ITRM20000650A1 - MODULAR ASSEMBLY FOR THE REALIZATION OF HOUSING UNITS. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled:

"MODULAR ASSEMBLY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIVING UNITS"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a modular assembly for the construction of a housing unit, and to a related assembly method. The population of areas affected by natural disasters, such as earthquakes or floods, which have destroyed or rendered uninhabitable buildings are generally temporarily housed in prefabricated houses commonly referred to as "containers".

These containers are generally built in a remote location and then transferred by means of land transport to the area affected by the disaster.

However, such containers of the known art have some significant drawbacks. The fundamental drawback consists in the fact that their assembly, their transport to the destination and their subsequent installation are complex and require excessive time in relation to the emergency nature of the circumstances in which the containers are used.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of providing an assembly to create a housing unit that allows to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks with reference to the prior art.

This problem is solved by a modular assembly for the construction of a housing unit, including:

- a plurality of crosspieces, suitable for making a supporting frame; and - a plurality of panels, adapted to be fixed to said frame, in which at least the crosspieces of a subset of said plurality of crosspieces have an elongated central body and coupling connection means, integral with said central body and arranged in correspondence with at least one end of this, for the connection of contiguous cross members of the frame.

According to the same inventive concept, the present invention also refers to a method of assembling a housing unit, comprising the steps of:

- provide a modular assembly as defined above;

- connecting the crosspieces of said plurality of crosspieces at said coupling connection means to form said framework; and - fix said panels to said frame so as to completely shield it from the outside.

The present invention provides some relevant advantages. The main advantage is that the assembly according to the invention, by virtue of its modularity and the fact that its crosspieces incorporate plug-in connection means, can be easily transported to the installation site in a disassembled condition, and assembled / disassembled there. quickly and easily. In addition, the assembly has a small number of components. This last feature, combined with the aforementioned modularity, also simplifies the storage of the assembly.

Other advantages, characteristics and methods of use of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of some embodiments, presented by way of non-limiting example. Reference will be made to the figures of the attached drawings, in which: Figures 1A, 1B and 1C each refer to a different type of crosspiece of a first embodiment of the modular assembly according to the present invention, showing a perspective view thereof;

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C each refer to a further type of crosspiece of the assembly of Figures 1A, 1B and 1C, showing a perspective view thereof;

Figure 3A refers to the assembly methods of the crosspiece of Figure 1C with further crosspieces of the relative assembly, showing a perspective view;

Figure 3B refers to the assembly methods of further crossbeams of the assembly of Figures 1A, 1B and 1C, showing a perspective view; Figure 4 refers to the assembly methods of the crosspieces of Figure 3A with panels of the relative assembly, showing a perspective view;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a detail of a window module of the assembly of Figures 1A, 1B and 1C;

Figure 6 refers to a detail of another embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, showing a perspective view; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a first base frame achievable with the assembly of Figures 1A, 1B and 1C;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a second base frame which can be made with the assembly of Figures 1A, 1B and 1C;

Figure 9 shows a sectional view of a detail of Figure 8, performed according to the line A-A of the latter Figure;

Figure 10 shows a detail of a ceiling of a housing unit made using the assembly of Figures 1A, 1B and 1C; And

Figure 11 shows a partially sectional perspective view of a housing unit created using the assembly of Figures 1A, 1B and 1C.

With reference initially to Figure 11, a modular assembly for the construction of a housing unit, indicated as a whole with 1, comprises a plurality of crosspieces, suitable for making a support frame 2 of the housing unit, and a plurality of panels, each indicated with 3 and adapted to be fixed to the aforementioned frame 2 to close the housing unit.

Each of the components introduced up to now will now be described in greater detail, with reference to the specific embodiments presented here.

Figures 1A, 1B and 1C show three different types of crosspiece according to the present invention. With reference to said figures, each of these crosspieces has an elongated conformation, developing mainly along a longitudinal axis 200. Always according to the invention, at least a subset of the aforementioned plurality of crosspieces provides an elongated central body 201 and coupling means for the connection with the other crosspieces of the plurality of crosspieces, integral with the central body 201 and arranged at its ends. In particular, in the present embodiment these connecting means are arranged at both ends of the main body 201 of each cross member of the aforementioned sub-assembly.

In the embodiment shown in the aforementioned Figures 1A, 1B and 1C, the aforementioned central body 201 is provided to be hollow and has a substantially square cross-section, which facilitates the storage and transport of the crosspieces.

Again with reference to the crosspieces of the aforementioned figures, the means of connection to graft are made through one or more tubular elements, hereinafter referred to as coupling elements, one of which is indicated with 202 in Figure 1A. These coupling elements are generally arranged in mutually orthogonal directions. These latter elements have a substantially square cross section and substantially smaller in size than that of the central body 201. Furthermore, the graft elements developing in directions orthogonal to that of the axis 200 are arranged in a slightly rearward position with respect to the relative end section of the main body 201, for reasons that will be clarified below. Preferably, these coupling elements are located at a distance from said terminal section, indicated with a dimension 203 in Figure 1B, substantially equal to the thickness of the material that makes the crosspieces. Each of the plug-in elements is able to be inserted within one end of another crosspiece of the plurality, to allow the assembly of the frame 2.

Also in the present embodiment, on the central body 201 of each crosspiece there are crossbeam seats 4 suitable for receiving conventional connection means such as screws or bolts, for connecting the panels 3 to the frame 2.

. Also on the coupling connection means are obtained seats, hereinafter referred to as coupling seats 5, also suitable for receiving conventional connection elements for locking the crosspieces with each other.

In particular, in the present embodiment these seats 4 and 5 are holes, possibly threaded.

With reference now in particular to Figure 1A, a first type of crosspiece of the aforementioned sub-assembly, indicated with 21, provides, at each of its opposite longitudinal ends, a first type of coupling connection means, indicated with 210. The latter is made up of four graft elements, arranged in three mutually orthogonal directions. In particular, two coupling elements, each indicated with 202, develop in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 200 of the elongated body 201, and are arranged on opposite sides of the latter. The other two graft elements, on the other hand, each develop in a direction substantially orthogonal to that of the first two.

In Figure 1B, a second type of cross member of the aforementioned sub-assembly is shown, indicated with 22. This presents, at each longitudinal end, a second type of coupling connection means, indicated with 220 and formed by three coupling elements arranged so as to form a substantially "T" shaped structure. This second type of coupling connection means 220 leaves exposed a terminal section 204 for the entry of the central hollow body 201. This section 204 can be used to make particular coupling connections with other rods of the plurality of rods, or even used to insert lifting means of the entire housing unit.

In Figure 1 C, a third type of cross member of the aforementioned sub-assembly is shown, indicated with 23. This presents, in correspondence with each of its longitudinal ends, a third type of coupling connection means, indicated with 230, formed by two elements mutually orthogonal grafting forming a substantially "L" shaped structure. Also in this case, the coupling connection means 230 leave an end section 204 of the central body 201 exposed.

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show further types of coupling connection means according to the invention, each of which provides for a single coupling element. The latter has a substantially rectangular cross section, always smaller than the relative central body 201. In particular, preferably the graft element has a cross section having a first dimension, indicated with a dimension 205 in Figure 2 A, of slightly less than a dimension of the square cross section of the main body 201, and a second dimension, indicated with 206, substantially equal to 1/3 of the other dimension of said main body section, for reasons which will be clarified below.

With reference in particular to Figure 2A, a fourth type of crosspiece, indicated with 24, has, at each of its longitudinal ends, coupling connection means 240 formed by a coupling element, also indicated with 240. The latter is fixed to the central body 201 in correspondence with the terminal sections of the latter and develops in a direction substantially orthogonal to it.

With reference to Figure 2B, the fifth type of crosspiece, indicated with 25, has, at each of its longitudinal ends, coupling connection means 250 formed by a coupling element, also indicated with 250. The latter it is fixed to the central body 201 in correspondence with the lateral surface of the latter, in proximity to its terminal sections, and develops in a direction substantially orthogonal to it. The two grafts 250 are arranged so that the faces of greater extension of their lateral surface are substantially parallel. Also in this case, the coupling connection means 250 leave an end section of the central body 201 exposed. With reference to Figure 2C, a sixth type of crosspiece, indicated with 26, has, at each of its longitudinal ends, means coupling connection 260 similar to those of the fifth type 250 described above. Unlike the latter, however, in this sixth type, the two graft elements are arranged so that the faces of greater extension of their lateral surface are substantially orthogonal. This different orientation expands the possible connection methods of the crosspieces of assembly 1, making the latter more versatile.

With reference now to Figure 3A, in the present embodiment it is envisaged that the plurality of crosspieces according to the invention also include crosspieces without such coupling connection means, which will hereinafter be referred to as "simple crosspieces" and indicated with 27. The latter have an embodiment similar to that of the central body 201 of the crosspieces of the sub-assembly according to the invention.

The simple crosspieces 27 are adapted to be assembled with the crosspieces of the aforementioned sub-assembly to make the frame 2. In particular, the simple crosspieces 27 have a cross section slightly larger than those of the coupling elements of the connecting means of the first , second and third typologies, respectively 210, 220 and 230, described above. Therefore, the ends of these simple crosspieces 27 can receive the aforesaid coupling elements inside.

According to a variant embodiment, the cross section of the simple crosspieces could have dimensions slightly smaller than those of the coupling elements, so that these crosspieces can be interlocked inside these latter elements.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment variant, the simple crosspieces could have special plug appendages suitable for inserting into the aforementioned coupling elements.

On the basis of a further embodiment, the use of intermediate connecting elements between the simple crosspieces and the crosspieces of the sub-assembly according to the invention, for example of the so-called "niples" type, can be envisaged.

Preferably, the crosspieces of the assembly 1 are made of a metal material or a mechanically equivalent material, which even more preferably will be steel 430, by virtue of its mechanical strength properties.

With reference now to Figure 4, in the present embodiment also the panels 3 have pre-formed panel seats 6, suitable for receiving connection means of a conventional type, generally indicated with 7 in said figure, for connection with the crosspieces of the assembly 1.

Preferably, the panels 3 are insulated and have a so-called "sandwich" structure, formed by two sheet metal sheets between which a layer of expanded polyurethane is interposed.

Will a person skilled in the art appreciate that such panels are self-supporting? that is, they have not only a static finish, but also a load-bearing one.

It will also be understood that the dimensions of the panels 3, and especially their thickness, will depend on specific logistical and climatic requirements. The whole of the invention can also include different types of panels, each specific for the construction of ordinary walls, ceilings and / or floors. For example, as shown in Figure 5, some of the panels 3, and in particular those designed to form the side walls of the housing unit, may include window modules 8 pre-mounted on them. Similarly, 3 panels can be supplied already assembled with door modules, air intakes and so on. Furthermore, the use of panels reinforced with heavy sheet metal can be envisaged for the construction of the floor of the housing unit.

With reference now to Figure 9, in the present embodiment the assembly 1 also includes an anchoring device 9 to anchor the housing unit to the ground in correspondence with the floor thereof. The device provides a bush 91 of substantially squared shape seen in plan, having, in correspondence with its vertices, four through holes suitable for receiving as many anchoring pegs 92, which in turn are able to be planted in the ground. The anchoring device 9 also provides an upper central leveling pin 93, for connection to the cross members of the frame 2.

With reference now to Figure 10, the assembly 1 of the present embodiment also includes modules for covering the ceiling of the housing unit. In particular, the use of roofing panels 10 of corrugated sheet metal is envisaged, adapted to be supported by box-shaped metal elements 11. The latter, in turn, are adapted to be fixed to the panels 3 which form the ceiling of the housing unit. .

In addition, the assembly 1 includes 12 shaped gutter structures, designed to be fixed laterally on the ceiling of the housing unit by means of conventional connection elements. In particular, each of these gutter structures 12 has a flat element 121 able to be inserted between a ceiling panel 3 of the housing unit and the cover 10, so as to also perform a finishing function of the casing.

The gutter structures 12 can then be closed at the front and rear by means of special plug elements, and have conventional water drainage systems at the bottom.

It will be appreciated that the aforementioned cover modules ensure adequate ventilation for winter condensation, as well as adequate heat dispersion in the summer.

The methods of assembly of the various components of the assembly introduced so far will be illustrated below.

With reference initially to Figure 3A, the frame 2 of the assembly 1 can be obtained by connecting the crosspieces of the aforementioned plurality together according to the connection methods already mentioned.

By way of example, Figure 3A shows the connection of a cross member 23 of the third type described above with two simple cross members 27. A coupling element of the connection means 230 is inserted into a respective end of a simple cross member 27, so that the respective cross member seats 4 and coupling seats 5 are aligned. Then, the crosspieces 23 and 27 are fixed to each other by inserting conventional connection elements 7 in said seats 4 and 5. Furthermore, Figures 7 and 8 better illustrate the connection methods of further crossbeams of the assembly 1, relative to the portion of the frame 2 that makes up the floor of the housing unit.

At this point it will be appreciated that the slightly rearward arrangement of the coupling elements of the connecting means 210, 220 and 230 with respect to the corresponding terminal section of the main body 201 ensures that, when the crosspieces are assembled, there is no discontinuity in the thickness in the frame 2.

It will also be appreciated that the square shape of the section helps to avoid a relative rotation between the cross members of the frame 2.

Figure 3B refers to the connection methods of the third and fourth type crosspieces, respectively 24 and 25, described above with simple crosspieces 27 of the assembly 1. As shown in said figure, the relative dimensions of the cross sections of the simple crosspiece 27 and of the crosspieces 24 and 25 cause a crosspiece of the first type 24 and two crosspieces of the second type 25 to be connected with a single simple crosspiece 27. These connection methods allow the use of a single connection element, such as a bolt, to connect more than two crossbars together.

All this naturally simplifies and speeds up the assembly of assembly 1, reduces the number of components required and makes the resulting structure more compact.

It will be understood that alternative embodiments may provide that the cross section of the coupling elements is equal to half rather than 1/3 of the corresponding cross section of the simple crosspieces, so that two crosspieces of the sub-assembly of the invention can be inserted in correspondence with one end of a simple crosspiece. With reference now to Figure 4, the panels 3 are connected to the frame 2 in a manner similar to those described above, in particular by aligning the panel seats 6 with the crossbar seats 4 and inserting conventional connection elements 7 through them. to ensure complete insulation of the housing unit, all panels 3, with the exception of the floor panel, are fixed externally to the frame 2 in order to shield it completely from the outside.

According to a preferred assembly sequence of the housing unit, it is expected that, initially, the frame 2 is assembled "with loose screws", and that these are tightened as the various modules stabilize in their seats. In particular, the aforementioned preferred sequence requires the panels to be mounted first to create the central walls of the housing unit, in order to perfect the "square", and then the panels relating to the more lateral walls of the housing unit. Finally, the modules relating to the ceiling and its covering described with reference to Figure 10 and the floor panels are assembled.

With reference to Figure 7, according to a simple type of assembly it is envisaged that the housing unit is placed on the ground through the simple interposition of riser blocks 13, and that it remains in position by virtue of its own weight. Such blocks can be made for example of wood.

Figure 8, on the other hand, refers to the case in which an effective anchoring of the housing unit to the ground is envisaged, carried out by means of the anchoring devices 9 described above. These are planted in the ground and connected, by means of the pin 93, to the crosspieces that form the floor of the housing unit, in correspondence with the connection means of these. Therefore, the floor crosspieces may have holes specially prepared for this connection with the anchoring device 9.

As shown in Figure 8, the floor panels have a special corner recess that allows them not to interfere with the crosspieces that make up the vertical uprights of the housing unit, while still allowing these floor panels to adhere to the panels that form the housing units. external side walls of the housing unit itself.

With reference to Figure 11, it shows a housing unit obtained through the assembly process described above. The assembly l may also have additional insulating finishing elements 14, for example of plastic, to cover the regions of discontinuity between one panel 3 and the other.

It will be appreciated that the assembly methods described up to now allow to obtain a rigid, balanced and braced module.

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, which differs from the embodiment described so far only in the way of connecting the panels, in this case indicated with 30, to the frame, indicated with 20 In this further embodiment, in fact, panel retaining means are provided comprising a substantially "Z" shaped section 70. This is fixed at a first face to the frame 20 and is suitable for clamping the panel 30 between the other two faces.

At this point, all the advantages related to the modular nature and the limited number of components of the assembly of the invention will be better appreciated. In particular, this can be loaded into the storage area and transported from this to the installation area in a completely disassembled configuration. Therefore, the loading can be carried out in several stages with a simple forklift with a small load, and that the means of transport can also be reduced in size, thanks to the possibility of loading both panels and crossbars stacked on each other. . Indeed, if the circumstances require it, the loading / unloading operations can also be carried out by hand.

Furthermore, the assembly / disassembly operations can be carried out quickly and easily, taking a minimum of about two hours for each housing unit.

Furthermore, it is possible to disassemble the housing unit, store it in the disassembled condition and reuse it for future events. This represents an important advantage over known "containers", which, once the emergency is over, can hardly be reused, due to storage difficulties.

According to the same logic, any damaged components can be repaired or replaced quickly and effectively, without having to dispose of the entire housing unit.

It will also be understood that the whole of the invention lends itself to the construction of multi-room, multi-apartment and multi-storey housing units, both for private use and for clinics, town halls, offices and so on.

At this point it will be appreciated that the modular assembly according to the invention allows for the creation of a method of assembling a housing unit, including the steps of:

- provide a modular assembly as described above;

- connect the crosspieces of the assembly in the manner described above, to create the frame; And

- fix the panels of the assembly to the frame in order to completely shield it from the outside.

The present invention has been described up to now with reference to preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that there may be other embodiments that refer to the same inventive core, all falling within the scope of the claims set out below.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS 1. Modular assembly (1) for the construction of a housing unit, including: - a plurality of crosspieces (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27), suitable for making a support frame (2; 20); And - a plurality of panels (3; 30), adapted to be fixed to said frame, in which at least the crosspieces of a subset (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) of said plurality of crosspieces have an elongated central body (201) and coupling connection means (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260), integral with said central body and arranged in correspondence with at least one end thereof, for the connection of contiguous cross members of the frame. 2. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, comprising an anchoring device (9) to the ground of the housing unit. 3. Assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said coupling connection means (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260) comprise at least one coupling element (202) adapted to be inserted in a portion of end of another cross member (27) of said plurality of cross members. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said clutch element has a cross section (205, 206) of extension substantially equal to half that of said end portion. 5. Assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein said clutch element has a cross section (205, 206) of extension substantially equal to 1/3 of that said end portion. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one cross member (21) of said sub-assembly has coupling connection means (210) comprising four coupling elements (202), arranged in mutually orthogonal directions. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one cross member (22) of said sub-assembly has coupling connection means (220) comprising a substantially T-shaped coupling structure. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one cross member (23) of said sub-assembly has coupling connection means (230) comprising a substantially L-shaped coupling structure. 9. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising coupling seats (5) obtained on said coupling connection means (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260), for locking the crosspieces each with the other. 10. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising cross member seats (4) obtained on said central body (201), for connection with the panels (3) of said plurality of panels. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising panel seats (6) made on said panels (3), for connection with said frame (2). Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising panel retaining means comprising a shaped profile (70) adapted to clamp a panel (30) of said plurality of panels to connect the latter to said frame (20). 13. Assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising modules (10, 11, 12) for covering the ceiling of the housing unit. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one gutter structure (12) having a flat element (121) able to be inserted between a panel (3) of the ceiling of the housing unit and further covering modules (10) . 15. Method of assembly of a housing unit, comprising the steps of: - providing a modular assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims; - connecting the crosspieces of said plurality of crosspieces (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) at said coupling connection means (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260) to form said frame (2; 20); And - fix said palmelli (3; 30) to said frame so as to completely shield it from the outside. Method according to the preceding claim, comprising a step of anchoring the housing unit to the ground, in turn having the steps of: - provide at least one anchoring device (9) comprising an upper connection pin (93) to the crosspieces of said plurality and anchoring pegs (92) for anchoring to the ground; And - connect said anchoring device, by means of said pin, to the crosspieces that form the floor of the housing unit, in correspondence with the connection means of the latter.