GB1592364A

GB1592364A - Building construction

Info

Publication number: GB1592364A
Application number: GB36530/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HABIKIT Pty Ltd
Current assignee: HABIKIT Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1976-09-03
Filing date: 1977-09-01
Publication date: 1981-07-08
Also published as: JPS5336917A; ZA775301B; AR213017A1; BR7705868A

Description

(54) IMPROVED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (71) We, HABIYIT PTY. LTD., a Com- pany incorporated in Western Australia, of 33 Broadway, Nedlands, in the State of Western Australia, Commonwealth of Australia, do hereby declare 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 particuarly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an improved building construction.

The object of the invention is to provide a building construction in which stibstan- tially similar units of relatively simple configuration can be readily assembled by unskilled labour to -provide a structure which is substantially self supporting and load bearing.

According to the invention we provide a building constructed from a plurality of sheets clamped together in edge to edge parallel relationship by means of a pair of channel shaped connecting members having flanges diverging outwards from each other which engage opposite sides of the opposed edges of a pair of adjacent sheets and providing a substantially weatherproof joint therebetween, said sheets being channel shaped in cross-section with diverging flanges of which the portions adjacent the vertical edges engaged by the connecting members are planar whereby when the connecting members are clamped together they hold the edges of the sheets in a fixed position thus providing a self supporting structure.

Generally the sheets are formed of fibre reinforced cement but they may also be formed of other semi-rigid materials such as plywood, fibreglass or metal. In the simplest form each sheet is substantially arcuate in cross-section, the depth of the arc being small in relation to the width thereof. Also the wings -of the arc are planar and diverge outwardly from the web of the arc. The angle of divergence of the planar portions of the sheets is preferably less than the angle of divergence of flanges on the connecting members.

This facilitates the clamping of the sheets together ensuring that there is frictional engagement betweeen the connecting members and a substantially weatherproof joint.

The various aspects of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of the various embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing one form of connection between an adjacent pair of sheets formed from asbestos cement; Fig. 1A shows an alternative form of clamping means; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the sheet of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an alternative form of wall clamping members to those shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of corner wall clamping members corresponding to those of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan showing the construction of the sill unit; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing the formation of the sill unit; Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a further embodiment; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the sill construction of the embodiment of Fig. 7;; Fig. 8A is an alternative form of holding down the sill; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the roof construction of the embodiment of Fig. 7; Fig. 9A is a fragmentary view showing a modification of the sealing of the roof panels; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing an alternative method of fixing the lining panels; Fig. 11 is an exploded fragmentary view showing the head assembly of a further embodiment; and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the sill assembly of the embodiment of Fig. 11.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the members 21 forming the wall are made from fibre reinforced cement and are channel shaped with diverging flanges as is best seen in Fig. 2 with the flanges substantially planar as is the web portion of the channel. The depth of the channel is small in relation to the width.

In accordance with the invention the members 21 are clamped together in side by side relationship utilising wall connectors 22 and 23 as shown in Fig. 1. As the wall connectors are drawn together by the bolt 24 the wedging action of the wall connector 22 ensures that the members are firmly clamped between the connectors to provide a construction which acts as an integral unit and at the same time provides a weatherproof joint.

If desired a sealing member or a mastic like sealing material may be inserted between the members and the wall- connectors. The sealing member may be a single or multiple strip.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1A the wall connectors 22 and 23 are formed of high tensile steel and in addition to the wedging action the tension in the outer wings of the connectors assists the clamping action and sealing action.

Alternative forms of wall connectors are shown in Figs 3 and 4 of the drawings, those shown in Fig. 4 being suitable for forming a right angled corner between adjacent walls. The inner connector 25 in each case may > be provided with laterally projecting wings 26 to firmly engage wall members. Both the inner and outer connectors 25 and 27 respectively may be provided at their upper ends with outwardly projecting lugs 28 and 29 respectively to enable the roof components to be fixed thereto or lugs 29 may be directly fastened to the head sill. The wings 26 also provide a fastening for lining sheets if required as hereinafter explained.

The formation of a sill unit to support the wall members and the wall connectors will now be described with reference to Figs.

5 and 6 of the drawings. In keeping with the need to use relatively unskilled labour the formation of the sill unit has been simplified as much as possible. A small trench 30 is formed along the line of the wall to be erected and a series of beams 31 positioned transversely at spaced intervals along the length thereof. A channel shaped metal beam 33 is located on the transverse beams in alignment with the outer side of the trench 30 and is fixed in position by a pin or nail 34. The beam 33 serves as the external form for the sill unit.

An angled sill member 32 formed of galvanised metal is positioned on the roughly formed foundation parallel to the metal beam 33 and levelled by means of timber beams and wedges as indicated in Fig. 6. After erection of the wall and roof shell the edge beam- and floor are filled with concrete as a single operation using the upturned sill edge as a screeding edge. If alternative floor finishes are required the edge beam only is filled with concrete to stabilise the wall panels and provide dead weight and anchorage to the structure.

When the concrete has set the beams and wedges are removed. Alternatively the floor may be poured after the wall panels have been erected so as to restrain and contain the bottom of the wall panels.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings the sill member 41 is anchored to a concrete base 42 by means of holding down clips 43 engaging slots 44 in the sill member and a reinforcing rod 45 embedded in the concrete base.

Alternatively item 43 may be omitted by turning down the edge sections of the slot punch out as shown in Fig. 8A. The wall connectors 46 and 47 are similar in configuration to those shown in Fig. 4 and the lower ends thereof are fixed to the upstanding lip 48 of the sill member 41 with the sheet members 49 formed of asbestos cement clamped therebetween. The upper ends of the wall connectors 46 and 47 are fixed to a capping member 50.

The roof is formed from roof members 51 of the same configuration as the wall members 49, the ends of which are clamped between clamping members 52 and 53 by means of bolts 54, which also fasten the clamping members to the capping member.

Preferably sealing members 55 are positioned between the clamping member 53 and the roof members 51. If desired the sealing member 55 may be replaced by a continuous sealing strip 55A as shown in Fig. 9A of the drawings. At the end of the roof a finishing member (not shown) may be used (see Fig. 9). If desired a lining unit may be fitted in behind the wings of the clamping member 52 and insulating material positioned between the roof member and the lining. The walls may be lined in a similar manner. Alternatively a retaining strip in the form of a timber batt 60 may be attached to the threaded end of the bolt 54 fitted with a spacer 61 as shown in Fig. 10 and the lining sheets 57 fitted behind the retaining strip.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings the walls are constructed in essentially the same manner as in the other embodiments with wall panels 62 formed of fibre reinforced cement clamped between wall connectors 63 and 64. A sealing strip of extruded rubber 65 may be fitted to the upper edge of the wall panels or underneath the head plate and a head unit 66 is supported thereon. The inner wall connector 64 is provided at its upper end with an upwardly projecting lug 67 the outer end of which is provided with a flange 68, which mates with the upstand on the inner edge of the head unit. The roofing panels 69 are clamped between roof connectors 71 and 72 which are bolted to the head unit 66.

A lining batten 73 may be attached to the inner face of the inner wall connector 64 to hold lining panels 74 in position (see Fig. 12). The lower ends of the wall panels are supported on a sill member 75 supported on a concrete footing 76, and the wall connectors 63 and 64 are bolted to the upstand on the inner edge of the sill member 75 which upstand forms a level for screeding concrete poured to form the floor after the wall panels have been erected and before the installation of the lining panels.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A building constructed from a plurality of sheets clamped together in edge to edge parallel relationship by means of a pair of channel shaped connecting members having flanges diverging outwards from each other which engage opposite sides of the opposed edges of a pair of adjacent sheets and providing a substantially weatherproof joint therebetween, said sheets being channel shaped in cross-section with diverging flanges of which the portions adjacent the vertical edges engaged by the connecting members are planar whereby when the connecting members are clamped together they hold the edges of the sheets in a fixed position thus providing a self supporting structure.

2. A building construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the angle of divergence of the flanges of the channel members is less than the angle of divergence of the flanges of the sheets to induce a wedging action between the channel members and sheets on a clamping force being applied between the channel members.

3. A building construction as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the channel members are formed of a high tensile material.

4. A building construction as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the clamping members is provided with laterally projecting wings on the flanges.

5. A building construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the walls and roof of the building are formed of the plurality of sheets clamped together in edge to edge engagement.

6. A building as claimed in claim 5 wherein the top of the sheets comprising the walls is provided with a capping member to which the roof is attached.

7. A building construction as claimed in claim 6 wherein the outermost flanges of the sheets comprising the roof are clampingly received between a pair of roof fixing channel shaped members having -fixing means therebetween to draw the members together wherein one of the roof fixing members is fixed to the capping member.

8. A building construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the wall members are mounted at their lower end to an elongate sheet metal beam embedded in concrete foundations located in alignment with the walls.

9. A building construction as claimed in claim 8 wherein the concrete foundations comprise an external form member defining the external configuration of the foundations and the sheet metal beam is located parallel to the form member.

10. A building construction as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the sheet metal beam comprises a flange extending above the level of the concrete foundations.

11. A building construction as claimed in claim 8 or 9 or 10 wherein the metal beam is provided with a series of spaced punched apertures therein, wherein the punched out material remains attached to the beam to extend therefrom for fixing to reinforcing in the foundations.

12. A building construction as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the metal beam is provided with a series of spaced apertures therein, a series of tie members extending through the apertures to be fixed at one side to reinforcing in the foundations and supported at the other side of the beams 13. A building construction substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of building construction comprising forming a trench in alignment with the walls of the building, placing a plurality of transverse beams across the trench, mounting an external form member to the transverse members in substantial alignment with the outer edge of the trench, leveling the form member by adjusting the level of the transverse members, locating a metal beam parallel to the form member and within the space defined thereby, pouring the concrete into the trench to at least partially embed the metal beam and on the setting of the concrete assembling the walls and roof in the form as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and fixing the walls to the metal beam.

15. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. wall connector 64 is provided at its upper end with an upwardly projecting lug 67 the outer end of which is provided with a flange 68, which mates with the upstand on the inner edge of the head unit. The roofing panels 69 are clamped between roof connectors 71 and 72 which are bolted to the head unit 66. A lining batten 73 may be attached to the inner face of the inner wall connector 64 to hold lining panels 74 in position (see Fig. 12). The lower ends of the wall panels are supported on a sill member 75 supported on a concrete footing 76, and the wall connectors 63 and 64 are bolted to the upstand on the inner edge of the sill member 75 which upstand forms a level for screeding concrete poured to form the floor after the wall panels have been erected and before the installation of the lining panels. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A building constructed from a plurality of sheets clamped together in edge to edge parallel relationship by means of a pair of channel shaped connecting members having flanges diverging outwards from each other which engage opposite sides of the opposed edges of a pair of adjacent sheets and providing a substantially weatherproof joint therebetween, said sheets being channel shaped in cross-section with diverging flanges of which the portions adjacent the vertical edges engaged by the connecting members are planar whereby when the connecting members are clamped together they hold the edges of the sheets in a fixed position thus providing a self supporting structure.

12. A building construction as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the metal beam is provided with a series of spaced apertures therein, a series of tie members extending through the apertures to be fixed at one side to reinforcing in the foundations and supported at the other side of the beams

13. A building construction substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.