EP2295657A1

EP2295657A1 - Modular building system

Info

Publication number: EP2295657A1
Application number: EP10176448A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ludo Verbeke
Original assignee: Mercure International SA
Current assignee: Mercure International SA
Priority date: 2009-09-11
Filing date: 2010-09-13
Publication date: 2011-03-16
Also published as: BE1018596A5

Abstract

A modular building system for constructing a building, comprising foundation supports (10) which are anchored at predetermined distances from each other in a foundation layer (11), horizontal (20) and vertical supporting elements (30) which together form a framework and are provided with perforations at regular distances from each other for receiving bolts, so that a framework can be constructed from areas with regular dimensions, filling elements (40) for filling in the planes formed by the framework; rafter elements (50, 60, 70) for forming a bridge between vertical supporting elements on top of the framework as a roof base, wherein the rafter elements (50, 60, 70) have at least two different types of roof elements for forming at least two roof shapes.

Description

This invention relates to a modular building system according to the preamble of the first claim.
A number of modular building systems are known, particularly for the rapid construction of residential containers or temporary buildings or the like. These consist in most cases of units of fixed dimensions which are fastened to each other. These systems are less flexible in terms of shape and only allow block-shaped buildings to be erected. Little attention is paid to aesthetics because these buildings are intended for temporary use.
In addition, classic building techniques are known for the building of houses or other buildings which are frequently labour intensive and consequently result in high costs.
One objective of the invention is to provide a modular building system with which a wide variety of permanent buildings of different shapes can be built quickly and with low labour intensity.
This objective is achieved according to the invention with the modular building system which exhibits the features of the first claim.
For this purpose the modular building system comprises, according to the invention:

foundation supports which are anchored at predetermined distances from each other in a foundation layer and are provided for supporting a framework;
metal horizontal and vertical supporting elements which together form the framework and are provided with perforations at regular distances from each other, the perforations being provided for receiving bolts which fasten the horizontal and vertical supporting elements to each other and to the foundation supports so that a framework can be constructed from planes with regular dimensions;
filling elements for filling in the planes formed by the framework, the filling elements comprising floor elements and prefabricated inner wall elements with insulation and possibly doors/windows;
rafter elements for forming a bridge between vertical supporting elements at the top of the framework as a roof base, the rafter elements comprising at least two different types of rafter elements for forming at least two roof shapes.

The different types of rafter elements comprise, for example, a first type of rafter element for forming a saddle roof (a roof with two roof slopes inclined towards one another); a second type of rafter element for forming a barrel vault (a roof consisting of a curved plane); a third type of rafter element for forming a flat roof (a roof consisting of a horizontal plane); and/or a fourth type of rafter element for forming a pent (a roof consisting of one roof slope at a certain angle of inclination). However, there are also other types of rafter elements provided with predetermined structures for forming other sorts of roofs.
A predetermined height difference is created between opposing sides of the building by means of the vertical supporting elements on top of the framework. The distance between the perforations at both ends of the rafter elements is equal to the distance between perforations on the vertical supporting elements located at the predetermined mutual height difference.
More particularly, the modular building comprises mostly parts already finished (metal supporting elements, prefabricated inner and outer wall elements) so that during building little or no further machining is required. The variety of possible forms is in this case guaranteed by the creation of the height difference at the top of the supporting structure, the final shape of the building being determined by the type of rafter selected.
The modular building system according to the invention is designed such, that it is sufficient to mount another type of rafter elements in order to obtain the desired roof type. For the rest the structural design can remain unchanged. This, combined with the construction by means of the framework of horizontal and vertical supporting elements with perforations at regular distances from each other, together with the modular construction system according to the invention, enables a wide variety of buildings to be assembled quickly with low labour intensity.
The invention will be explained in greater detail by means of the description below and the attached figures. These are provided simply for explanation and do not limit the scope of the invention, which is determined only by the claims.

Figure 1 shows an advantageous embodiment of a modular building system according to the invention.
Figures 2-5 show details of the building system of Figure 1 in the respective frames II-III-IV-V.

The modular building system shown in Figure 1 is intended for the construction of permanent buildings, e.g. detached houses, small to medium-sized office buildings or utility buildings, class/school buildings or others. The building system comprises essentially foundation supports 10, horizontal supporting elements 20 and vertical supporting elements 30 which, together form a framework or the "skeleton" of the building, filling elements 40 such as walls and floor/ceiling elements and rafter elements 50, 60, 70.
The foundation supports 10 are shown in detail in Figure 4 and 5. They are anchored at predetermined distances from each other in a foundation layer 11, for example two foundation grooves on both sides, completed with concrete, and are provided for supporting a framework. For this purpose they are at the same time T-shaped supports with a vertical section 12 provided for receiving in the foundation layer 11 and a horizontal section 13 provided for fastening the horizontal supporting elements of the framework at a certain height above the foundation layer, so that a suspended floor concept is created, which minimises the risk of rising damp. The vertical sections 12 are provided with openings for receiving a reinforcement 14 in foundation layer 11. Horizontal sections 13 are provided with perforations at the same distance from each other as the perforations in horizontal supporting elements 20, so that fastening can be carried out quickly and simply by means of bolts.
Horizontal and vertical supporting elements 20, 30 together form the framework and are provided with perforations at regular distances from each other. These perforations are provided for receiving bolts which fasten the horizontal and vertical supporting elements together and to the foundation supports, so that a framework can be constructed from areas with regular dimensions, e.g. according to the orthogonal scale. The structure should preferably be capable of being expanded modularly by 4850 mm in width and 2450 mm in length.
Vertical supporting elements 30 are at the same time constructed from a central beam 31 between two lateral beams 32, 33 (see Figure 2), fastened to each other by means of bolts. The central beam is preferably produced from metal, e.g. hot dip galvanised steel, and the lateral beams preferably from solid wood. The lateral beams may consequently remain visible in the final structure, which may simplify finishing of the building. Horizontal supporting elements 20 comprise floor elements which are provided to form a floor of the building. These floor elements may also have at the ends an L-piece (not shown) which is provided for fastening between lateral beams 32, 33 of vertical supporting elements 30 by means of bolts. The floor elements should preferably be manufactured from metal, for example hot dipped galvanised steel.
Filling elements 40 are provided for filling in the planes formed by the framework. The filling elements comprise wall elements 41, for example prefabricated outer wall elements in which doors/windows and/or insulation are already provided, or also inner wall elements Wall elements 41 are fastened to vertical supporting elements 30, preferably by means of bolts. The filling elements also comprise insulating ground floor elements 42 as a basis for the floor structure on the ground floor and floor elements 43 as a basis for the floor structure on the first and possibly a higher floor. Floor elements 42, 43 are supported by horizontal supporting elements 20. Electrical cables and sanitary pipes may be laid on top of floor elements 42, 43, whereupon the whole is finished with a filling layer 44 and on top of it a floor covering (not shown). Wall and floor elements 41, 42, 43 are sandwich panels, for example, preferably the same for wall and floor structures.
At the top rafter elements 50, 60, 70 are mounted on the framework, preferably also by means of bolts. These elements form a bridge between vertical supporting elements 30 on top of the framework and serve as a roof base. According to the desired roof shape, another type of rafter element is installed. In the building system according to the invention at least two different types of rafter element are provided for forming at least two different roof shapes. Figure 1 shows:

rafter elements 50 for forming a saddle roof;
rafter elements 60 for forming a barrel vault;
rafter elements 70 for forming a pent.

Before the rafter elements rafter elements are assembled or predetermined height difference is created by means of the vertical supporting elements at the top of the framework between two opposite sides of the building (left and right in Figure 1). Rafter elements 50, 60, 70 are also provided with perforations 51, 61, 71 at both ends with a mutual distance which is equal to the distance between the corresponding perforations 34 on the vertical supporting elements which lie at the predetermined height difference from each other. Rafter elements 50, 60, 70 are each designed so that the rafter element can be fastened on a first side of the building (on the right in Figure 1) between the two lateral beams 32, 33 of one of the vertical supporting elements 30 and on a second opposite side of the building (on the left in Figure 1) on both sides of central beam 31 of the opposing vertical supporting element 30 concerned. In this way the rafter elements are interchangeable and are sufficient to opt for a different desired roof shape in a structure that is otherwise the same, or simply a different type of rafter element 50, 60, 70.

Claims

A modular building system for constructing a building, comprising:
- foundation supports (10) which are anchored at predetermined distances from each other in a foundation layer (11) and are provided for supporting a framework (20, 30);

- metal horizontal (20) and vertical supporting elements (30) which together form the framework and are provided with perforations at regular distances from each other, wherein the perforations are provided for receiving bolts which fasten the horizontal and vertical supporting elements to each other and to the foundation supports so that a framework can be can be constructed from planes with regular dimensions;

- filling elements (40) for filling in the planes formed by the framework, wherein the filling elements comprise floor elements, prefabricated inner wall elements and prefabricated outer wall elements with insulation and possibly doors/windows;

- rafter elements (50, 60, 70) for forming a bridge between vertical supporting elements on top of the framework as a roof base, wherein the rafter elements (50, 60, 70) comprise at least two different types of rafter elements for forming at least two roof shapes, wherein each of the different types of rafter elements is provided at both ends with perforations (51, 61, 71) for fastening to an outer end of the vertical supporting elements (30) by means of bolts;
characterised in that a predetermined height difference is created by means of the vertical supporting elements (30) on top of the framework between two opposite sides of the building and in that the distance between the perforations (51, 61, 71) at both ends of the rafter elements (50, 60, 70) is equal to the distance between perforations (34) on the vertical supporting elements (30) located at the predetermined height difference between each other.
The modular building system according to Claim 1, characterised in that the different types of rafter elements comprise:
- a first type of rafter element (50) for forming a saddle roof;

- a second type of rafter element (60) for forming a barrel vault;

- a third type of rafter element for forming a flat roof;

- a fourth type of rafter element (70) for forming a pent.
The modular building system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the foundation supports are T-shaped supports with a vertical section (12) provided for receiving in a foundation layer (11) and in a horizontal section (13) provided for fastening the horizontal supporting elements (20) of the framework at a certain height above the foundation layer (11).
The modular building system according to Claim 3, characterised in that the vertical sections (12) are provided with openings for receiving a reinforcement (14) in the foundation layer (11).
The modular building system according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the horizontal sections (13) are provided with perforations at the distance from each other as the perforations in the horizontal supporting elements.
The modular building system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vertical supporting elements are each constructed from a central beam (31) between two lateral beams (32, 33), fastened to each other by means of bolts.
The modular building system according to Claim 6, characterised in that the central beam (31) is manufactured from metal and the lateral beams (32, 33) from wood.
The modular building system according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the rafter elements (50, 60, 70) are each designed to enable the rafter element to be fastened to a first side of the building between the two lateral beams (32, 33) of one of the vertical supporting elements (30) and to a second opposite side of the building on both sides of the central beam (31) of the opposite vertical supporting element (30) concerned.
The modular building system according to any one of Claims 6-8, characterised in that the horizontal supporting elements (20) comprise floor elements which are provided for forming a floor of the building, wherein the floor elements each have an L-piece which is provided for fastening between the lateral beams of the vertical supporting elements by means of bolts.
The modular building system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the regular dimensions are selected according to the orthogonal scale.