GB1576018A - Construction of building structrues - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING STRUCTURES (71) We, TEKTON BUILDING SYSTEMS (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED, a South African Company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of South Africa, of 7 Prit chard Street, Johannesburg, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa, do hereby de -clare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to the con struction of building structures.

A major problem today is the cost escala tion in relation to the construction of build ings and particularly houses. One object of the present invention is the provision of a building method to overcome the difficul ties. A further object of the invention is to provide structural elements for use in exercising the method.

According to the present invention a method of constructing a building structure comprises the steps of providing a plurality of L-shaped panels the limbs of each of which are of unequal lengths, a shorter one of the limbs having a length which is equal to or an integral multiple of a predeter mined length and a longer one of the limbs having a length which is an integral mul tiple of the predetermined length, provid ing a plurality of window frame units and door frame units the lengths of which are equal to or integral multiples of the prede termined length, and laying the wall panels, window frame units and door frame units in position along lines selected from a regular grid of notional lines defining boundaries between notional contiguous squares each of side equal to the predeter mined length, with the line of junction of the two limbs of each ofthe L-shaped panels perlrendiculai:to the grid.

Preferably panels of one infixed set of dimensions are employed.

Advantageously the length of the shorter limb of the L-shaped panel is equal to the predetermined length. The relationship of the long limb of the panel may be related to the length of tile short limb by being multiple thereof. Thus, the relationship may be 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 or any other suits able ratio. The width of the window, door frames or the like may be equal to the length of the short limb of the panel, or again a multiple thereof.

Embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accom- panying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a designing base formed from a plurality of squares; Figure 2 is a perspective view of L shaped wall panels in process of erection; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a form of window frame unit; and Figures 4, 5 and 6 show possible plans.

Referring to figure 1, the base 5 is a fun damental designing element and is made up of a multitude of squares in the manner shown. The sides 6 of the squares, when scaled up, are equal in length to the length of the short limb 7 of panel 8 shown in figure 2 and they are, in this example, one third the length of, the long limb 9 of the panel 8. The squares are hence propor notional to the dimensions of the panels 8 and likewise to the width of the frame 1,0 shown in figure 3. The width of the frames 10 will always be the same as the length of limb 7 of panels 8 or a multiple thereof.

In fact, in the formation of a given struc ture frames 10 of various widths will usually be employed as will be shown later in this description.

Within the confines of the grid provided by the base 5 a number of different plans may be provided for, say, dwellings.

These plans may be derived by locating the panels 8 and the frames 10 in coinc.- ,dence with the lines of the squares. Some examples of housing plans which may be developed are shown in figures 4, 5 and 6.

;Clearly the actual number of housing floor plans which may be developed on the above basis is large.

Having decided on a particular plan for.

a dwelling, for instance as shown in one of figures 4, 5 and 6, the appropriate number of panels 8 are manufactured and likewise the required door and window frames, all in accordance with the requirements revealed from the drawing.

By methodically following the lay-out on the plan the required dwelling may be constructed using only one size of panel 8.

Preformed roofing sections may be used or roofing may proceed according to conventional or known roofing principles.

For preliminary design purposes the base 5 may carry grooves along the lines of the squares. so that the designing of dwelling or like plans may be carried out actually using small scale models of the elements involved. For instance, the L-shaped panels and the frames may be formed on a small scale from suitable materials and the required dwelling may actually be constructed as a model prior to full scale erection. This will assist in giving a better picture of the structure to be developed and will also readily provide a catalogue of the number and types of structural elements to be used in forming the finished product.

Roofing elements may also be provided on a small scale.

The arrangement is basically centred around the use of the squares which lend themselves to association with modularly related L-shaped walls, panel and door and ,window frames to enable a variety of plans to be developed. Using one size of panel a large number of different plans are possible.

Clearly in the exercise of the method of construction it will not be necessary laboriously to draw out the squared pattern shown on base 5. Once the floor plan has been settled on the base 5 the resulting dimensions of the rooms may be used with out repeating the pattern on the floor of the actual structure being formed.

There is no basic limit to the modular size employed. Squares of any desired size may be used. Likewise the ratio of the limb lengths of the panels may be chosen at will. At present ratios of 3 to 1 and 4 to 1' readily suggest themselves as basically among the preferred ratios. In practically the majority of possible floor plans windows will be required varying from 1 to, say, four times the basic length.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A method of constructing a building structure comprising the steps of providing a plurality df L-shaped panels the limbs of each of which are of unequal lengths, a shorter one of the limbs hav ing a length which is equal to or an inte gral multiple of a predetermined length and a longer one of the 'limbs having a length which Is an integral multiple of the predetermined length, providing a plurality of window frame units and door frame units the lengths of which are each equal to or integral multiples of the predetermined length, and laying the wall panels, window frame units and door frame units in position along lines selec ted from a regular- grid of notional lines defining boundaries between notional contiguous squares each of side equal to the predetermined length, with the line of junction of the two limbs of each of the L-shaped panels perpendicular to the grid.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of L-shaped wall panels has a substantially similar set of dimensions.

3. A method as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, in which the.shorter one of the limbs has a length equal to the predetermined length.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the longer one of the limbs has a length which is three times the predetermined length.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the longer one of the limbs has a length which is four times the predetermined length.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising the additional steps of providing a designing base so divided into a grid of contiguous squares each of side related to the predetermined length as to be a scale embodiment of said grid of notional lines, and so designing the structure on the designing base as to ensure coincidence of the walls of the structure with sides of the notional squares.

7. A method of constructing a building structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A set of elements for constructing building structures including a designing base in the form of a square grid-plan, Lshaped wall panels and door and window frame units substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany ing drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ,dence with the lines of the squares. Some examples of housing plans which may be developed are shown in figures 4, 5 and 6. ;Clearly the actual number of housing floor plans which may be developed on the above basis is large. Having decided on a particular plan for. a dwelling, for instance as shown in one of figures 4, 5 and 6, the appropriate number of panels 8 are manufactured and likewise the required door and window frames, all in accordance with the requirements revealed from the drawing. By methodically following the lay-out on the plan the required dwelling may be constructed using only one size of panel 8. Preformed roofing sections may be used or roofing may proceed according to conventional or known roofing principles. For preliminary design purposes the base 5 may carry grooves along the lines of the squares. so that the designing of dwelling or like plans may be carried out actually using small scale models of the elements involved. For instance, the L-shaped panels and the frames may be formed on a small scale from suitable materials and the required dwelling may actually be constructed as a model prior to full scale erection. This will assist in giving a better picture of the structure to be developed and will also readily provide a catalogue of the number and types of structural elements to be used in forming the finished product. Roofing elements may also be provided on a small scale. The arrangement is basically centred around the use of the squares which lend themselves to association with modularly related L-shaped walls, panel and door and ,window frames to enable a variety of plans to be developed. Using one size of panel a large number of different plans are possible. Clearly in the exercise of the method of construction it will not be necessary laboriously to draw out the squared pattern shown on base 5. Once the floor plan has been settled on the base 5 the resulting dimensions of the rooms may be used with out repeating the pattern on the floor of the actual structure being formed. There is no basic limit to the modular size employed. Squares of any desired size may be used. Likewise the ratio of the limb lengths of the panels may be chosen at will. At present ratios of 3 to 1 and 4 to 1' readily suggest themselves as basically among the preferred ratios. In practically the majority of possible floor plans windows will be required varying from 1 to, say, four times the basic length. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A method of constructing a building structure comprising the steps of providing a plurality df L-shaped panels the limbs of each of which are of unequal lengths, a shorter one of the limbs hav ing a length which is equal to or an inte gral multiple of a predetermined length and a longer one of the 'limbs having a length which Is an integral multiple of the predetermined length, providing a plurality of window frame units and door frame units the lengths of which are each equal to or integral multiples of the predetermined length, and laying the wall panels, window frame units and door frame units in position along lines selec ted from a regular- grid of notional lines defining boundaries between notional contiguous squares each of side equal to the predetermined length, with the line of junction of the two limbs of each of the L-shaped panels perpendicular to the grid.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of L-shaped wall panels has a substantially similar set of dimensions.

3. A method as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, in which the.shorter one of the limbs has a length equal to the predetermined length.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the longer one of the limbs has a length which is three times the predetermined length.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the longer one of the limbs has a length which is four times the predetermined length.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising the additional steps of providing a designing base so divided into a grid of contiguous squares each of side related to the predetermined length as to be a scale embodiment of said grid of notional lines, and so designing the structure on the designing base as to ensure coincidence of the walls of the structure with sides of the notional squares.

7. A method of constructing a building structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A set of elements for constructing building structures including a designing base in the form of a square grid-plan, Lshaped wall panels and door and window frame units substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany ing drawings.