GB2433748A - Earth block and timber building system - Google Patents

Abstract

Blocks made from clay, soil and straw are grooved on their lower 1, 2, and upper 3, 4, surfaces so that they can be laid as a wall and connected by horizontal timbers 8, 9, and are grooved also on vertical surfaces 5, 6, 7, for the receipt of vertical timbers 10, 11. These latter are connected to timbers 9 by screws 12 as shown, and timbers 8, 9, may be connected by galvanised straps 13.

Description

<p>I</p>

<p>EARTH BLOCK AN1i TIMBER BUILDING SYSTEM The invention relates to a way of building walls using an interlocking system of structural timber and shaped earth blocks. The invention seeks to incorporate the ancient and traditional wattle and daub construction with modern timber frame systems to produce a finished wall with insulation properties, structural stability and load bearing characteristics of a high order.</p>

<p>Traditional wattle and daub constructions rely on the structure being built of massive sections of Oak or similar hard woods. The wattle and daub is simply an infill to the load bearing structure. This system cannot conform to modern requirements for insulation standards on its own.</p>

<p>The objective of this invention is to enable the ecologically sound use of natural materials in combination with lightweight softwood sections to obviate the need for the use of large hardwood sections, and to achieve high insulation standards without further addition.</p>

<p>Accordingly, this invention provides a building block that is shaped to interlock with various sections of timber and enable construction of walls.</p>

<p>The building block is preferably made with a mixture of clay, soil and straw with a binding admixture of starch or poly vinyl acetate and an anti-fungal agent.</p>

<p>A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of the block FIGURE 2 shows a perspective view of the block, with timber positioned in both lateral and vertical slots.</p>

<p>FIGURE 3 shows a typical wall construction highlighting the position of two blocks in relation to each other and to the connecting timbers.</p>

<p>FIGURE 4 shows the position of a single block in a wall viewed from above.</p>

<p>As shown in Figure 1, the block, of rectangular (or square) construction is formed with grooves 1,2, on bottom,3,4, on top and 5,6,7, on one face.</p>

<p>Figure 2 shows the placement of timbers and related fixings into a block. Timbers 8,9 run laterally along the wall connecting all blocks laid in a single course and ready to receive blocks laid in the next course. Timbers 10,11 are placed in vertical slots once a wall section has been partly built. Timbers 10,1 1 provide load bearing for roof assembly, windows and doors. Vertical timbers 10,11 are connected to lateral timbers 8,9 at all crossover points with screws 12. The lateral timbers 8,9 are connected with galvanized straps 13, at regular intervals.</p>

<p>Figure 3 shows the positioning of two blocks 14,15 in a typical wall and their relationship to vertical face timber 11 and lateral timber 9.</p>

<p>Figure 4 shows the positioning of one block 16, in a wall seen from above. It also shows the position of lateral timbers 8,9 and vertical timbers 11, 12. The position of timbers 17, placed internally to accept plasterboard or other finishes is also shown. These timbers 17, would be screwed to lateral timber 8 in this application.</p>

Claims (1)

1. <p>CLAIMS</p>

   <p>1. A clay, soil and straw block with lateral grooves top and bottom and vertical grooves on one face to accept different timber sections acting as locating and structural members within any wall or other construction in which the system can be used.</p>