FR2524522A1 - Hollow modular construction block - has externally cut weakening notches to permit division block into segments - Google Patents

Abstract

Each building block has a number of solid segments (100), each having an interior cavity (110) extending vertically and of octagonal section. Each segment is separable from an adjacent segment by block cutting on a first transverse cut plane (P1,P'1). Each segment is itself separable into two symmetrical halves by cutting on a second transverse cut plane through the octagonal cavity. The junction zone of adjacent segments has a vertical cavity (140), symmetrical w.r.t the first cut plane. The two halves separated by the cavity each form a vertical channel (141,142) to take joining mortar.

Description

 The present invention relates to a modular hollow building block.

 The classic concrete block construction technique is very well mastered by users, especially by artisans; it allows great flexibility of use, with in particular the possibility of associating concrete block structures with a reinforced concrete framework.

 The highly mechanized manufacture of these elements makes it possible to reduce their cost in significant proportions.

 This technique is however not without drawbacks: first of all, the incorporation into the wall of structures such as chaining, lintels, stiffeners or the like, appreciably increases the overall cost of construction, in particular the increased assembly time.

In addition, the assembly of a concrete block proceeds from a relative forecast, due on the one hand to the junction techniques by cal
very mortar, arch the inevitable thickness variations of
resulting junction, and on the other hand that the geometrical adaptations are made by breaking of concrete block with broken surfaces very often irregular.

 Finally, such a construction method does not solve the problem of thermal insulation well, in particular because of the difficulty of avoiding the consequences of thermal bridges; the remedy is then the use of insulation from the outside, but this costly solution goes against the desire to achieve economic construction.

 One of the aims of the present invention is to produce a modular block which, while having standardized dimensions, can be easily adapted to the particularities of the constructions to be produced, and in particular to the incorporation of lintels, stiffeners or the like: conventionally, these elements were made either by specific added elements, such as specially shaped blocks, or by formwork on site; on the contrary, a construction carried out by means of the blocks according to the invention will have its structural elements incorporated into its walls.

 Another object of the invention is to be able to have a versatile block which makes it possible to avoid the use of a large number of elements, each of which responds to a specific function. This avoids the usual difficulties of supplying the site with all types of blocks to be used on site. The risk of breaking the production lines due to the change in the types produced is also avoided.

 According to the invention, the block comprises a plurality of integral segments each comprising an interior cavity extending vertically and of substantially octagonal section, each segment being separable from the adjacent segment by cutting the block according to a first transverse sectional plane.

 In addition, each segment is itself separable into two symmetrical halves by cutting the block along a second transverse plane of a cup crossing the octagonal cavity.

 To ensure modularity, the dimensions of the block are multiples of a unit pitch equal to the smallest dimension resulting from a cut along the cutting planes: it is thus possible, simply by choosing the cutting planes, to determine a block length with a sufficiently small pitch to ensure the continuity of the various parts of the construction, while allowing bidirectional harpooning at the plasmodular.

 The octagonal shape of the interior cavity allows several elements to be superimposed while maintaining a unique cavity shape, whether the superposition is carried out in alignment or perpendicularly.

 The octagonal shape also makes it possible to have sufficiently thin walls so that the cutting of the block remains easy: in fact, in the vicinity of the sides of the octagon oriented at 450 with respect to the largest dimension of the block, vertical cells are provided, symmetrical with respect to the cutting plane, so that a cut along this plane divides the cells into two vertical grooves suitable for receiving a junction mortar. For their part, the end faces comprise two vertical grooves of dimensions close to the preceding grooves, and also located in the vicinity of the sides of the octagon oriented at 450.

 The cutting can be facilitated groove provides on the outer faces of the block cutting primers at the location of the trace of the cutting planes, as well as, between the two vertical cells located between two adjacent segments, an internal prefente extending parallel in the second section.

The material best suited for cutting is an expanded material obtained from light aggregates; conventional concrete block blocks of heavy aggregate are not conveniently sawn, forcing the use of make-up junctions
with the second work, which constitutes the fundamental handicap of the classical technique.

 The block according to the invention finally comprises a fracturable bottom at the location of the octagonal cavity: when several segments are superimposed, for example at an angle or to form a pillar, the bottoms of the different segments can easily be broken and thus appear a column formed by the superposition of the octagonal cavities. I1 then suffices to introduce into this column a reinforcement and to pour concrete to produce a stiffener integrated into the wall.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description below, made with reference to the appended figures, where - Figure 1 is a top view of the block according to
the invention, - Figures 2, 2a and 2b are perspective views
of the block, respectively before cutting, after cutting
according to a first cutting plane and after cutting according to
a second section plane, - Figures 3a and 3b show how
made the junction between two adjacent elements,
according to the chosen cutting plane, - Figure 4 schematically shows the different
arrangements of the block in a building part - Figure 5 is a horizontal section showing a
angle stiffener, - Figure 6 is a horizontal section showing a
stiffener to the right of a cross wall, Figures 7a to 7d show different ways
to use the block in vertical position, - Figure 8 is a vertical section where the block is
used to make a sill at ground level, - Figure 9 is a vertical section where the block is
used to make a simple lintel, for example
for a house on the ground floor, - Figure 10 is a vertical section where the block is
used to make a reinforced lintel, by
example for a two-story house, - Figure 11 is a vertical section where the block is
used as beam bottom formwork, - Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the block
in cooperation with insulated floor supports, and - Figure 13 is a vertical section of the pre view
yielding, to the right of a beam.

In Figure 1, we can see a block composed of, for example, three identical segments 100 integral each having a cavity 110 of substantially octagonal shape. The segments can be separated by cutting along one of the two cutting planes P1 or P'1; it is also possible to cut each segment into two identical parts, by cutting along the planes P2,
P'2, P "2. The length L of the block, its width 1 and its height H (figure 2) are all multiples of a pitch p which corresponds to the smallest dimension of a segment resulting from the following cut any of the previous section planes. For example, a pitch p of 10 cm, we can advantageously take a width 1 of 20 cm (the section of each segment is then square, and the octagon is regular), a length L of the block of 60 cm (three elements of 20 cm each) and a height of 30 cm Depending on the chosen cut, the length of the cut block can be varied in two steps: either in a step of 20 cm, corresponding a segment by segment cut, i.e. a cut in a 10 cm step, if necessary, corresponding to a cut by half segment.

 To facilitate sawing, it is advantageous to provide cutting primers such as grooves 120 for cutting in 20 cm steps, or grooves 130 for cutting in 10 cm steps.

 In the vicinity of the faces at 45 of the octagon, two vertical cells 140 are provided, capable, for example after cutting along the plane Pl, of forming two grooves 141 (FIG. 2a) and 142 on the end face of the cut segment. A prefente 150, extending between the two cells 140 in the direction of a cutting plane such as P1, facilitates cutting along this same plane. We can thus see that this geometry of the block, combined with an easy-to-saw material (bequest aggregate, such as an expanded clay or an expanded shale) allows an easy cutting by limiting the thickness of the sawing: for a cutting to the pitch 20 cm (Figure 2a), sawing will be limited to partitions 170 to 173; for a 10 cm cut (Figure 2b), sawing will be limited to partitions 174 and 175.

 The end faces of the block also include vertical grooves 160, of dimensions and locations similar to those of the grooves 141 or 142 of each half-cell 140.

 Figures 3a and 3b show the groove of these grooves 141, 142 or 160, which is essentially to achieve an assembly joint between two adjacent segments: in the case of Figure 3a, the two segments to be assembled have not been cut, or have been cut in steps of 20 cm; in the case of FIG. 3b, one of the segments has been cut in steps of 10 cm. In both cases, a mortar 200 ensures the connection of the segments, either between their grooves, or between the grooves of one segment and the octagonal cavity fraction of the other segment.

 To retain the mortar when the segment is used in a vertical position, the block has a bottom (visible in particular in FIG. 2b) 180 at the place of the octagonal cavities and the alveoli. As will be seen later, this bottom can be fractured at the location of the octagonal cavities, so that the cavities of several superimposed segments can communicate.

This bottom is for example an imprint formed during molding, so as to allow it to be broken down by a simple hammer impact.

 FIG. 4 gives several examples of the use of the block according to the invention: in 1, it is conventionally used, in a horizontal position, to mount a wall; in 2, the angle of two walls has been reinforced by incorporating a stiffener; in 3, the blocks are placed vertically (that is to say that the axes of the octagonal cavities are now horizontal), and form a sill reinforcing the construction; finally, in 4, the elements, still in a vertical position, form a lintel and provide chaining with the rest of the construction.

 FIG. 5 is a horizontal section showing the manner in which the angle 2 of FIG. 4 is produced. The bottoms of the end elements of each of the blocks making up the angle have been knocked down, and a vertical frame 210 has been arranged from above. at the bottom of the construction and embedded in 220 concrete. The stiffener is thus fully integrated into the construction, without the need to add any additional elements.

 It can be noted that stiffeners can be placed at any location in the partition, and in particular, as shown in FIG. 6, in line with the cross walls, which makes it possible to stiffen the construction in line with all of its singularities.

 It is also easy to make simple posts, facade or interior, by stacking several segments and filling one or more of the cavities with a reinforced concrete core. This method advantageously replaces construction techniques with cased concrete.

 As regards the vertically arranged segments (reference 3 or 4 in FIG. 4), these are cut longitudinally so as to obtain the desired height (examples are shown in FIGS. 7 to 10) and assembled in the usual manner; the presence of the grooves, which are now horizontal, in the lower part facilitates the installation of the joint mortar.

 The longitudinal stiffening of the blocks can be ensured in different ways, and first of all by the presence of one or more partitions between the different segments, in case these partitions have not been removed.

 Then, a reinforced concrete can be poured into one or more of the octagonal cavities and thus ensure the chaining between the different adjacent blocks. In FIG. 7a, a version of this chaining has been shown corresponding to a low stress in the arrangement of FIG. 7b, the stiffening by pouring of the reinforced concrete is combined with that resulting from the presence of the partition which remains between the two octagonal cavities d 'one block. Finally, FIGS. 7c and 7d correspond to highly stressed chaining, where two of the cavities have been poured with reinforced concrete.

 In the case where the lower cavity is not filled with concrete, as for example in the case of FIGS. 9 and 10, it will be possible to have bottom grooves at the bottom, that is to say at the place of the underside of the lintel, a strip 230 simply fixed by nailing at the location of the joint between the blocks, and covered with a protective coating 240.

 Figure 8 is a section of the blocks arranged so as to form the lower sill (reference 3 of Figure 4): a frame 250 is arranged along the construction, at a level close to that of the ground, and embedded in the concrete . It is thus possible to satisfactorily provide the reinforcement necessary to support the beams 260 supporting the floor tile 270. In this case, the partition between the two upper cavities of the block has been removed, as well as part of the face. lateral on the inner side of the construction, to accommodate the reinforcement and the beam support.

 Figures 9 and 10 show the structure that can be formed to make a lintel using blocks according to the invention: Figure 9 shows a lintel structure usable for example for the doors and windows of a single house ground floor, while the arrangement of Figure 10 offers a reinforced structure, which it is desirable to use, for two-storey houses, to the right of the supports 280 of floor 290. In both cases , the block is open in the upper part, which allows the chaining to be cast in a single operation, with a precision clearly greater than that of current production techniques, where the lintels are produced from attached elements.

 FIG. 11 shows a use of the block according to the invention in bottom formwork of the beam.

The element 100 is open at its upper part, and a mass 300 of concrete is poured in continuity with the upper slab 310. This solution has the advantage of being homogeneous with the conventional embodiment of floors with beams and slabs .

 In Figures 12 and 13, we can see the block according to the invention used in combination with insulating supports for floors, as they have for example been described in patent NO 81 13 886, in the name of the applicant. The blocks are arranged vertically, as described for the production of the lintels. The blocks are opened by cutting in the upper part (to allow the positioning of the chaining reinforcement and the pouring of the concrete). They are also open laterally, so as to allow the installation of beams 320 and thermal correction shells 330. The insulation between beams will then be put in place, leaned against the wall of the block and suspended by metal fasteners to this wall.

The floor and the lintel chaining can then be poured in a single operation.

 Such a system has excellent thermal breaking power. The losses through the creation of thermal bridges at the level of the beams and walls singularities are reduced appreciably.

 The blocks according to the invention also greatly simplify the production of junctions with the roof: a single adjustment is made by sawing at the level; after that, the chaining, and possibly vertical stiffeners, can be easily cast. It will be noted that the walls of the blocks also form formwork for pouring a chaining of rampaging.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples described, but extends to any variant in accordance with its spirit.

 In particular, in the above, reference has been made to aggregates, but those skilled in the art will understand that it is also possible to use expanded materials, in particular beads of expanded glass, to make the blocks of the 'invention.

Claims (10)

 1) Modular hollow building block, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of integral segments (100) each comprising an interior cavity (110) extending vertically and of substantially octagonal section, each segment being separable from the adjacent segment by cutting of the block along a first transverse cutting plane (P1, P'1).  2) Block according to claim 1, characterized in that each segment is itself separable into two symmetrical halves by cutting the block according to a second transverse cutting plane (P2, P'2, P "2) crossing the octagonal cavity .  3) Block according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises on its outer faces primers (120, 130) for cutting at the location of the trace of the cutting planes.  4) Block according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the junction zone between two adjacent segments comprises at least one recess (140) vertical, symmetrical with respect to the first cutting plane, the two halves separated from the cell each forming a vertical groove (141, 142) capable of receiving a joining mortar.  5) Block according to claim 4, characterized in that the junction zone comprises two vertical cells, symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane.  6) Block according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that it comprises on its end faces at least one groove (160) end, vertical, of dimensions close to those of the grooves formed by the separation of the halves of the vertical cell.  7) Block according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the junction zone between two adjacent segments has an internal prefile (150) extending parallel to the second cutting plane.  8) Block according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a fracturable bottom (180) at the location of the octagonal cavity.  9) Block according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is formed of an expanded material obtained from light aggregates.  10) Block according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that its dimensions are multiples of a unit pitch (p) equal to the smallest dimension resulting from a cut along the cutting planes.