation shell, it does not extend far above the vessels and is underweighted to exert enough force against the metallogs to deform them.

[0021] Some of the second padding goes down some distance and goes into spaces between containers and into spaces between metalogs. Part of the second fill may even be in direct contact with the ground. It is within the scope of the invention to omit containers from the central part of the housing, in which case the second filling is, of course, in direct contact with the ground in the central part of the housing.

[0022] The second infill, which is initially loose, is sloped and tamped (compacted) to form a hard floor that does not get too muddy when wet. No additional flooring is required, but floors made of concrete, plywood or other material are optional, as is, of course, carpeting.

[0023] The superstructure is completed with a roof, one or more doors and window frames, etc. Means such as stairs or a ramp are provided for accessing the entrance, which is raised above the surrounding ground.

[0024] A number of additional features characterize the preferred embodiment of the invention: Each metallog is cylindrical and substantially tangent to an adjacent metallog, and the second fill follows the cylindrical curvature of at least the highest metallogs of the foundation shell, possibly up to the tangent line between the upper metalogs and the metalogs below them.

[0025] The ratio between the height of the superstructure for which the foundation is intended and the height of the foundation does not exceed 5:1 and in most environments is preferably in the range of 3:1 to 4:1. Ideally, in environments that are not too windy, the ratio is substantially 5:1.

[0026] According to the invention, the foundation: • can be built by unskilled manual labor, since the metallogs are formed and by hand, without having to bring to the site any skilled labor, cement, sand and iron bars; • can support a building superstructure of up to two stories; • it is raised above the surrounding ground (it is not a water sink) and therefore provides a safety margin in a flood; • resists due external forces, for example, wind, earthquake or flood; • requires no maintenance; and • it is easy, fast and inexpensive to implement. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] A better understanding of the objectives, characteristics and advantages of the invention can be obtained from a consideration of the detailed description of its preferred embodiments below, together with the attached drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 is an isometric perspective view of a first pair of elongated metallogs (with corner connectors attached at each end) about to be placed parallel to each other on uncovered, flat level ground, in positions indicated by dotted rectangles separated by a distance substantially equal to the length of a second pair of elongated metallogs, shown in Figure 2;

[0029] Figure 2 is an isometric perspective view of the second pair of metallogs (with corner connectors attached at each end), which are about to be placed parallel to each other with their corner connectors on top of the corner connectors linked to the metalogs of figure 1, the second pair of metalogs of figure 2 being perpendicular to the metalogs of figure 1;

[0030] Figure 3 is an isometric perspective view of the second pair of metalogs intertwined with the first pair of metalogs;

[0031] Figure 4 is an isometric perspective view of a later stage of the assembly process of a building superstructure, showing the addition of structures for entrances;

[0032] Figure 5 is an isometric perspective view showing the structure of figure 4 seated and still showing the addition of contained filling to anchor the superstructure according to the invention;

[0033] Figure 6 is an isometric perspective view, partially broken, showing the addition of loose infill on top of contained infill to form a hardpan floor;

[0034] Figure 7 is an isometric view in perspective showing the completion of the hardpan;

[0035] Figure 8 is an isometric view in perspective showing a later stage of the process, after adding windows and entrance stairs;

[0036] Figure 9 is a partially broken side elevation view showing a building superstructure, which could be another superstructure substantially the same as the building shown in Figures 1-8, placed under the same auspices, substantially at the same time, in the same general area, using the same tube forming machine and employing the same workers; and

[0037] Figure 10 is a fragmentary end view of a metallog that has a cylindrical curvature and is substantially tangent to a vertically adjacent metallog that also has a cylindrical curvature, showing that part of the second fill follows the cylindrical curvatures to the tangent line between the two metallogs to assist in closing the foundation with the superstructure.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

[0038] As explained in detail below, while in conventional practice a building superstructure is erected on top of a foundation, according to the present invention the foundation is raised above the surrounding ground, and the lower part of the superstructure surrounds the foundation in instead of being built on top of it.

[0039] Figure 1 shows a first pair of elongated metallogs 10 used at the beginning of construction of a foundation 11, seen more clearly in figure 9. Each is secured in both corner connectors 12. The metallogs 10 are about to to be laid parallel to each other on flat, uncovered and level ground in positions indicated by dotted rectangles 14.

[0040] The dotted rectangles 14 represent measured positions that can be inscribed on the floor. Alternatively, the metallogs 10 can be roughly positioned and their precise separation and parallel alignment can be determined by a second pair of metallogs 16 with corner connectors 18 that interlock with corner connectors 12 as shown in the prior art cited above and as illustrated. in figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

[0041] The metallogs 10 and 16 form an above-ground enclosure 20 (figure 3), which in almost all cases will be rectangular, but could have another shape. In the usual case, 10 metalogs are the same length, and 16 metalogs are the same length, but 10 metalogs do not necessarily have a length equal to the length of 16 metalogs.

[0042] According to the invention, the fill indicated generally at 22 in figure 6 is added to the casing 20. The fill 22 is added to a height sufficient to anchor and support the superstructure 25 in the absence of the usual concrete slab or basement in the ground.

[0043] The height at which the infill 22 is added will depend on its density, the height of the superstructure 25 (Figures 8 and 9) and the external forces that are expected to be applied to the superstructure 25 in the environment in which it is located. Factors that support greater infill height 22 include lower infill density, greater height of superstructure 25, and higher winds expected in the vicinity of superstructure 25.

[0044] The filling 22 can be of two types, described separately below: the contained multiplicity of first filling 24, shown in figures 5, 6, 9 and 10, and a second (initially) loose filling 26, shown in figures 6 -10. The first infill 24 is massive and capable, by itself, of adequately anchoring and supporting the superstructure. The second infill 26 is leveled and hardpan compressed and provides solid support for furniture and human traffic. Fill Contained 24

[0045] The first contained fill 24 comprises a plurality of containers 28 (Figure 5) into which any suitable fill 24 is placed, such as sand, clay, earth, gravel, or a mixture thereof. It is within the scope of the invention to include sizable rocks, fairly large pieces of metal and other debris in the contained fill 24, although in that case it is preferably mixed with a finer fill so that there are no appreciable voids within the fill containers 28 This helps ensure that there is no opportunity for the padding 24 to shift within the containers 28 after installation and that the padding in each container 28 rises to the same height.

[0046] The containers 28 must be strong enough not to open from the weight of the first contained filling 24. The larger the containers 28, the stronger they must be to withstand the weight of the contained filling 24. They can, in principle, be made from wooden barrels, cloth bags, paper bags, cardboard boxes and/or metallogs, provided they are strong enough and are sufficiently resistant to moisture and other conditions in the environment that may cause rotting or other degradation of the containers 28 to the over time.

[0047] Unskilled local workers using wheelbarrows and shovels can find suitable nearby fills and load the containers 28 before or after positioning them in the desired locations within the enclosure 20. To avoid having to move filled containers 28, especially if they are large and consequently heavy, it will generally be preferred to place empty containers 28 in their desired locations within the enclosure 20 before adding the first filler 24.

[0048] As indicated above, the metalogs can be used as containers 28 for filling. When used, they are much smaller than the average length of metallogs used in superstructure walls and are preferably mounted with their axes oriented vertically. Corner connectors are not required.

[0049] Since a metalog used as a container 28 is placed on flat ground within the enclosure 20, its ends need not be sealed if padding is added after placing the metallog container 28 in its desired position within the enclosure 20. If one end of a metallog container 28 is sealed, the first filler 24 can be added thereto when it is not in the desired location within the enclosure 20, and the filled metallog container 28 can then be moved to the desired location. . Closing the tops of the metallog containers 28 is optional but not mandatory.

[0050] Depending on the desired overall height of the contained fill 24 and the height of the individual containers 28, more than one level of containers 28 can be provided. In that case, the containers 28 at the lowest level rest on the ground, as illustrated in the drawings, containers on the next level (not pictured separately) rest on top of containers on the first level, and so on if there are additional levels. Higher levels of containers will normally be sealed at least at the bottom.

[0051] The metallogs that form the walls of a superstructure of a building are typically made of thin, inexpensive material to minimize overall construction costs. Although they easily resist wind deformation, they can be deformed by a large weight of loose filler in the shell 20. The containers 28 prevent the contained filler 24 from sitting horizontally and pressing too hard against the metallogs. The containers 28 therefore prevent the padding 24 from deforming the metallogs.

[0052] The contained padding 24 is in frictional contact with the metallogs around the entire perimeter of the enclosure 20, such that the superstructure 25 does not have room to move relative to the padding 24 in response to a strong wind or other source of external force applied to superstructure 25. Infill 24 is massive, rises to the height required in view of the factors mentioned above, and therefore by itself adequately supports and anchors superstructure 25. Second loose infill settled Smooth and Level and Hardpan Compacted

[0053] The second infill 26 is granular and initially loose and is sloped and compacted to form a smooth, level hardpan surface. It is in direct contact with the metallogs defining the casing 20 at the height of the fill 26, but it forms a relatively shallow coating over the contained fill 24 and has insufficient weight to deform the metallogs.

[0054] Since the fill 26 is granular and initially loose, it sieves to fill or partially fill the typically small spaces between the containers 28, thus forming a monolithic structure that prevents the containers 28 from moving relative to each other after the completion of foundation 11, even in a strong wind. To avoid the risk of the unit being carried in a flood with current despite the weight of its base, one or more solid poles (not shown) can be planted in the ground within the foundation walls before placing the bags or containers 28.

[0055] Each metalog has a cylindrical curvature and is substantially tangent to a vertically adjacent metalog. As shown in Figure 10, the second fill 26 follows the cylindrical curvature of any metallogs it comes into contact with. In some construction designs, depending on the depth of the second fill 26, the fill 26 will follow the curvature of adjacent vertical metallogs to the tangent line 30 between the metallogs to further assist in locking the superstructure to the foundation 11.

[0056] Wheelbarrows can be used to move the locally available second fill 26 to the immediate vicinity of the job site. The second fill 26 can then be applied over the contained first fill 24 by unskilled workers handling shovels and rakes. Compaction can be done with simple hand-held compaction tools as well as water-filled drums that are rolled by hand.

[0057] As the second filler 26 is added, it first begins to sieve into any small spaces between the containers 28 and between the foundation metallogs that define the casing 20 and the containers 28 that are in frictional contact therewith.

[0058] According to the invention, the ratio between the height of the superstructure 25 and the height of the foundation 11 does not exceed 5:1. If the ratio is greater than this, there is a risk that the superstructure 25 will be “top heavy” relative to the foundation 11, even in a relatively benign environment with light winds. In most environments, the ratio will be in the range of 3:1 to 8:1. An optimal ratio suitable for most environments is substantially 5:1.

Method of Invention

[0059] The method of constructing a foundation 11 for a building superstructure 25 according to the invention comprises the steps of arranging means such as a plurality of metallogs to define an above-ground casing 20 and add a sufficient amount of infill 22 to the shell 20 in frictional contact with the shell defining means for anchoring and supporting the superstructure.

[0060] More specifically, it comprises using metalogs as the means of defining the wrapper, adding a first filler 24 to the wrapper, containing the first filler 24 so as not to deform the metalogs, and adding on top of the first filler 24 a second padding 26 that is loose and of insufficient weight to deform the metallogs. The second infill 26 is then leveled and compacted to form a hardpan floor.

[0061] The operations of adding second padding 26, flattening it, and compressing it will normally be performed sequentially and cyclically: that is, some second padding 26 is added, then it is compressed, then it is compressed, and then another second padding 26 is added, leveled, and compacted, and so on until the desired thickness of the second compacted fill 26 is reached.

[0062] At appropriate points during the erection of superstructures in accordance with the invention, door frames 32, windows 34, stairs 36 providing access to the entrance or entrances, etc., are provided, such as those known in the industry.

[0063] Thus, there is provided in accordance with the invention a novel and highly effective foundation for building superstructures and method for building them. The invention has features that make it especially desirable in situations where construction speed is important and construction costs must be kept to a minimum.

[0064] Many modifications of the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed herein will readily occur to those skilled in the art after consideration of the present description. The invention extends to all structures and methods that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. Combination of a foundation and a building superstructure characterized by the fact that the foundation supports the superstructure and comprises: metallogs resting directly on the ground but not embedded in the ground, the metallogs collectively defining an above-ground enclosure, and infill filling the ground enclosure above ground to a height sufficient to anchor and support the superstructure; wherein the infill comprises: a first infill in frictional contact with the metallogs, the first infill having sufficient weight to anchor and support the superstructure and being confined to avoid deforming the metallogs, and a second infill loose over the first weighted infill insufficient to deform the metallogs and being leveled and compacted to form a hard floor, where the foundation is above ground. 2. Combination of foundation and a building superstructure, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of containers to confine the first filling. 3. Combination of foundation and a construction superstructure, according to claim 2, characterized in that the containers are selected from the group consisting of wooden barrels, cloth bags, paper bags, cardboard boxes and metallogs. 4. Combination of foundation and a building superstructure, according to claim 1, characterized in that each metallog has a cylindrical curvature and is substantially tangent to a vertically adjacent metallog and part of the second fill follows a cylindrical curvature to the tangent to assist in locking the foundation to the superstructure. 5. Combination of foundation and a building superstructure, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the ratio of the height of the superstructure to the height of the foundation does not exceed 5:1. 6. Combination of foundation and a building superstructure, according to claim 5, characterized in that the ratio is within the range of 4:1 to 3:1. 7. Combination of foundation and a building superstructure, according to claim 5, characterized in that the ratio is 5:1. 8. Method for constructing a building superstructure and a foundation for a building superstructure, the method characterized in that it comprises the steps of: providing metallogs directly into the ground, but not embedded in the ground, the metalogs defining an above-ground enclosure ; and adding a sufficient amount of infill to the above-ground shell in frictional contact with the metallogs defining the shell to anchor and support the superstructure; and erect a building superstructure on top of the foundation; wherein adding padding comprises: adding a first padding; contain the first padding to not deform the metalogs; adding over the first filling a second filling that is loose and of insufficient weight to deform the metalogs; level the second filling; and compacting the second infill to form a hard floor, thereby forming an above-ground foundation. 9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the steps of adding, leveling and compacting the second filling are carried out sequentially and cyclically.

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