GB2404205A

GB2404205A - A rib frame structural member and a method of construction using the rib frame structural member

Info

Publication number: GB2404205A
Application number: GB0415363A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Campbell Anderson Barr; Kenichi Katagihara; Kazuyoshi Takagi
Original assignee: Yoko Masuda
Current assignee: Yoko Masuda
Priority date: 2003-07-08
Filing date: 2004-07-08
Publication date: 2005-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-08
Also published as: GB0415363D0; GB2404205B; JP2005030097A; JP3548172B1

Abstract

Rib frame structural members 1 are disposed adjacent to one another in parallel, in series or in orthogonal layout. Each rib frame structural member 1 has a series of rib frames 2 spaced by linking frames 3. Each rib frame 2 is formed from a pair of frame plates. Rib frames 2 of adjacent rib frame structural members 1 are integrally linked and fixed by linking plates 2D projecting from between the frame plates of the rib frames 2 of one rib frame structural member 1 being received between the frame plates of the rib frames 2 of an adjacent structural member 1. Each rib frame structural member 1 is given a tubular structure by fixing an inner wall covering 4 to the inner sides of the rib frames 2 of the structural member 1. For rib frame structural members 1 in series, the front and rear rib frames 2 of adjacent rib frame structural members 1 are integrally linked and fixed by viscoelastic dampers 7. Desired buildings of single-storey structure or of multi-storey structure can be constructed from the rib frame structural members.

Description

A RIB FRAME STRUCTURAL MEMBER AND A METHOD OF

CONSTRUCTION USING THE RIB FRAME STRUCTURAL MEMBER

The present invention relates to a rib frame structural member and a method of using the rib frame structural member in the construction of a building in a short period. The building may be a single-storey structure or a multi-storey structure, and may be, for example, a general dwelling, an apartment building, a temporary house, a care institute, a hotel, an office building or a warehouse.

Hitherto, various structural members used in construction of such building have been known. For example, a structural member for building a space frame is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-8011. A column portion of a coupling frame body for enclosing a concrete tubular body is formed wider than a beam portion. One coupling frame body is rotated about 180 degrees to another coupling frame body, and column portion lateral end faces or beam portion upper end faces of a pair of coupling frame bodies are mutually engaged and linked, and joined together side by side or one above the other.

In this structural member for building space, however, one structural member disposed in a vertically or laterally adjacent state must be rotated about degrees to another structural member, and mutually opposite end faces are engaged and linked. However, it takes time and labour to rotate the direction of each structural member about 180 degrees.

Besides, it takes a long time until the concrete tubular body is cured, and the construction period using the structural members is very long. Using concrete, the total weight of structural members is very heavy, and it requires much labour and energy to move and carry to the site of construction, and rotate about 180 degrees and stack up, and it takes much time and labour to erect a building of a specified number of storeys.

It is hence a primary object of the invention to present a method of construction of a building of single-storey structure or multi-storey structure in a short period, capable of working easily and simply at the site of building, shortening the term of construction, saving labour and energy, moving and carrying easily, and reducing the construction cost.

Other objects of the invention will be easily understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a linking method of rib frame structural members; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section front view showing a linked state of rib frame structural members; Fig. 3 is a front view showing an assembled state of rib frames; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of a corner frame and straight frames of the rib frame; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a linking method of rib frames disposed in an adjacent state; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing another linking method of rib frames disposed in an adjacent state; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a linking method of front and rear rib frame structural members; Fig. 8 is a side view showing a linking method of orthogonally disposed rib frame structural members; Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a first building constructed by rib frame structural members; Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a second building constructed by rib frame structural members; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a third building constructed by rib frame structural members; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a fourth building constructed by rib frame structural members.

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described below.

The drawings show the construction method of rib frame structural members used in construction of a building in a single-storey or multi-storey structure, and the rib frame structural members used in the same.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the construction method of this rib frame structural member 1 is as follows: rib frame structural members 1... of nearly tubular form in a front view are disposed in parallel, in series, in orthogonal layout or the like, and are mutually joined closely or tightly. Rib frames 2... of adjacent rib frame structural members 1... are integrally linked and fixed by linking plates 2D Further, front and rear rib frame structural members 1 are mutually joined closely or tightly, and a rear end rib frame 2 of the front rib frame structural member 1 and a front end rib frame 2 of the rear rib frame structural member 1 are integrally linked and fixed by means of viscoelastic dampers 7....

and desired buildings A, B. C, D of single-storey structure or multistorey structure are constructed.

The rib frame structural member 1 is formed by disposing a plurality of square rib frames 2... at specified intervals in the longitudinal direction, and the front and rear confronting surfaces of the rib frames 2... are integrally linked and fixed by means of linking frames 3....

Inner wall boards 4 covering the inner side of the rib frames 2 are ) fixed to the upper and lower inner sides and right and left inner sides of the rib frames 2... corresponding to the floor, wall, ceiling, etc., and outer wall boards 5 covering and concealing the outer side of the rib frames 2... are fixed to the upper and lower outer sides and right and left outer sides of the rib frames 2....

thereby composing a tubular structure.

The inner wall boards 4 and outer wall boards 5 are composed of fireproof or heat insulating materials.

Moreover, a filler 6 excellent in heat insulation and sound insulation such as glass wool, natural wool, foamed plastics, used paper, or the like is used to fill up the space in the rib frames 2... enclosed by the inner wall boards 4 and outer wall boards 5 by a specified amount. This space is used, for example, for wiring of electric wires, cables and cords, or piping of gas pipes, water pipes, ducts, etc. The rib frame 2 may be formed in any desired shape, which may be rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, elliptical or another shape.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the rib frame 2 is composed by disposing corner frames 2A... formed in an L-shape as seen from the front (rightangle shape) at four corners at specified intervals, and linking and fixing the opposite end faces of the corner frames 2A integrally by means of one or a plurality of straight frames 2B Further, corner plates 2C of substantially the same size and shape as the corners of the corner frames 2A are fitted in between the opposite faces of the L-shaped frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa formed of substantially the same size and shape, and the opposite faces of the frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa are integrally linked and fixed by means of fixing members such as screws and bolts. The frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa are held at a specified clearance to allow insertion of a linking plate 2D described below.

Alternatively, tapered ends of frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa divided in two from the corner may be linked to the corner plate 2C formed in an L-shape or a triangular shape.

The linking plates 2D are inserted between the opposite sides of the frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa forming the corner frame 2A and are aligned with the corner frame 2A and straight frame 2B. Frame plates 2Ba, 2Ba of the same size and shape form the straight frame 2B, and the linking ends of the corner frames 2A... and straight frames 2B... are linked and fixed integrally by fixing members such as screws and bolts. The frame plates2Aa, 2Aa, and frame plates 2Ba, 2Ba are held at a specified clearance to allow insertion of the linking plate 2D.

The corner plates 2C... and linking plates 2D... are fixed integrally across an interval to allow insertion of the linking plate 2D along the entire circumference of the rib frame 2. At the insertion end of the corner plate 2C and linking plate 2D, holes for driving or inserting fixing members such as screws and bolts are formed in a plurality at specified intervals.

In the straight portions of rib frames 2, linking plates 2D... are fixed, having protruding insertion parts 2Da, 2Da in a thickness capable of being inserted between the frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa of the corner frame 2A and frame plates 2Ba, 2Ba of the straight frame 2B, and in the straight portions of the other rib frames 2..., linking plates 2D.... not having insertion parts 2Da, 2Da are fixed.

At the linking ends of the corner frames 2A... and straight frames 2B... of the rib frames 2 in which the insertion parts 2Da, 2Da of the linking plate 2D are inserted, a linking plate 2D formed in a width capable of being inserted between the insertion parts 2Da, 2Da of the linking plate 2D is fixed as shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Fig. 6, one end of the linking plate 2D not having the insertion parts 2Da, 2Da is inserted and fixed between the frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa of the corner frame 2A and the frame plates 2Ba, 2Ba of the straight frame 2B. The other end of the linking plate 2D projecting outside may be inserted in a linking side of a rib frame 2... of an adjacent rib frame structural member 1.

Incidentally, the linking plates 2D... in Figs. 5 and 6 may be provided in all rib frames 2... of the rib frame structural member 1, or may be provided in alternate rib frames 2... of the rib frame structural members 1... disposed in adjacent state where the rib frames 2 of each structural member 1 having the linking plates 2D have their linking plate 2D received in corresponding rib frames 2 of an adjacent structural member 1 without these linking plates.

Instead of the fixing members, for example, nails, rivets, pins, hole-in anchors, adhesive or the like may be used, or the fixing members may be combined with others.

The rib frame 2 is composed of a composite material excellent in structural strength, heat insulation, moisture retaining property, moisture control, and others. The frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa, 2Ba, 2Ba are composed of plywood of thickness t of about 24 mm, and the corner plate 2C and linking plate 2D are reinforced LVL plywood (single plate laminated material) of thickness t of about 12 mm. The linking plates 2D may also be made from metal or be of a composite design.

Thickness of frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa, 2Ba, 2Ba may be more than or less than 24 mm, and thickness of corner plate 2C and linking plate 2D may be more than or less than 12 mm.

The rib frame 2 may be composed by linking four frame plates formed in the length corresponding to each side, or the entire rib frame 2 may be composed of one frame plate formed in a size and shape corresponding to the rib frame 2.

At the time of construction, when linking rib frame structural members 1.. .

in parallel in vertically or laterally adjacent state, for example, in the same or nearly the same, direction (length direction), an outer face of one rib frame structural member 1 and an outer face of another rib frame structural member 1 are joined tightly or closely across a specified spacing, and linking pieces 2Da, 2Da of linking plates 2D... projecting to the linking side of the rib frame 2 of one rib frame structural member 1 are inserted into the frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa, and frame plates 2Ba, 2Ba of the rib frame 2 of the other rib frame structural member 1, and are integrally linked and fixed by means of fixing members such 2 0 as screws and bolts.

When linking front and rear rib frame structural members 1... disposed in series in longitudinal direction (length direction), the rear end of the front rib frame structural member 1 and the front end of the rear rib frame structural member 1 are joined tightly or closely across a specified spacing. One insertion plate 7a forming a viscoelastic damper 7 shown in Fig. 7 is inserted into the frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa, and frame plates 2Ba, 2Ba of the rib frame 2 assembled at the rear end of the front rib frame structural member 1, and integrally linked and fixed by means of fixing members such as screws and bolts.

Another insertion plate 7a is inserted into the frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa, and frame plates 2Ba, 2Ba of the rib frame 2 assembled at the front end of the rear rib frame structural member 1, and integrally linked and fixed by means of fixing members such as screws and bolts.

When linking rib frame structural members 1... disposed in an orthogonal layout, as shown in Fig. 8, the projecting ends of relevant linking plates 2D of each rib frame structural member 1 are modified by being perpendicular to the rest of the linking plate 2D and these projecting ends are inserted into the rib frames 2... of the other rib frame structural member 1, and are linked and fixed.

These linking plates 2D may comprise metal or be of a composite design or be a variation of the damper connection 7.

Furthermore, the projecting ends of the linking plate 2D not fixed to an orthogonal rib frame structure are inserted into the rib frames 2... of at least one other rib frame structural member 1, and are linked and fixed.

The viscoelastic damper 7 is formed of a viscoelastic body 7b made of high polymer material such as acrylic, silicone, urethane, rubber or diene material, and the viscoelastic body 7b forms an integral fill between opposite sides of a pair of insertion plates 7a, 7a. Vibrations ranging from small deformation to large deformation are absorbed.

Instead of the viscoelastic damper 7 and linking plates 2D, metal members such as bolts or linking pieces may be used to link and fix integrally, or linking members composed of single or composite material of metals, ceramics - ) or plastics may be used for linking and fixing integrally.

At least one window 8 may be provided in the side wall of the rib frame structural member 1, as may at least one door, wide window, trench doors or patio doors.

The illustrated embodiment is thus composed, and the construction method of the rib frame structural member 1 is explained below.

First, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the rib frame structural members 1 are disposed in parallel in vertically or laterally adjacent state, for example, in nearly the same direction. An outer face of one rib frame structural member 1 and an outer face of another rib frame structural member 1 are joined tightly or closely, and as shown in Fig. 5, linking pieces 2Da, 2Da of linking plates 2D...

projecting to the outer side of the rib frame 2... composing one rib frame structural member 1 are inserted into the frame plates 2Aa, 2Aa of the outer side of the corner frame 2A and frame plates 2Ba, 2Ba of the outer side of the straight frame 2B of the rib frame 2... composing the other rib frame structural member 1.

By inserting the linking plate 2D provided in the other rib frame 2 between the insertion parts 2Da, 2Da of the linking plate 2D projecting to one rib frame 2, and defining and joining the rib frame structural members 1... in a parallel combined state, they are integrally linked and fixed by fixing members such as screws and bolts. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 6, rib frames 2... of the rib frame structural members 1... disposed in adjacent state may be linked and fixed by linking plates 2D... .

In addition, rib frame structural members 1... are disposed in series in the longitudinal direction. For example, a rear end rib frame 2 of the front rib frame structural member 1 and a front end rib fame 2 of the rear rib frame structural member 1 are joined tightly or closely, and the front side of rear end rib frame 2 and rear side of front end rib frame 2 are linked and fixed integrally by means of fixing members such as screws and bolts by way of viscoelastic dampers 7...

shown in Fig. 7.

-) As shown in Fig. 8, rib frame structural members 1 are disposed in orthogonal layout vertically or laterally, each linking plate 2D of each rib frame structural member 1 which has its projecting ends perpendicular to the rest of the linking plate 2D have the projecting ends inserted into a rib frame 2... of the 25. other rib frame structural member 1, and are linked and fixed.

Similarly, rib frame structural members 1... are disposed in parallel in vertically or laterally adjacent state in the same direction, or in orthogonal layout vertically or laterally, or in series in a longitudinal direction, and desired buildings A, B. C, D in a single-storey structure or multi-storey structure shown in Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 12 are constructed.

Thus, plural rib frame structural members 1... are disposed in adjacent state in a same direction, and linking plates 2D projecting to the outer end of the rib frames 2... composing one rib frame structural member 1 are inserted into the outer end of the rib frames 2... composing another rib frame structural member 1, and linked and fixed integrally, and unlike the prior art, it saves time and labour for rotating the direction of the structural members, and it is enough to install the prefabricated rib frame structural members 1, or combine the plural rib frame structural members 1, so that it is ideal for constructing in a narrow area of land or dense residential district, and the field construction work is very easy.

In addition, the construction term is shortened substantially, and the labour and energy in construction is curtailed, and desired buildings A, B. C, D of a single-storey structure or a multi-storey structure, such as a general dwelling, an apartment building, a temporary house, a care institute, a hotel, an office building or a warehouse can be constructed in a short term and the construction cost can be lowered.

Since the rib frame structural member 1 composed of plural rib frames 2 is prefabricated in shop as a single unit or block, it is easy to transport to the site of construction by truck or vehicle, and as the rib frames 2... are composed of composite materials, they are lighter in weight than concrete or metal structural members, and can be erected by a smaller labour force.

The space between the rib frames 2 enclosed by the inner wall board 4 and outer wall board 5 can be used for wiring of electric wires, cables and cords, or piping of gas pipes, water pipes and ducts.

In the comparison between the claimed invention and the illustrated embodiment, the linking member of the invention corresponds to the viscoelastic damper 7 in the embodiment, but the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment alone.

For example, the rib frame structural members 1 may be disposed longitudinally, obliquely upward, or in other configuration, and may be used in construction of various buildings A, B. C, D. Any of the different types of linking plates 2D illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 may be placed in alternative positions in order to connect rib frames 2. :)

.,- At. . .

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A method of construction using rib frame structural members

comprising the steps of: forming rib frames by fixing a pair of frame plates of substantially the same size and shape, integrally across a specified spacing to allow insertion of linking plates between the frame plates, arraying plural rib frames across a specified spacing in a longitudinal direction, composing a substantially tubular rib frame structural member by fixing an inner wall board covering integrally to the inner side of each rib frame, concealing the inner side of each rib frame, disposing the plurality of rib frame structural members in an adjacent state, so that at least one rib frame of each rib frame structural member is opposite a rib frame of an adjacent rib frame structural member, and constructing a building of a desired number of storeys by inserting the linking plate projecting from the outer end of at least one said rib frame of one rib frame structural member into the outer end of a rib frame of another rib frame structural member, and linking and fixing integrally.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of rib frame structural members are disposed substantially in series in the longitudinal direction, so that the front and rear rib frames of adjacent frame structural members are opposite each other, and are integrally linked and fixed by means of linking members. )
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the rib frame is formed at least by fixing a pair of frame plates of substantially the same size and shape across a specific spacing to allow insertion of the linking plate, and forming specific spacing between corner plates enclosed between corner frame plates of the rib frame and linking plates enclosed between straight frame plates of the rib frame to allow insertion of at least one linking plate of an adjacent rib frame; structural member.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, including integrally fixing opposite faces of adjacent frames of a rib frame structural member by means of a linking frame.
5. The method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rib frame comprises a composite material. I
6. The method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rib frames are substantially square.
7. A rib frame structural member comprising: I a plurality of rib frames, each having a pair of frame plates of substantially the same size and shape, fixed integrally across a specified spacing to allow insertion of linking plates between the frame plates, the rib frames being arrayed across a specified spacing in a longitudinal direction; and an inner wall board covering, fixed integrally to the inner side of each rib frame to form a substantially tubular shape and to conceal the inner side of each rib frame.
8. The rib frame structural member as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rib frame comprises a pair of frame plates formed of substantially the same size and shape across a specific spacing to allow insertion of the linking plate, and corner plates enclosed between corner frame plates of the rib frame and linking plate enclosed between straight frame plates of the rib frame are fixed across a specific spacing to allow insertion of the linking plate of an adjacent rib frame structural member.
9. The rib frame structural member as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the opposite faces of adjacent frames of a rib frame structural member are fixed integrally by means of a linking frame.
10. The rib frame structural member as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the rib frame comprises a composite material.
11. The rib frame structural member as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the rib frames are substantially square.
12. A method of construction using rib frame structural members as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. A rib frame structural member constructed as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.