DE69605777T2 - METHOD FOR BUILDING WALLS FROM GLASS BLOCKS AND A REINFORCABLE MODULAR ELEMENT TO BE APPLIED - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for erecting walls made of glass blocks and a reinforcing modular glass block used therein.

So-called glass blocks or reinforced glass blocks are glass products that are used in the construction of walls or floors.

According to a conventional technique, during installation a formwork is created in which metal reinforcements are arranged and into which concrete is pressed in order to connect the individual glass blocks to each other.

After the concrete has hardened, the reinforcements are then removed.

This process is particularly complex and costly.

Patent specification FR-A-2542353 describes formwork comprising glass blocks with projections and recesses, which are connected to one another by engaging in corresponding recesses and projections of adjacent blocks, so that modular building structures are formed.

Since these formworks are asymmetrical, installing them in the correct direction requires special attention in the case of glass blocks with uneven surfaces or a specific orientation.

A further disadvantage is the insufficient tightness of a wall constructed without reinforcement by simple interaction of the above-mentioned building blocks contained in a formwork.

EP-B-0115279 also describes modular components with the same features and disadvantages of the above-mentioned patent specification FR-A 2542353.

In particular, this patent shows glass blocks with a plastic formwork that has cylindrical recesses which, coupled with cylindrical projections and seals, enable assembly without cracking. The first row of blocks also requires a profile as a base. This solution is also particularly cost-intensive.

The solutions according to the known state of the art therefore consist of modular but non-reinforceable building blocks or of reinforcing but non-modular building blocks that are difficult to install.

FR-A-2 700 182 discloses a method for erecting walls according to the preamble of claim 1.

This French document describes the use of plastic formwork for glass blocks, whereby the plastic formwork, manufactured in one piece, is cast under pressure directly onto the glass blocks using a costly and complex process.

Furthermore, the use of expensive plastic adhesives is necessary when building the wall to anchor the formwork of the glass blocks together.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a novel construction method using newly designed reinforcing and modular glass blocks that are easy to install and cost-effective.

A further object of the present invention is to avoid the use of a base profile when laying the first row of building blocks.

These tasks are achieved with the inventive method for constructing Walls using glass blocks, which is characterized in the appended claims.

The object of the present invention is further a modular element with glass brick for the construction of walls, of the type comprising an external support frame according to the appended claims.

With regard to these and other features and advantages of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment based on a non-limiting embodiment example. It shows:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the glass block;

- Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through the glass block.

In the figures, a substantially solid support frame, preferably made of wood or plywood, for a glass brick 2, also known as a brick and glass block or reinforcing concrete glass or glass brick, is designated as a whole by 1. The frame 1 consists of four sides joined together by conventional means or adhesives and is connected to the brick by an elastic element 7, such as resin.

The four sides of the frame can be designed to engage with each other, thereby achieving increased stability, as shown in Fig. 1, in which a tongue 4a of one side engages in a groove 4b of the adjacent frame side.

Each wooden element 3 forming one side of the frame can have two spring ends 4a or two groove ends 4b (as shown in Fig. 1, where the horizontal element has two groove ends and the vertical element has two spring ends) or, according to a variant not shown, each element 3 can be provided with one spring end 4a and one groove end 4b. By mutual engagement and connection to the frame, a one-piece block is formed with the glass block and the elastic element. 7 scored.

Each element 3 is further provided with recesses or grooves 5 for the introduction of metal reinforcements, preferably made of round iron or wires. The grooves 5 are essentially designed to complement the reinforcement to be introduced into the grooves. These grooves can have a circular, square or polygonal cross-section.

These halves are completed by inserting the reinforcement and attaching another building block so that the other half of the groove formed on the other building block completely encloses the wire forming the reinforcement.

From Fig. 1 it can be seen that each frame side is generally provided with two grooves 5 arranged so that each groove opens into the corresponding groove of the adjacent side.

When building walls and laying modular elements, the vertical and horizontal reinforcements must be placed in the grooves at an angle to one another, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the horizontal and vertical reinforcements do not intersect. From Fig. 2 it can be seen that the sides of the frame are narrower than those of the block, so that after a wall has been completed, recesses are formed between a block and the blocks immediately adjacent to it. In these recesses, frames for decorative purposes can be placed or impasti of different colors or that can be colored can be placed. The present block 2 is therefore a modular and reinforcing block that can be used to create walls and floors that are particularly resistant (thanks to the reinforcement) and easy to build (thanks to the modularity of the block and the particularly easy installation).

Laying the building blocks to build a wall involves laying the building blocks on a row of other glass blocks already laid or on any base (for example a floor), the subsequent introduction into the profiled grooves 5 of reinforcement consisting of round iron or metal wires 6 with a round or polygonal cross-section, and the laying of other glass blocks until the wall is completed.

When laying the glass blocks, adhesives or binding agents are placed between the blocks to be laid and the row of blocks already laid or the base.

This binding agent consists of adhesives, glues or resins.

Due to the special arrangement of the grooves 5 and the fact that all grooves 5 are arranged at the same distance from the nearest outer edge of the frame, the modular building block can be installed completely symmetrically, i.e. a square building block can be installed on any side, with one or the other glass surface becoming visible.

In a variant of the design, the modular element can be manufactured by pressing a concrete mixture around the building block instead of the wooden frame. Of course, the concrete mixture has the recesses or grooves 5 for inserting horizontal or vertical reinforcement made of round iron or metal wires. In the design that provides for the use of concrete mixtures, the elastic element 7 is omitted.

Claims (8)

1. A method for constructing walls or floors made of glass blocks (2), comprising the following steps: - laying of reinforcing modular glass blocks (2) having an external support frame (1) and arranged on a row of other glass blocks already laid (2) or on any base; - introducing a reinforcement consisting of round iron or metal wires (6) with a circular cross-section into grooves (5) which are shaped to receive one half of the said round iron or wires (6) in the outer support frame (1) of each glass block; - laying other glass blocks (2) until the wall or floor is completed, characterized in that it comprises, as a preparation, the manufacture of the support frame (1) by assembling four sides of wooden or plywood elements, the four sides belonging to a frame and the adjacent sides being fastened to one another, being connected to the blocks (2) by an elastic element (7). 2. Method according to claim 1, in which the reinforcement is introduced in such a way that the vertical and horizontal wires (6) forming the reinforcement are introduced into the grooves (5) at an angle to one another. 3. Modular element for building walls, of the type comprising a glass block (2) with an external support frame (1) designed to have on each side of the frame at least one longitudinal groove (5) extending over the entire length of the side, which is designed as a half to accommodate a round iron or a metal wire (6) whose cross-sectional shape corresponds to that of the groove (5), characterized in that the elements forming the frame (1) are made of wood or plywood and are connected to one another by adhesives or mutual engagement, wherein the frame (1) is designed such that it can be connected to the building block (2) by an elastic element (7), such as resin. 4. Modular element according to claim 3, wherein each side of the frame (1) is provided with two parallel longitudinal grooves (5). 5. Modular element according to claim 3, wherein all grooves (5) are at the same distance from the outer edge of the nearest frame. 6. Modular element according to claim 3, wherein the frame (1) is narrower than the building block (2). 7. Modular element according to claim 3, in which each wooden element (3) of the frame (1) has tongues (4a) and grooves (4b) which fit together with corresponding tongues or grooves of adjacent wooden elements (3). 8. Walls and floors manufactured using the method according to any one of claims 1-2 or using the modular elements with glass blocks according to any one of claims 3 to 7.