EP0728876B1 - Modular building - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly consists of cruciform main supports (1,2), each having at least one end which can engage with the end of another support, joists (6) with ends shaped to engage with the supports, and rafters (11) which have one end shaped to engage with a support and the other with another rafter and a support. The interior walls of the building are made from panels shaped to engage with the supports, and the outer ones from other panels with inner surface couplings shaped to engage with hooks fixed to the supports. One end of each support has a central recess or projection for engaging with another support, and the rafters are designed to take ceiling panels and insulation material. The exterior wall coupling elements can be in the form of steel rods fitted between battens and designed to engage with the support hooks.

Description

The present invention relates to a set of wooden or derived elements of wood for construction and erection of buildings prefabricated consisting of load-bearing elements comprising base posts of cross section, floor posts cross-section, joists and rafters, the the top of the base and floor posts being shaped so that it can receive perpendicularly a so-live and snap into a floor post or bind to a chevron.

The dwellings are generally built with the techniques and materials available in their regions respective. The buildings of industrialized places are constructed with sophisticated materials and manpower specialized. This high level is currently the traditional system of construction of "developed" countries. This high standard has become increasingly inaccessible to people of middle income. In order to reduce the cost of 15 to 20%, it developed constructions "prefabricated". A widespread prefabrication system is the wooden one that is widely recognized and proven.

Current prefabricated systems have the advantage to be produced rationally, under good conditions, in workshop. Under these good workshop conditions, are built with delicate materials, walls whole or partial, entirely finished, by example plastered on the outside and paneled on the inside, including windows and doors. On site, a such house is assembled and habitable in a very short time, but with big means. Its production requires a large workshop, as well as a professional team. The means of loading, transport and placement on the site are very important. The assembly of the elements on site, is also carried out by fitters specialized.

We know from document CH 198.364 an assortment of parts for the construction of a removable shelter comprising beams with shaped grooves of panes, of rectangular panels intended to fit together in these panes and metal bodies to fix these panels to these beams, so that these can be brought together through of said panels. The grooves are cut in the mass of the beams to determine a cross section. The ends of the beams are formed by capitals with projecting and recessed portions intended for cooperate with recessed and protruding parts of others vertical and horizontal beams to which they are intended to be linked to obtain a fixation to the way of tenons and mortises.

The set of elements described by document CH-A-198364 has the features of the preamble of claim 1.

US Patent 4,479,342 describes a post building vertical to which horizontal beams are nailed and on which the rafters rest. The posts are made up of two superimposed parts. A lower part short is sealed by concreting in the ground and includes three slats of identical width fixed together to others. Likewise, the longer upper part is consisting of three assembled slats. The central slat longer from the bottom enters a recess of the upper part during assembly. At its end upper the upper part also includes a recess between the side slats longer than the central batten. In this recess is placed a piece forming a wedge on which the outer end of the chevron. In order to obtain an identical height for all posts and compensate for height irregularities lower parts sealed at different levels in the ground, the length of the wedge piece can be easily cut taking into account the differences levels before the top is mounted. We thus easily obtains a height of the building well adjusted without having to cut the top of the posts after their mounting.

The object of the present invention is to do without a large professional team to home manufacturing, to require a workshop of unimportant prefabrication, to use means of usual transport, to do without heavy lifting for unloading and setting up and allowing assembly by unqualified personnel.

These goals are achieved by a set of elements characterized by the fact that all the supporting elements are consisting of three longitudinal parts comprising a continuous center piece, attached to two side pieces continuous, the base and floor posts having a central part with a width greater than that of side pieces so as to obtain said cruciform section; by the fact that the central part of the poles of base and floor protrudes at the top of the pole the side pieces of it, while at the end bottom of the floor posts the side pieces protrude the center piece to form an empty space between them, in which the center piece of a lower post can be housed in the mounted position; by the fact that a outer part of the joists and rafters has a empty space between the side pieces which protrude in length of the center piece, so that the center piece from the top of a base or story post can cross in the mounted position this empty space, while that the inner part of the joists and rafters is shaped to bond to a joist or opposite rafter while surrounding in the assembled position the central part of the top of a pole; by the fact that side pieces of a base or story post are topped in the mounted position by the side pieces of a joist, itself topped by side pieces of a another floor post or rafter surrounding the room protruding central of a pole and by the fact that the whole elements includes interior wall panels exterior wall with interlocking side profiles in two neighboring posts and wall panels exterior of exterior wall provided on their internal face with attachment means cooperating with support means provided on the posts.

These characteristics make it possible to obtain a set elements that can be produced rationally, a low cost price and rapid assembly and simple. By the particular structure of the elements and their mutual arrangement, we obtain a great solidity and stability of the assembled building.

The accompanying drawings illustrate schematically and at title of example the elements forming the set according to the invention and their assembly to form a building.

Figures 1a and 1b illustrate a front and side view base post.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate from the front and from the side, larger scale, the high end of this pole based.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate from the front and from the side, larger scale, the lower end of these posts based.

Figure 6 is an end view of the underside of the base post on a larger scale.

Figures 7a and 7b illustrate the front and side of posts.

Figures 8 and 9 are front and side views from larger scale of the lower ends of these posts.

Figure 10 is an end view of a post.

Figures 11a, 11b and 11c illustrate from the side in plan and at the end a joist.

Figures 12a and 12b illustrate from the side and in plan a chevron.

FIG. 13 illustrates the assembly of the posts, joists and rafters.

Figure 14 schematically illustrates the framework of a construction carried out using prefabricated elements.

Figure 15 is a partial horizontal section of a exterior wall of the building.

Figure 16 illustrates in section the structure of a wall builder of the construction.

Figure 17 is a vertical section from the bottom of a wall construction exterior.

The set of prefabricated elements for construction of buildings consists of five elements: posts base, following posts, joists, rafters, interior walls and exterior walls.

All these elements are rational to manufacture, handy due to their size and weight for storage, transport and installation and their assembly is very simple.

All these elements make it easy to manufacture in large series, to store and transport it rationally and assemble them on site by unqualified people with a minimum of tools.

On the other hand, with a turnover in manufacturing and some stock, any house can be available in a few days and built in a short time. Expanding the house in the future is also very easily, by adding a few modules to the existing part. Small, like big houses, are built with the same modules. The houses will be personalized externally and internally by finishes carried out in the workshop or on site (coatings, colors,).

All the elements of the structure or framework are in wood or wood derivatives, as we saw previously five in number.

1. Post (general)

The posts are the elements that carry the loads of the building at regular intervals. The posts are designed for the height of a storey. In order to add a floor, or to carry the ridge, plug the posts following on the posts of the lower floor, (fig. 16). The special profile of the post makes it possible to bind securely with the interior wall modules to give it the stability (bracing), to fit the headers, the doors and windows and receive the support system variable for the external wall (fig. 15,16).

These posts consist of a core 1, two reinforcements lateral 2 fixed or glued against the faces of the core 1 so as to form a post whose section is in cross shape. All posts, base posts (fig. 1 to 6) and following posts (fig. 7 to 10) have one end upper formed by the core 1 alone, the reinforcements 2 ending before the upper end of the post.

1.1 Base post (placed on the ground) (fig. 1,2,3,4,5,6)

• the bottom of the "base post" is in full section, with 3 front holes to receive steel rods 4. The sole 5 (base of the structure of the building) is drilled at regular intervals to place the posts easily, using the rods steel 4 plugged into the holes in the sole 5 and posts (fig. 17)
• the top of the "base post" is shaped so that it can both receive perpendicularly a ceiling joist, plug in a next post for the floor next (fig. 16) or tie to a rafter of the roof (fig. 13).

1.2 Next post (floors) (fig. 7,8,9,10)

• the bottom of the "next post" is shaped so that it plugs into the lower post (fig. 16)
• the top of the "next post" is such that it can times receive perpendicularly the joist from the ceiling and insert the next post for the next floor (fig. 16) or link to a rafter on the roof (fig 13)

2. Joist (fig. 11a, 11b, 11c)

• l'extrémité de la solive, côté paroi extérieure du bâtiment, est usinée tel qu'elle s'enfiche perpendiculairement sur le poteau de la paroi extérieure (fig. 13)
• l'extrémité de la solive, côté paroi centrale, est usinée tel qu'elle s'enfiché perpendiculairement sur le poteau de la paroi centrale, tout en liant solidement l'autre solive, inversée pour la deuxième partie du bâtiment (fig. 13).

The joists 6 are the elements which carry the ceiling of the lower storey as well as the floor of the upper storey at regular intervals and transmit their loads to the posts. The special profile of the joists allows the ceiling and its insulation to be installed rationally and without tools. Two identical joists, linked in the center, make it possible to obtain large widths of buildings.

• the end of the joist, on the exterior wall side of the building, is machined such that it plugs perpendicularly onto the post of the exterior wall (fig. 13)
• the end of the joist, central wall side, is machined as it is inserted perpendicularly on the post of the central wall, while securely binding the other joist, inverted for the second part of the building (fig. 13) .

The joists 6 consist of three parts, one central 7 and two lateral 8, glued or fixed together and whose ends are shaped so as to allow assembly between joists and with posts. For the reinforcement of these joists, they also include a bottom sole 9.

3. Chevrons (Figures 12a and 12b)

• l'extrémité du chevron 11, côté paroi extérieure du bâtiment, est conformée de façon qu'elle s'enfiche sur le poteau 1,2 tout en prolongeant le chevron côté extérieur pour l'avant-toit (fig. 13).
• l'extrémité du chevron 11, côté faítage (centre) est conformée pour qu'elle lie à la fois le chevron opposé 11 (autre pan du toit) et transmette les charges du toit sur le poteau central 1,2 (fig. 13).

The rafters 11 are the elements which carry the roof at regular intervals and transmit their loads to the posts 1,2. The special profile of the rafters allows the ceiling and roof insulation to be installed rationally and without tools. Two identical joists 6, securely linked to the center, allow the roof loads to be transmitted to the exterior 1,2 and center posts.

• the end of the rafter 11, on the outside wall side of the building, is shaped so that it plugs into the post 1,2 while extending the rafter on the outside side for the eaves (fig. 13).
• the end of the rafter 11, front side (center) is shaped so that it links both the opposite rafter 11 (other part of the roof) and transmits the loads from the roof to the central post 1,2 (fig. 13) .

The chevron 11 is also formed of three parts, one central 12 and two lateral 13, fixed together to the soles reinforcement 15.

4. Inner wall (fig. 15)

The elements of the interior walls 16 have a function bracing and lateral stabilization and are coated with an interior finish. Sectional profile horizontal corresponds to the profile of the posts 1,2 so to obtain an excellent lateral connection (fig. 15)

5. Outer wall (fig. 14)

The exterior wall elements 20 coated with a exterior finish, have a mechanical protection function and against the weather. The wall panels exterior are fitted with a quick fastening system comprising two slats drilled 17 at regular intervals to receive the 18 steel rods used for hooking the panels on the front (fig. 15) using hooks or profiles 19.

The interior load-bearing walls of the construction are made like the exterior walls except that they do not receive no protective outer wall but have two sides of the interior walls 16.

Short joists 21 allow the ends to be joined two rafters 11 higher than a post 1.2 to stiffen the structure of the roof ridge.

Between the outer 20 and inner 16 walls of exterior walls of the building we can have insulating panels 22, 23 as well as under the floors ce which allows us to make constructions that can also be used in regions with harsh climates.

The floors of these constructions are made of conventional way. The ceilings are made by prefabricated elements placed between two rafters. It is also obvious that the interior and exterior walls have special elements for openings doors and windows whose frames come fit into the posts.

The roof can also receive a covering traditional in tiles, slates, eternit, etc.

The main interest of this type of construction is its quality comparable to a traditional construction all by being made of light prefabricated elements, easily transportable and can be set up and assembled by unskilled labor.

It is obvious that thanks to this set of elements prefabricated, we can, depending on their dimensions, also make models or construction sets.

Claims (7)

1. An assembly of members made from wood or from materials derived from wood for the construction and the assembling of prefabricated buildings, comprised of bearing members including base posts (1, 2) of a cruciform cross-section, of storey posts (12) of a cruciform cross-section, of joists (6) and of rafters (11), the top of the base posts and of the storey posts being conformed in such a manner as to be capable of receiving perpendicularly a joist (6) and of fitting into a storey post or of being fastened to a rafter (11), characterised in that all the bearing members (1, 2; 6; 11) are comprised of three longitudinal pieces including a continuous central piece (1; 7; 12) affixed to two continuous lateral pieces (2; 8; 13), the base posts and the storey posts including a central piece (1) of a width greater than that of the lateral pieces (2) in such a manner as to obtain said cruciform cross-section; in that the central piece (1) of the base posts and of the storey posts extends, in the upper part of the post, beyond the two lateral pieces (2) thereof, whereas at the lower end of the storey posts, the lateral pieces (2) extend beyond the central piece (1) to form an empty space therebetween, in which the central piece (1) of a lower post can be housed in the assembled position; in that an outer part of the joists (6) and of the rafters (11) exhibits a hollow space between the lateral pieces (8; 13) which extend lengthwise beyond the central piece (7; 12), in such a manner that the central piece (1) of the upper part of a base post or of a storey post may traverse, in the assembled position, this empty space, whereas the lower part of the joists (6) and of the rafters (11) is conformed for fastening to an opposite joist or rafter (6; 11), while surrounding in the assembled position the central piece (1) of the upper part of a post; in that the lateral pieces (1) of a base post or of a storey post lie beneath, in the assembled position, the lateral pieces (8) of a joist (6) which in turn lies beneath the lateral pieces (2; 13) of another storey post or of a rafter (11) surrounding the central piece (1) which protrudes from a post; and in that the assembly of members includes panels (16) of the inner cladding of the outside wall provided with lateral profiles fitting into two neighbouring posts (1, 2) and panels (20) of the outer cladding (20) of the outside wall provided on their inner face with anchoring means (18) co-operating with support means provided on the posts.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the base posts (1, 2) include a lower end which is solid and flat, and which is provided with at least two bores (3) designed for nesting steel rods (4) affixed to a floor member (5).
3. An assembly according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the joists (6) are arranged for receiving insulation and ceiling members (23).
4. An assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it further includes short joists (21) connecting a post (1, 2) to two opposite rafters (11).
5. An assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the panels (20) of the outer cladding of the outside wall include on their inner face two bored laths (17) receiving a steel rod (18) and providing said anchoring means.
6. An assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it includes wall panels of the inner cladding exhibiting a double structure with two cladding panels (16) having lateral profiles fitting into two neighbouring posts (1, 2).
7. An assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it includes door frames and window frames fitting between two neighbouring posts.

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