CA1052522A - Building systems - Google Patents
Building systemsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1052522A CA1052522A CA266,879A CA266879A CA1052522A CA 1052522 A CA1052522 A CA 1052522A CA 266879 A CA266879 A CA 266879A CA 1052522 A CA1052522 A CA 1052522A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- frame
- sub
- base
- base plate
- plate elements
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method of constructing a building structure of a kind having a plurality of building frame wall units, each comprising a rectangular skeletal metal frame composed of top and bottom hori-zontal frame members connected by vertical frame members, erected and assembled in interconnected endwise relationship upon a supporting base foundation to form a load-bearing external wall, and a roof supported by said external wall, said method comprising the steps of: fabricating a horizontal skeletal base sub-frame in situ at ground level by assembling a plurality of elongate metal sub-frame sections and utilising releasable fastening means ac-cessible externally of the sub-frame to connect together adjacent sub-frame sections; positioning within the contour of the base sub-frame a plurality of separate individual base plate elements and fastening such base plate elements to said sub-frame sections also utilising releasable fastening means accessible externally of the sub-frame; fixing tie rods between at least some of the base plate elements so as to extend between different sides of the base sub-frame; making adjustments to the assembly as necessary to en-sure that all the base plate elements are accurately located and set in precise predetermined relative positions; utilising the base sub-frame as a mould and casting therein a moulded floor slab of rigid hard-setting moulding material substantially up to the level of the tops of the base plate elements, whereby said base plate elements and tie rods are embedded and fixed into said floor slab, releasing, from the exterior of the base sub-frame, the fastening means fastening the base plate elements to the sub-frame sections and the fastening means connecting together adjacent sub-frame sections, followed by removing said sub-frame sections so that the base sub-frame is dismantled and the base plate elements embedded and fixed into the floor slab remain, still set in their precise predetermined relative positions, to provide the support-ing base foundation of the building structure; erecting and fixing the building frame wall units on said supporting base foundation so as to be assembled in endwise interconnected relationship, each wall unit being erected with its bottom horizontal frame member spanning over and being supported by adjacent base plate elements which are utilised as locating and fixing points for each said wall unit, and thereby forming the external wall; and constructing the roof which is supported by said external wall.
A method of constructing a building structure of a kind having a plurality of building frame wall units, each comprising a rectangular skeletal metal frame composed of top and bottom hori-zontal frame members connected by vertical frame members, erected and assembled in interconnected endwise relationship upon a supporting base foundation to form a load-bearing external wall, and a roof supported by said external wall, said method comprising the steps of: fabricating a horizontal skeletal base sub-frame in situ at ground level by assembling a plurality of elongate metal sub-frame sections and utilising releasable fastening means ac-cessible externally of the sub-frame to connect together adjacent sub-frame sections; positioning within the contour of the base sub-frame a plurality of separate individual base plate elements and fastening such base plate elements to said sub-frame sections also utilising releasable fastening means accessible externally of the sub-frame; fixing tie rods between at least some of the base plate elements so as to extend between different sides of the base sub-frame; making adjustments to the assembly as necessary to en-sure that all the base plate elements are accurately located and set in precise predetermined relative positions; utilising the base sub-frame as a mould and casting therein a moulded floor slab of rigid hard-setting moulding material substantially up to the level of the tops of the base plate elements, whereby said base plate elements and tie rods are embedded and fixed into said floor slab, releasing, from the exterior of the base sub-frame, the fastening means fastening the base plate elements to the sub-frame sections and the fastening means connecting together adjacent sub-frame sections, followed by removing said sub-frame sections so that the base sub-frame is dismantled and the base plate elements embedded and fixed into the floor slab remain, still set in their precise predetermined relative positions, to provide the support-ing base foundation of the building structure; erecting and fixing the building frame wall units on said supporting base foundation so as to be assembled in endwise interconnected relationship, each wall unit being erected with its bottom horizontal frame member spanning over and being supported by adjacent base plate elements which are utilised as locating and fixing points for each said wall unit, and thereby forming the external wall; and constructing the roof which is supported by said external wall.
Description
~52522 The present invention concerns improvements in or re-lating to building systems, and in particular it relates to the fabrication of building structures of a kind having wall sections or panels provided by skeletal frame units, and to the construction of such frame units.
These wall sections or panels may form load-bearing up-standing external walls and may have a modular size and construction, conforming to standardised dimensions, so as to promote modular assembly methods.
Although many forms of building systems employing build-ing frame units of the above-mentioned kind have previously been proposed, the prior art proposals have generally been less satis-factory than is to be desired, at least in some respects, and there is a certain need or demand for improvements, especially to provide versatile and simple practical systems which can have low cost characteristics and which do not have to rely heavily on the availability of skilled labour, especially on site.
It is commonplace for building structures to be construct-ed from prefabricated units erected on a base foundation comprising a concrete floor slab or raft, however the particular method of constructing the base foundation in the building system of the present invention represents a significant technical advance and is especially advantageous in contributing towards speedy and ,.,_.~ ~;
... .
105'~52Z
efficient building construction without the need for highly skill-ed labour on site. A very important aspect is the manner in which the base plate elements are initially accurately located and set in precise pre~etermined relative positions using the skeletal base sub-frame in effect as a iig in co-operation with the tie rods, and the manner in which the base plate elements are there-after held in their correct positions by being moulded into the floor slab and are then used as precision fixing points for locat-ing and controlling the positioning of the prefabricated wall frame units making up the superstructure of the building, while the sub-frame itself is dismantled ready for re-use in constructing the base foundation of another similar building. The sub-frame is therefore not used merely as a mould for casting the floor slab, and the floor slab does not act merely as a support for the build-ing as in most prior art systems, but both are used in locating and holding the base plate elements in precise positions upon which the successful erection and fitting together of the super-structure depends.
The present invention also provides a building frame unit for use as a wall section or panel of a building structure, said unit comprising a rectangular skeletal metal frame built up of spaced-apart elongate longitudinal frame members, adapted to form respective top and bottom horizontal members, connected together ?
,.:` \b ~ - 2a --by elongate end frame members, adapted to form vertical end pill-ars, and one or more intermediate elongate frame members extend-ing between, and connected in selected positions to, said longi-tudinal frame members so as to form intermediate pillars spaced from and parallel to said end members, and said unit having at least one aperture, formed by the or those open spaces of the skeletal frame between any adjacent frame members, end members or intermediate pillars, which remain after assembling and fitting other fixtures or components such as windows or door - 2b _ 1~5i~5~'~
closed over b~ sheeting composed of plastics material providing a sealing and/or insulating barrier.
According to another aspect, wherein the frame members are hollow metal sections, the longi~udinal frame members and the intermediate pillars are formed by a pair of flanged channel sections assembled mouth-to-mouth to form a box-like elongate structure, and the end frame members are each formed by a single said flanged channel section assembled with its mouth presented outwardly in order to engage in confronting mouth-to mouth relationship a æimilar end frame member of a similar frame unit assembled in adaacent aligned endwise relationship.
Most conveniently, the pairs of flanged channel sections forming the longitudinal frame members and the intermediate pillars are connected together after assembly in their opposed confronting relationship by C-cleats engaged with respective pairs of inturned re-entrant flar~es thereof.
In general, the frame units are arranged to support and mount additional fixtures or components, such as windows or doors for example, which are accommodated in the openings between pairs of adjacent end units and intermediate pillars, and adaustability or selective positioning of the latter along the length of the top and bottom longitudinal members car. enable the position and spacing of the openings to be varied to suit the dimensions and desired position of the fixtures or components to be so supported and mounted.
In fabrication of the frame units, which may conveniently and often advantageoufily be performed, either wholly or mainly, at a location remote from the buildi~g site, after assembly and co~necting together the frame members, the additional fixtures or components required to be accommodated in the spaces between the adaacent pairs of end members and intermediate pillars are assembled and connected in place~
Supplementary support for these additional fixture~ or l~SZSZ~
components may also be provided, if desired, by horizontal cross-members or stringers between the end members or intermediate pillars. Then, the remaining openings or apertureæ of the frame u~it are covered and closed by applying the sheeting material providing a sealing andYor insulating barrier.
~he sheeting material may consist of, or include, a thin plastics skin or membrane connected by any convenient fastening or connection to the top and bottom members, end members and intermediate pillars, and any cross-members.
; It is more generally preferred, however, that the sheeting should consist of, or include, a plastics foam material, especially a low flammability cellular foam material having highly favourable thermal insulation properties such as, for example, polyisocyanate foam materials marketed under the Trade Name "Qwellflam". Such foam plastics materials may be applied by in~ection into the apertures or openin~s, whilst the frame is assembled in a simple jig, and may form a sheet-like infill of substantial thickness extending between and bonding to adjacent frame members. Also, embedded in the foam material, there may be additionally provided a thin metal plate, again extending between adJacent frame members, which can provide an effective fire barrier.
The fully fabricated frame units can then be delivered to ~he building site for assembly and erection, preferably on a preconstructed and levelled horizontal base prepared by using a skeletal sub-frame, which may be composed of elongate metal sections, to provide a mould for casting a ~0 concrete raft.
The closure of the openin~s of the frame l~nits by the sheeting has a practical advantage during the building construction in that, after o~uick erection to provide external 105;~52Z
wall sections or panels followed by a qhick roofing, the external structure can be sufficiently weatherproof to permit workmen to complete the interior under inclement weather conditions.
~he roof may be supported on the adjoining top frame members of the assembled frame units, or on connectors coupli~g adjacent frame units together. The roof can be of conventional design including a plurality of roof trusses to which, for example, battens are secured for supporting tiles or other roofing material.
In the completed structure, the frame units will generally be enclosed by an outer cladding and an inner lining. The cladding may be of any suitable type, including brick, precast slabs, stone, wood or even synthetic material panels. ~he lining may also be of a conventional type such as plasterboard or panels of suitable finishing material.
By way of example, practical applications of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In said drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in elevation the basic structure of a skeletal metal frame making up a building frame unit in accordance with the invention together with part of an adjacent unit and interconnecting assembly components;
Figure 2 is a horizontal section along line II~
of Figure 1, after adjacent frame units have been assembled and connected together as in erecting ahd fabricating a building structure;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail view on a larger scale of the part m rked "M" in Figure 2 representing the interconnection between opposed end frame members of adjacent frame units;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail view on a larger scale of the parts marked "P" in Figure 2 representing the ~05;~52i2 interconnection of opposed flanged channel sections to provide box-like structures for ~he intermediate frame members, or it equally represents a sectional view on lines I~a-IVa or IVb-IVb through the longitudinal frame members of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a somewhat simplified schematic perspective view of a corner portion of an assembly;
~igure 6 is an elevational view of a slightly modified frame unit completed with additional door and window components;
~'igure 7 is a horizontal sectional view, again on an enlarged scale and partially broken away, th~ough part of two adjacent assembled and interconnected frame units dhowing the plastics foam material infill which is introduced to provide a sealing and/or insulating barrier closing open spaces in the frame units and filling the hollow frame members thereof, ~igure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing in detail a corner portion of an assembly;
~igure 9 is a plan view showing the fabrication of a base sub-frame structure upon which the frame units may be erected at the building site;
~igure 10 is a fragmentary detail view of the corner of a skeletal sub-frame portion of the base sub-frame structure of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a view on a larger scale of a portion of the sub-frame structure during fabrication; and Figure 12 is a simplified diagrammatic part-sectional view of a completed building structure.
ln the drawings, building frame units 10 are shown, assembaed and connected in endwise relationship to one another, to form an external wall of a building structure, said building unit being illustrated in several of the Fi~ures primarily 5'~Z
in its basic form of a rectangular skeletal metal frame.
This frame is built up of top and bottom elongate frame members~ 11 and 12, connected together by elongate end frame members 14, 14, forming vertical end pillars, and by intermediate frame members or intermediate pillars 15 spaced from and parallel to the end members.
The intermediate pillars 15 are connected in selected positions to the top and bottom members 11 and 12, by rivetted connecting brackets 17. In a sli~htly modified structure, not illustrated, the connectors may be of a clamping tupe, in the form of box-like T-structures for example, which may permit subsequent positional adjustment of the intermediate pillars if reaui~ed.
Figure 6 indicates the manner in which the intermediate pillars may be positioned to suit additional components such as a door assembly 19 and window assembly 20 accommodated between adJacent vertical members and adjacent additional horizontal cross members 21.
The individual frame members are each formed by lengths of flanged channel form hollow metal sections 25. ~he end members 14 consist of a single length of this channel section 25 arranged with the open mouth presented outwardly, but the other frame members preferably consist of two such lengths assembled with their mouth portions in opposed confronting relationship and connected together by C-cleats 26 engaging respective pairs of inturned flanges, a~ indicated ~ost clearly in the sectional views of ~i~ures 4 and 7.
In assembly of each individual frame unit 10, internal angle connectors similar to the brackets 17 are conveniently ~o used to connect each end frame member to respective top and bottom members, and after fitting the additional door, window, or other components, the apertures provided by the rem~ining openings between adjacent parallel frame members are closed 105~5ZZ
over by sheeting which has been omitted for clarity in many of the Figures.
The sheetin~ may comprise an external or internal thin plastics skin, or membrane, as shown at 49 in Figures 7 and 8, but preferably it additionally or alternatively comprises a plastics foam material 30 ~see Figures 7 and 8) which provides a low flammability thermally insulating infill extending between and bonded to adjacent frame members, and embedded in the plastics foam ~here may be a thin metal plate 31 providing a fire barrier. Also, as indicated in Figures 7 and 8, the channel sections of the frame members are also filled with the plastics foam material in the final assembly.
It will be seen that the aligned endwise assembly of the frame units 10 also brings the respective adjacent channel section end members 14 to~ether in mouth-to-mouth opposed confronting relationship again to give a box-like formation,-and these end members of adjacent frame units are joined by elongate connecting plates 47 rivetted in place (see Figure 3). Fi~ures 5 and 8 illustrate most clearly the preferred type of corner formation for adjacent units in angular relationship, from which it will be seen that the units are interconnected by an internal corner closure angle section member 60 andexternal corner closure angle section member 61, each secured by rivetting to the respective frame end members.
In employing the building system of this invention, as previously mentioned the ascembled frame units are preferably assembled and erected on site on a preconstructed and levelled horizontal base prepared by using a skeletal base sub-frame. The fabrication of a typical base will be further described with reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11. First~
a rectargular skeletal base sub-frame may be laid out using lOS;~5~Z
elongate metal channel sections 64 supported upon concrete strips and connected at the corners by external fish-plate brackets 66 bolted in position (see Figure 10). ~he channel sections 64 are leve~led by packing or ~hims, and at intervals along their length, inwardly projecting angle plates 68 are bolted in position. These are fitted with depending rag bolts 69 which also provide anchorages for tie rods 70 which are ad~usted in length to brace the structure. After levelling and trueing, this skeletal base sub-frame is used as a mould for casting therein a concrete floor slab or raft, substantially up to the level of the top flange of the angle plates 68 (not shown in Figure 11). Thereafter, upon setting of the concrete, the sub-frame channel sections ~4 may be removed after removing the nuts on the bolt fixings to the angle plates 68 (and to corner angle plate members 68a) and unbolting the corner fish-plate bracket connectors 66.
A flexible dampproof plastics membrane may be laid over the entire upper surface of the prepared base foundation, and the frame units 10 are assembled and erected with their bottom longitudinal frame members 12 laid over and resting upon the angle plates 68 and corner angle plate members 68a.
In addition, at intermediate locations, channel section metal shoes (not shown ) may be provided on the concrete floor slab or raft to receive the bottom frame members 12 which are finally fixed by rivetting at intervals.
Figure 12 represents a completed buildi~g structure and indicates a manner in which the frame units 10 may be laid upon a concrete base foundation 41 which may be prepared as described above. ~i~ure 12 also indicates the manner in which the completed and erected frame units 10 ma~ be enclosed by external cladding 43 and an internal lining 44, and how a conventional roof assembly 45 may be incorporated with roof _ 9 _ lOS'~;:S~2 trusses 46 supported, by suitable connecting means, upon the top of the frame units forming the externalw~ll sections.
These wall sections or panels may form load-bearing up-standing external walls and may have a modular size and construction, conforming to standardised dimensions, so as to promote modular assembly methods.
Although many forms of building systems employing build-ing frame units of the above-mentioned kind have previously been proposed, the prior art proposals have generally been less satis-factory than is to be desired, at least in some respects, and there is a certain need or demand for improvements, especially to provide versatile and simple practical systems which can have low cost characteristics and which do not have to rely heavily on the availability of skilled labour, especially on site.
It is commonplace for building structures to be construct-ed from prefabricated units erected on a base foundation comprising a concrete floor slab or raft, however the particular method of constructing the base foundation in the building system of the present invention represents a significant technical advance and is especially advantageous in contributing towards speedy and ,.,_.~ ~;
... .
105'~52Z
efficient building construction without the need for highly skill-ed labour on site. A very important aspect is the manner in which the base plate elements are initially accurately located and set in precise pre~etermined relative positions using the skeletal base sub-frame in effect as a iig in co-operation with the tie rods, and the manner in which the base plate elements are there-after held in their correct positions by being moulded into the floor slab and are then used as precision fixing points for locat-ing and controlling the positioning of the prefabricated wall frame units making up the superstructure of the building, while the sub-frame itself is dismantled ready for re-use in constructing the base foundation of another similar building. The sub-frame is therefore not used merely as a mould for casting the floor slab, and the floor slab does not act merely as a support for the build-ing as in most prior art systems, but both are used in locating and holding the base plate elements in precise positions upon which the successful erection and fitting together of the super-structure depends.
The present invention also provides a building frame unit for use as a wall section or panel of a building structure, said unit comprising a rectangular skeletal metal frame built up of spaced-apart elongate longitudinal frame members, adapted to form respective top and bottom horizontal members, connected together ?
,.:` \b ~ - 2a --by elongate end frame members, adapted to form vertical end pill-ars, and one or more intermediate elongate frame members extend-ing between, and connected in selected positions to, said longi-tudinal frame members so as to form intermediate pillars spaced from and parallel to said end members, and said unit having at least one aperture, formed by the or those open spaces of the skeletal frame between any adjacent frame members, end members or intermediate pillars, which remain after assembling and fitting other fixtures or components such as windows or door - 2b _ 1~5i~5~'~
closed over b~ sheeting composed of plastics material providing a sealing and/or insulating barrier.
According to another aspect, wherein the frame members are hollow metal sections, the longi~udinal frame members and the intermediate pillars are formed by a pair of flanged channel sections assembled mouth-to-mouth to form a box-like elongate structure, and the end frame members are each formed by a single said flanged channel section assembled with its mouth presented outwardly in order to engage in confronting mouth-to mouth relationship a æimilar end frame member of a similar frame unit assembled in adaacent aligned endwise relationship.
Most conveniently, the pairs of flanged channel sections forming the longitudinal frame members and the intermediate pillars are connected together after assembly in their opposed confronting relationship by C-cleats engaged with respective pairs of inturned re-entrant flar~es thereof.
In general, the frame units are arranged to support and mount additional fixtures or components, such as windows or doors for example, which are accommodated in the openings between pairs of adjacent end units and intermediate pillars, and adaustability or selective positioning of the latter along the length of the top and bottom longitudinal members car. enable the position and spacing of the openings to be varied to suit the dimensions and desired position of the fixtures or components to be so supported and mounted.
In fabrication of the frame units, which may conveniently and often advantageoufily be performed, either wholly or mainly, at a location remote from the buildi~g site, after assembly and co~necting together the frame members, the additional fixtures or components required to be accommodated in the spaces between the adaacent pairs of end members and intermediate pillars are assembled and connected in place~
Supplementary support for these additional fixture~ or l~SZSZ~
components may also be provided, if desired, by horizontal cross-members or stringers between the end members or intermediate pillars. Then, the remaining openings or apertureæ of the frame u~it are covered and closed by applying the sheeting material providing a sealing andYor insulating barrier.
~he sheeting material may consist of, or include, a thin plastics skin or membrane connected by any convenient fastening or connection to the top and bottom members, end members and intermediate pillars, and any cross-members.
; It is more generally preferred, however, that the sheeting should consist of, or include, a plastics foam material, especially a low flammability cellular foam material having highly favourable thermal insulation properties such as, for example, polyisocyanate foam materials marketed under the Trade Name "Qwellflam". Such foam plastics materials may be applied by in~ection into the apertures or openin~s, whilst the frame is assembled in a simple jig, and may form a sheet-like infill of substantial thickness extending between and bonding to adjacent frame members. Also, embedded in the foam material, there may be additionally provided a thin metal plate, again extending between adJacent frame members, which can provide an effective fire barrier.
The fully fabricated frame units can then be delivered to ~he building site for assembly and erection, preferably on a preconstructed and levelled horizontal base prepared by using a skeletal sub-frame, which may be composed of elongate metal sections, to provide a mould for casting a ~0 concrete raft.
The closure of the openin~s of the frame l~nits by the sheeting has a practical advantage during the building construction in that, after o~uick erection to provide external 105;~52Z
wall sections or panels followed by a qhick roofing, the external structure can be sufficiently weatherproof to permit workmen to complete the interior under inclement weather conditions.
~he roof may be supported on the adjoining top frame members of the assembled frame units, or on connectors coupli~g adjacent frame units together. The roof can be of conventional design including a plurality of roof trusses to which, for example, battens are secured for supporting tiles or other roofing material.
In the completed structure, the frame units will generally be enclosed by an outer cladding and an inner lining. The cladding may be of any suitable type, including brick, precast slabs, stone, wood or even synthetic material panels. ~he lining may also be of a conventional type such as plasterboard or panels of suitable finishing material.
By way of example, practical applications of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In said drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in elevation the basic structure of a skeletal metal frame making up a building frame unit in accordance with the invention together with part of an adjacent unit and interconnecting assembly components;
Figure 2 is a horizontal section along line II~
of Figure 1, after adjacent frame units have been assembled and connected together as in erecting ahd fabricating a building structure;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail view on a larger scale of the part m rked "M" in Figure 2 representing the interconnection between opposed end frame members of adjacent frame units;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail view on a larger scale of the parts marked "P" in Figure 2 representing the ~05;~52i2 interconnection of opposed flanged channel sections to provide box-like structures for ~he intermediate frame members, or it equally represents a sectional view on lines I~a-IVa or IVb-IVb through the longitudinal frame members of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a somewhat simplified schematic perspective view of a corner portion of an assembly;
~igure 6 is an elevational view of a slightly modified frame unit completed with additional door and window components;
~'igure 7 is a horizontal sectional view, again on an enlarged scale and partially broken away, th~ough part of two adjacent assembled and interconnected frame units dhowing the plastics foam material infill which is introduced to provide a sealing and/or insulating barrier closing open spaces in the frame units and filling the hollow frame members thereof, ~igure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing in detail a corner portion of an assembly;
~igure 9 is a plan view showing the fabrication of a base sub-frame structure upon which the frame units may be erected at the building site;
~igure 10 is a fragmentary detail view of the corner of a skeletal sub-frame portion of the base sub-frame structure of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a view on a larger scale of a portion of the sub-frame structure during fabrication; and Figure 12 is a simplified diagrammatic part-sectional view of a completed building structure.
ln the drawings, building frame units 10 are shown, assembaed and connected in endwise relationship to one another, to form an external wall of a building structure, said building unit being illustrated in several of the Fi~ures primarily 5'~Z
in its basic form of a rectangular skeletal metal frame.
This frame is built up of top and bottom elongate frame members~ 11 and 12, connected together by elongate end frame members 14, 14, forming vertical end pillars, and by intermediate frame members or intermediate pillars 15 spaced from and parallel to the end members.
The intermediate pillars 15 are connected in selected positions to the top and bottom members 11 and 12, by rivetted connecting brackets 17. In a sli~htly modified structure, not illustrated, the connectors may be of a clamping tupe, in the form of box-like T-structures for example, which may permit subsequent positional adjustment of the intermediate pillars if reaui~ed.
Figure 6 indicates the manner in which the intermediate pillars may be positioned to suit additional components such as a door assembly 19 and window assembly 20 accommodated between adJacent vertical members and adjacent additional horizontal cross members 21.
The individual frame members are each formed by lengths of flanged channel form hollow metal sections 25. ~he end members 14 consist of a single length of this channel section 25 arranged with the open mouth presented outwardly, but the other frame members preferably consist of two such lengths assembled with their mouth portions in opposed confronting relationship and connected together by C-cleats 26 engaging respective pairs of inturned flanges, a~ indicated ~ost clearly in the sectional views of ~i~ures 4 and 7.
In assembly of each individual frame unit 10, internal angle connectors similar to the brackets 17 are conveniently ~o used to connect each end frame member to respective top and bottom members, and after fitting the additional door, window, or other components, the apertures provided by the rem~ining openings between adjacent parallel frame members are closed 105~5ZZ
over by sheeting which has been omitted for clarity in many of the Figures.
The sheetin~ may comprise an external or internal thin plastics skin, or membrane, as shown at 49 in Figures 7 and 8, but preferably it additionally or alternatively comprises a plastics foam material 30 ~see Figures 7 and 8) which provides a low flammability thermally insulating infill extending between and bonded to adjacent frame members, and embedded in the plastics foam ~here may be a thin metal plate 31 providing a fire barrier. Also, as indicated in Figures 7 and 8, the channel sections of the frame members are also filled with the plastics foam material in the final assembly.
It will be seen that the aligned endwise assembly of the frame units 10 also brings the respective adjacent channel section end members 14 to~ether in mouth-to-mouth opposed confronting relationship again to give a box-like formation,-and these end members of adjacent frame units are joined by elongate connecting plates 47 rivetted in place (see Figure 3). Fi~ures 5 and 8 illustrate most clearly the preferred type of corner formation for adjacent units in angular relationship, from which it will be seen that the units are interconnected by an internal corner closure angle section member 60 andexternal corner closure angle section member 61, each secured by rivetting to the respective frame end members.
In employing the building system of this invention, as previously mentioned the ascembled frame units are preferably assembled and erected on site on a preconstructed and levelled horizontal base prepared by using a skeletal base sub-frame. The fabrication of a typical base will be further described with reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11. First~
a rectargular skeletal base sub-frame may be laid out using lOS;~5~Z
elongate metal channel sections 64 supported upon concrete strips and connected at the corners by external fish-plate brackets 66 bolted in position (see Figure 10). ~he channel sections 64 are leve~led by packing or ~hims, and at intervals along their length, inwardly projecting angle plates 68 are bolted in position. These are fitted with depending rag bolts 69 which also provide anchorages for tie rods 70 which are ad~usted in length to brace the structure. After levelling and trueing, this skeletal base sub-frame is used as a mould for casting therein a concrete floor slab or raft, substantially up to the level of the top flange of the angle plates 68 (not shown in Figure 11). Thereafter, upon setting of the concrete, the sub-frame channel sections ~4 may be removed after removing the nuts on the bolt fixings to the angle plates 68 (and to corner angle plate members 68a) and unbolting the corner fish-plate bracket connectors 66.
A flexible dampproof plastics membrane may be laid over the entire upper surface of the prepared base foundation, and the frame units 10 are assembled and erected with their bottom longitudinal frame members 12 laid over and resting upon the angle plates 68 and corner angle plate members 68a.
In addition, at intermediate locations, channel section metal shoes (not shown ) may be provided on the concrete floor slab or raft to receive the bottom frame members 12 which are finally fixed by rivetting at intervals.
Figure 12 represents a completed buildi~g structure and indicates a manner in which the frame units 10 may be laid upon a concrete base foundation 41 which may be prepared as described above. ~i~ure 12 also indicates the manner in which the completed and erected frame units 10 ma~ be enclosed by external cladding 43 and an internal lining 44, and how a conventional roof assembly 45 may be incorporated with roof _ 9 _ lOS'~;:S~2 trusses 46 supported, by suitable connecting means, upon the top of the frame units forming the externalw~ll sections.
Claims (7)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of constructing a building structure of a kind having a plurality of building frame wall units, each compris-ing a rectangular skeletal metal frame composed of top and bottom horizontal frame members connected by vertical frame members, erected and assembled in interconnected endwise relationship upon a supporting base foundation to form a load-bearing external wall, and a roof supported by said external wall, said method comprising the steps of:
a) fabricating a horizontal skeletal base sub-frame in situ at ground level by assembling a plurality of elongate metal sub-frame sections and utilising releasable fastening means access-ible externally of the sub-frame to connect together adjacent sub-frame sections;
b) positioning within the contour of the base sub-frame a plurality of separate individual base plate elements and fasteneing such base plate elements to said sub-frame sections also utilising releasable fastening means accessible externally of the sub-frame;
c) fixing tie rods between at least some of the base plate elements so as to extend between different sides of the base sub-frame;
d) making adjustments to the assembly as necessary to ensure that all the base plate elements are accurately located and set in precise predetermined relative positions;
e) utilising the base sub-frame as a mould and cast-ing therein a moulded floor slab of rigid hard-setting moulding material substantially up to the level of the tops of the base plate elements, whereby said base plate elements and tie rods are embedded and fixed into said floor slab;
f) releasing, from the exterior of the base sub-frame, the fastening means fastening the base plate elements to the sub-frame sections and the fastening means connecting together adjacent sub-frame sections, followed by removing said sub-frame sections so that the base sub-frame is dismantled and the base plate elements embedded and fixed into the floor slab remain, still-set in their precise predetermined relative positions, to provide the supporting base foundation of the building structure;
g) erecting and fixing the building frame wall units on said supporting base foundation so as to be assembled in endwise interconnected relationship, each wall unit being erected with its bottom horizontal frame member spanning over and being supported by adjacent base plate elements which are utilised as locating and fixing points for each said wall unit, and thereby forming the external wall; and h) constructing the roof which is supported by said external wall.
a) fabricating a horizontal skeletal base sub-frame in situ at ground level by assembling a plurality of elongate metal sub-frame sections and utilising releasable fastening means access-ible externally of the sub-frame to connect together adjacent sub-frame sections;
b) positioning within the contour of the base sub-frame a plurality of separate individual base plate elements and fasteneing such base plate elements to said sub-frame sections also utilising releasable fastening means accessible externally of the sub-frame;
c) fixing tie rods between at least some of the base plate elements so as to extend between different sides of the base sub-frame;
d) making adjustments to the assembly as necessary to ensure that all the base plate elements are accurately located and set in precise predetermined relative positions;
e) utilising the base sub-frame as a mould and cast-ing therein a moulded floor slab of rigid hard-setting moulding material substantially up to the level of the tops of the base plate elements, whereby said base plate elements and tie rods are embedded and fixed into said floor slab;
f) releasing, from the exterior of the base sub-frame, the fastening means fastening the base plate elements to the sub-frame sections and the fastening means connecting together adjacent sub-frame sections, followed by removing said sub-frame sections so that the base sub-frame is dismantled and the base plate elements embedded and fixed into the floor slab remain, still-set in their precise predetermined relative positions, to provide the supporting base foundation of the building structure;
g) erecting and fixing the building frame wall units on said supporting base foundation so as to be assembled in endwise interconnected relationship, each wall unit being erected with its bottom horizontal frame member spanning over and being supported by adjacent base plate elements which are utilised as locating and fixing points for each said wall unit, and thereby forming the external wall; and h) constructing the roof which is supported by said external wall.
2. A method of constructing a building structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the additional step of laying a flexible plastics sheet to provide a damp proof mem-brane over the entire upper surface of the moulded floor slab and base plate elements providing the supporting base foundation before erecting and fixing the building frame wall units.
3. A method of constructing a building structure in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the additional step, before erecting and fixing the building frame wall units, of fix-ing channel section shoe members in located positions to the sup-porting base foundation to receive the bottom horizontal frame members of said building frame wall units.
4. A method of constructing a building structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein, during construction of the roof, roof trusses are fitted so as to span between building frame wall units of the external wall located at opposite sides of the structure and are connected to and supported by the top of said wall units.
5. A method of constructing a building structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein apertures between the horizontal frame members and vertical frame members in the skeletal metal frames of the building frame wall units are filled in with a therm-ally insulating rigid plastics foam material.
6. A method of constructing a building structure in accordance with claim 5, wherein the horizontal frame members and intermediate frame members of the skeletal metal frames of the building frame wall units each have a hollow box-like interior, being formed of a pair of channel sections having inturned and re-entrant marginal flanges assembled in opposed mouth-to-mouth relationship, further comprising a step of filling the hollow box-like interior of said frame members with thermally insulating rigid plastics foam material.
7. A method of consturcting a building structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the skeletal base sub-frame has a rectangular configuration and the base plate elements, each in the form of a bracket having an angular configuration, are posi-tioned with one at each corner and at least one along each side of the sub-frame intermediate adjacent corners.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA266,879A CA1052522A (en) | 1976-11-30 | 1976-11-30 | Building systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA266,879A CA1052522A (en) | 1976-11-30 | 1976-11-30 | Building systems |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1052522A true CA1052522A (en) | 1979-04-17 |
Family
ID=4107396
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA266,879A Expired CA1052522A (en) | 1976-11-30 | 1976-11-30 | Building systems |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1052522A (en) |
-
1976
- 1976-11-30 CA CA266,879A patent/CA1052522A/en not_active Expired
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US6301851B1 (en) | Apparatus and method for forming precast modular units and method for constructing precast modular structure | |
| US4669240A (en) | Precast reinforced concrete wall panels and method of erecting same | |
| US6401417B1 (en) | Concrete form structure | |
| RU2136821C1 (en) | Wall structure of expanded material and concrete, method and device for its manufacture | |
| US4674250A (en) | Modular building panel | |
| US3478482A (en) | Building block construction | |
| US4219978A (en) | Pre-cast reinforced concrete building panel wall structure | |
| US6178714B1 (en) | Modular temporary building | |
| US7185467B2 (en) | Modular system of permanent forms for casting reinforced concrete buildings on site | |
| US8033062B2 (en) | Type of building, method and means for erecting it | |
| US5987827A (en) | Concrete building construction and method | |
| US5353562A (en) | Foam panel for construction | |
| US3678638A (en) | Building construction of modular units with settable material therebetween | |
| US4138833A (en) | Modular building construction | |
| US4239176A (en) | Concrete construction system | |
| US5799453A (en) | Structure and method of fabrication | |
| US6098367A (en) | Constructive system applied for buildings | |
| US4274242A (en) | Building systems | |
| JP2004528497A (en) | Reinforced building panels and triangular columns | |
| US20080005990A1 (en) | Modular system of permanent forms for casting reinforced concrete buildings on site | |
| EP0051592B1 (en) | Building | |
| WO1994009221A1 (en) | Improvements in/or relating to insulated construction panels and/or methods of manufacturing such panels and/or methods of construction using such panels | |
| CA1052522A (en) | Building systems | |
| EP0090473B1 (en) | Building, wall sections and profiles for the same | |
| WO1997035079A1 (en) | Building structures |