EP3085845B1

EP3085845B1 - Multifunctional support structure for wooden walls of buildings

Info

Publication number: EP3085845B1
Application number: EP16152032.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emanuele Gatti
Original assignee: Soltech Srl
Current assignee: Soltech Srl
Priority date: 2015-04-21
Filing date: 2016-01-20
Publication date: 2020-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-20
Also published as: ES2848279T3; ITPS20150007A1; EP3085845A1

Description

Field of the art

In wooden building constructions, even of the multi-storey type, with the aim of securing the wooden elements of the wall to the concrete socle, slab or floor, with particular reference to the joints at contact with the wall-foundation, the prior art reveals a series of connection systems, all of which refer to joining brackets, by interposing static insulation elements of various types, adapted to shield the rising of humidity due to stagnation and capillarity from the concrete to the wood.
This in that the interface constitutes the portion of the wooden constructions most vulnerable to humidity, due to the susceptibility of wood to decay, in said arrangement particularly exposed to humidity.
Even in cases where the prior art provides interposition of elements more complex than the simple water proofing elements, such as for example as illustrated in WO2014/076526A1 , elements thus made still remain within the conceptual and resolution scope of shielding staticity, only that more articulated in the relative implementation, thus the problem is not solved radically.
Figures 11 and 12 of FR 2 223 524 disclose a dry wall to be fixed between a ceiling and a foundation by means of upper and lower support elements. In the lower support elements screws or bolts are engaged which are connected to the wall such that its height may be adjusted. Accordingly, the lower part of the wall is always distant from the foundation.
US 4 656 794 relates to an apparatus for providing double coverings or claddings made up of a U-shaped support piece the upper ends of which form seats for engaging an upper purlin, whereas the base of said support piece is adapted to be mounted on a pre-existing roof covering.
A more articulated solution is provided for by US2002 139059A1 , but it is mainly conceived to eliminate infiltration and stagnation of rain water in the wooden building products laid on site and it does not have a structure adapted to support wooden building walls with static loads on several floors. Specifically, this patent document discloses a building construction comprising a wall, a concrete foundation and a multi purpose support structure interposed in an interface between the wall and the concrete foundation, said support structure comprising a quadrilateral-shaped metal section having a flat base and having upwardly protruding, side walls, the upper part of which provides flat coplanar supports delimiting an open upper interspace, whereby said open upper interspace is occluded by the base of said wall resting on said coplanar supports of the section so as to create a continuous air chamber which runs along the entire perimeter of the wall for circulation of air touching the base of said wall.

Objects of the invention

To this end, there is provided a concept according to the present invention with the main aim of providing a solution adapted to radically solve the problem related to humidity stagnation in the concrete-wood interface of wooden building walls and regarding the decay thereon.
Another object of the present invention is to attain the previous object through a solution that is easy to implement and lay on site, also suitable for application to multi-storey buildings and bear structural loads of any kind and type in the wooden building constructions.
Another object of the present invention is to attain the previous objects through a solution that can be implemented without substantial revolutions of any kind in the project and building techniques, as well as modular and polyvalent solutions with respect to the design and implementation requirements.
Still, a further object of the present invention is to attain the previous objects through a solution that is simple and efficient, safe to use and relatively inexpensive considering the actual results attained therewith.
These and other objects are attained through the building construction according to claim 1.

Description of the attached drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the building construction according to the present invention shall be more apparent from the claims and from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment thereof, represented solely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment and laying on site of a multi-purpose support used in the building construction according to the present invention;
Figures 2 to 5 respectively illustrate plan, front frontal, rear frontal and lateral view of the exemplifying embodiment and laying on site subject of figure 1.

Static description of the embodiment

With reference to such figures and in particular with reference to figure 1, an exemplifying embodiment and laying on site of a multi-purpose support used in the building construction according to the present invention, constituted by a successive plurality of metal sections, preferably made of stainless steel, respectively indicated in their entirety with 2, having a substantially isosceles trapezoidal transversal section in the described embodiment, is indicated in its entirety with 1.
With reference to such transversal section, the larger base 3 is intended to rest on a concrete foundation and/or support, socle, slab or floor (not illustrated) based therein and fixed for example through bolts (not illustrated) embedded by a portion into the concrete and passing through bottom slots 4.
The sides or edges 5 are inclined inwardly at the upper part and they apically have respective flat coplanar supports 6 delimiting an open upper interspace 7 of the section 2 in an outward juxtaposed fashion and in communication with the inner compartment 8 delimited by the section 2.
One of the planar supports 6, preferably the one oriented externally on the laying site, has a perforated bracket 9 for fixing a wooden wall, schematically illustrated in a relative segment and indicated in its entirety with 10, whose base 11 is dimensioned in thickness correspondingly to the transversal extension of the coplanar supports 6 of the sections 2 and occludes the open upper interspace 7 of the sections 2.
The succession of sections 2 extends linearly with mutual successive communication of the respective inner compartments 8, also angularly, with joints 12 for example by 45°.
The inner compartments 8 of two adjacent sections 2, even angular, are thus placed in communication so as to create a continuous air chamber 8 which runs along the entire perimeter of the walls 10 beneath them and, preferably, even beneath the inner walls.
Along such air chamber 8 there are preferably provided holes communicating with the external, not illustrated, preferably suitably protected by grid elements, possibly also connectable to ventilator means, not illustrated, adapted to force an airflow into the circuit 8, for the functions outlined below.

Dynamic description of the embodiment

Thus, having completed the static description of a preferred embodiment of the multi-purpose support structure for wooden building walls obtained according to the present invention, below is the dynamic description, or relative operation:
The section, preferably made of steel, may be cut, modularly and/or to size, and it may be produced in various thicknesses of the component material and product width, so as to adapt to the loads and dimensions of the walls.
Laid on site in a plurality of modules and/or sections 2 cut to size, they constitute a support structure defining the entire perimeter base and, preferably, also the base of the inner walls of the wooden building, contingently bolted through the slots 4 of the larger base 3 thereof or however fixed to the slab, or socles or curbs made of foundation concrete, bricks or stones or foundations.
The walls 10 laid on site over the module circuit are fixed to the brackets 9 and supported by the outward coplanar supports 6, interfacing with the bases 11 thereof the upper longitudinal openings 7 of the sections 2, or at direct contact with the inner chamber 8 of the sections 2.
This contact with air, preferably circulating and changing in the duct thus defined, providing for a suitable number of openings suitably protected against the entry of insects and rodents, obtained at the bases 11 of the wooden walls 10 at the point most exposed to stagnation of humidity, already protects the wooden elements from decay over time.
Even more in cases where circulation is forced in the duct thus defined, by simply associating to the openings, possibly contingently conceived with suitable fittings, airflow generators, also possibly stably associated functionally and possibly even actuated automatically at preset time intervals through timers of any known type suitable for the purpose.
By suitably dimensioning the sections 2 and the relative circuits, they can also be used for supporting the multi-storey buildings with the loads that such constructions feature according to the prior art.
They can also be applied above and beneath the concrete and/or brick floor portions possibly interposed between the floors defined by the wooden walls.
According to an extremely advantageous application, the sections 2 constituting the multi-purpose support structure for wooden building walls according to the present invention, may be used for reinforcing concrete curbs, by embedding them in the formworks completely integrating the relative external shape, so as to model concrete curbs with straight quadrilateral, tendentially square-shaped with appropriate angles, reinforced with the sections 2 according to the present invention embedded flushed thereon following the casting.
Thus, the section 2 remains internally void, so as to perform the aeration functions thereof, and externally embedded in the concrete, thus acquiring considerable resistance to loads, through the outward fins or supports 6 for sustaining the walls 10 which rest on the concrete which surrounds them and lies laterally with respect thereto, providing the concrete with resistance against compression.

Alternative embodiments

It is obvious that the alternative embodiments, still falling within the innovative concept of the embodiment illustrated above and claimed below, the building construction according to the present invention may be implemented through equivalent technical and mechanical solutions or provided with further supplementary solutions, same case applying to all components which can be modified in a manner suitable for the purpose.
In particular, the transversal section of the sections 2 may be obtained in various shapes suitable for the purpose, without or with different shape and structure of the supports for sustaining the walls, which may also provide for bridges or grid elements, leaving a suitable interface area between the base of the wooden wall and the air channel that can be occluded by the base of the wall.

Advantages of the invention

As observable from the preceding detailed description of a preferred embodiment, the building construction according to the present invention offers advantages corresponding to the attainment of these and other preset objects:
In particular, the multi-purpose support structure used in the building construction according to the present invention provides a simple, polyvalent and modular solution concept that is quick to lay on site and relatively inexpensive, especially considering the advantages obtained and future maintenance and restoration interventions that reduce over time, for actually preventing the decay of the wooden walls in the interface with the relative bases:
The structure also allows heightening the insulation and soundness of this type of constructions meeting the lightness requirements thereof and without any substantial invasiveness from an aesthetic point of view.

KEY TO REFERENCE NUMBERS

1): spport structure in its entirety
2): sections in the relative entirety thereof
3): larger base of the sections
4): bottom slots of the sections
5): side walls of the sections
6): outward coplanar supports of the sections
7): open upper interspace of the sections
8): inner compartment or chamber of the sections
9): perforated bracket of the sections
10): wooden wall in its entirety
11): base of the wooden wall
12): angular joints of the sections

Claims

Building construction comprising a wooden wall, a concrete foundation or slab and a multi purpose support structure interposed in a wooden-cement interface between the wooden wall (10) and the concrete foundation or slab, said support structure comprising a quadrilateral-shaped metal section (2) with an isosceles trapezoidal cross section having a flat base (3) provided with slots (4) for fixing means and having upwardly protruding, inwardly inclined side walls (5), the upper part of which provides flat coplanar supports (6) delimiting an open upper interspace (7), whereby said open upper interspace (7) is occluded by the base (11) of said wooden wall (10) resting on said coplanar supports (6) of the section (2) so as to create a continuous air chamber (8) which runs along the entire perimeter of the wall (10) for circulation of air touching the base (11) of said wooden wall (10).
Building construction according to claim 1, wherein along said air chamber (8) holes are provided communicating with the external and adapted to be connected to a ventilator means to force an airflow through said air chamber (8).
Building construction according to claim 1 or 2, wherein from one of said flat supports (6) a vertical perforated bracket (9) protrudes, which is adapted to be fastened to the base (11) of said wooden wall (10).
Building construction according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of adjacent sections (2) are interconnected directly or through angular joints (12).