US2114244A

US2114244A - Building structure

Info

Publication number: US2114244A
Application number: US106856A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zoettl Robert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-11-27
Filing date: 1936-10-21
Publication date: 1938-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 1955-04-12

Description

April 12, 1938. R. ZOETTL BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. fiaierf Zoe/ZZZ,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 1 2, 1938 UNlTED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE BUILDING STRUCTURE Robert zcem, Salzblll'g, Austria, asslgnor of fourtenths to Hans Knoll, Salzburg, Austria Application October 21, 1936, Serial No. 108,856 In Germany Novemberz'l, 1935 14 Claims. (01. 12-41) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in building structures, and parand convenient subdivision as to length, width and height to produce component parts of suitable shapes and of diflerent dimensions for various uses for which separate and independently formed units have heretofore generally been employed in the construction of ceilings, walls, chimneys, partitions and various other parts of buildings, whereby the necessity of producing a plurality of different sizes and forms of individual units for the various purposes required in suchbuilding constructions may be avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building block or tile which is equally well adapted for the construction of walls and of ceilings such as of the reinforced concrete hollow tile type, and which not only may be used as a standard unit but is divisible into all the form pieces generally required in the ordinary erecand in the construction of pilasters, ledges, ribs,

window framlngs and for facading purposes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a multiform, universal or one-type block which is easy to sort, handle or staple, which may be specified by the architect as a single block item for the many andvarious uses of blocks in different forms and sizes required in a building structure, thus doing away with the necessity of the architect figuring how many diiferent sizes and types of blocks are needed for a certain building, which allows the mason or bricklayer to obtain from the master or standard block unit by means of a few deft blows of his hammer or trowel whatever subforms and sizes he 'requires, and which greatly simplifies building operations and secures economy in handling and using such blocks from manufacture by the pressing machine to the mason or bricklayer in the various intermediate phases.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a six-sided hollow building tile or block which is closed by shell portions on five of its six sides so as to enableitto be laid without falsework or use of void closures and in such manner that mortar or concrete cannot enter the voids thereof, which is so constructed as to allow full mortaring without outside exposure of the mortar, and which is adapted, in a ceiling structure, for supporting joint closing plates and for firm anchorage engagement with concrete fillings in a most effective manner.-

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hollow block or tile in which the relative arrangement of the voids and webs is such as to secure the production oi a block or tile of maximum strengtlr, one adapted to secure a better load distribution than is possible by the use of blocks of ordinary type, and one adapted in ceiling construction to be laid to'sustain upper or lower pressures, as the case may be, to most efiectively meet requirements for negative or'positive flexing movements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hollow building block which may be used with other standard building blocks or units employed in wall, ceiling and other building con structions, and which adapts the laid blocks to be arranged in a staggered order to obtain a firm interlock with concrete fillings, whereby the use of an overlay of concrete to secure a secure binding of the blocks is rendered unnecessary.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafterfully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom perspective view, looking toward one end of the block or tile, of a building block or tile constructed in accordance with my invention. v

Fig. 2 is a top perspective of the block or tile looking toward the opposite end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the block.

Figs. 3a and 3b are, respectively, a perspective view similar to Fig. 3, and a cross-section on line lb-Jb of Fig. 3a, showing a modification in the block structure. a

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the block on line l4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal transverse section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line |'l of Fig. 4.

Figs. 8 to 20, inclusive, are plan views showing the capability of division of the block into its various sub-forms.

Figs. 21 and 22 are perspective views of a joint closing plate or tile.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view of another slightly modified block or tile.

Fig. 24 is a horizontal section through a portion of a ceiling showing one mode of employing blocks of my improved construction therein.

Fig. 25'is a horizontal and Fig. 26 a vertical section through the ceiling structure shown in Fig. 24.

Fig. 27 is a view similar to Fig. 24 showing another manner of employing the blocks in a ceiling structure.

Figs. 28 and 29 are views corresponding to Figs.

7 25 and 26'of the structure shown in Fig. 27.

Fig. 30 is a view similar to Figs. 24 and 27- showing still another arrangement of blocks in a ceil ing structure.

Fig. 31 is a sectional view showing still another modified form' of block.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I designates my improved hollow building block or tile, which may be made of any suitable material and which as shown is of six sided type and of oblong rectangular form, said block having top and

bottom faces

2 and 3,

side faces

4 and 5 and

end faces

8 and 1, respectively. These terms are employed for convenience of description and without regard to the position of the block when used in a building construction, as it will be understood that the block may be arranged lengthwise in use in either a horizontal or a vertical position and that what may be regarded as the top, bottom and sides will accordingly vary in these positions. The block as a whole is a building unit which may be made of any desiredsize, or of a standard size or multiple thereof. '1 do not confine the invention to any particular sizeor range of sizes.

The block is formed of shell portions comprisfing itsfaces or

sides

2, 4, 5, 6, and I, said shell portions closing these five sides, the sixth side 3 being partially open and constituting the only open side of the block. In the block body are formed voids 8, 9, [0,1 I and I2 and webs l3, l4, l5, |6, and 1'". The voids. 8 in the example shown are three 'in number, extend longitudinallyof the block' and are arrangedin parallel relation to'and in alternatingarrangement with the webs l3 and portions of the sides 4 andi which are longitudinally coextensive therewith. The voids 9, I I), II, and I2 and webs l4, l5, l5, and I! are likewise arrangedinparallelrelationship and alternate in arrangement with respect to each other, adjacent webs being separated by an intervening void, but these voids and webs are arranged transversely of the block and at right angles to the voids 8 and webs I3.

The block I, as stated, comprises in its whole or undivided state a building unit of oblong rectangular form and of a given standard size, but is divisible for the convenience of the mason or bricklayer into a plurality of sections of I smaller sizes and of the same or different shapes suitable for the various purposes for which separately formed and independent blocks or tiles have heretofore customarily been employed. This is obtained by a novel and peculiar construction and arrangement of portions of the block allowing the block to be readily divided along certain lines to produce desired sub-form fractions. All the voids, as shown, open through one side or face only. i. e., the bottom side or below the top ofthe block. Formed in the top of the block and intersecting'the upper ends of the voids H and I2 are narrow fracture line slits l8, and I9 extending transversely of the block the major portion of its width, and in the sides of the block are formed fracture grooves or

kerfs

20 and 2| arranged in alinement with each other and with said voids and slits. In the top face of the block are also formed L-

shaped slits

22 and 23 the main portions of which extend from a point adjacent the block end 6 to a point in proximity to the slit l8, at which latter point the inner ends or short limbs of said

slits

22 and 23 extend at right angles respectively toward the

respective sides

4 and 5 of the block. In the end 6 of the block are formed

fracture grooves

24 and 25 arranged inalinement with the longitudinally extending portions of the

slits

22 and 23. and in the

sides

4 and 5 of the block are formed

fracture grooves

26 and 21 arranged in alinement with the transverse portions of said equidistantly between the same and the end I of the block, so that the portions of the body block may be separated into block divisions at these points along transverse lines, while the outer voids 8 and the

slits

22 and 23 intersecting the same are arranged to permit portions of the block body lyingbetween its transverse center and the end 6 to be separatedalong longitudinal lines. Each

side face

4 and 5 of the block is provided on opposite sides of its transverse center with mortar receiving

recesses

28 and 29, and the ends 6 and l of the block are formed with

similar recesses

30 and 3|. These recesses are arranged to produce at the corners and transverse center of each side of the block shoulders 32, the shoulders havingledges 33 on their sides facing the

grooves

28 and 29. Figs-3a and 317 show a modified form of block la inwhich V- 'shaped kerfs 22', 23' are employed in place of the

slits

22, 23, whichkerfs intersect at their ends 'the

kerfs

26 and 21 butare separated from the associated voids 8 by intact wall portions sufflciently thick to prevent undue weakening of the face 2 in their regions, but sufficiently thin to allow ready fracture of the block along the lines short of this side of the block and the only perforations in such side of the block are those formed by the narrow slits I8, I9, 22, and 23, which are not wide enough to allow mortar to enter the voids therethrough. This construction allows the open side 3 of the block-in building a ceiling or wall to be placed so as to be closed against the entrance of mortar into the voids against an abutment wall or the side of another block, all remaining sides of the block being adapted to be mortared without liability of penetration of the mortar into the voids of the block. By this means a block-of greater strength is provided while at the same time the necessity of using falsework orclosures to close exposed voids against the entrance of mortar thereinto is avoided, thereby reducing time and labor in a building operation.

Figs. 8 to 20, inclusive, show the block proper and the many forms in which it is divisible to suit all general requirements. In- Fig. 8 the whole block is shown, which is usable as such as a standard block or major unit A. By one or more deft blows of a hammer, trowel or other suitable tool the workman may clearly separate this block along the provided fracture lines to produce any of the various major or minor subforms required. Fig. 9 shows the block divided along the

lines

23, 21 to form a modified major unit A' having a left hand recess a at one end and at the same time produce a small angular or L-shaped left-hand bonding, facing or like block or tile 1). Fig. 10 shows the block divided along the

lines

22, 28 to produce a major unit A2 having a right hand recess a. at one end and a small angular or L- shaped right-hand bonding, facing or like block or tile b'. Fig. 11 shows the block divided along the

lines

22, 23 to produce a major unit A3 having a tongue projection c and right and left corner blocks b, 17'. Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 show three-quarter block units A4, A5, A6, A1 from which divisions have been made according to Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, which three-quarter form is produced by division of the block along the

transverse fracture lines

18, 28. Figs. 16 to 19, inclusive, show, in Fig. 16, two half blocks A8, A8 produced by division of the master block along the

transverse fracture line

19, 2|, and in Figs. 17, 18, and 19 further divisions All), All, Al2, Al3 of the half blocks A8 in accordance with Figs. 9, 10, and 11. Fig. 20 shows a group division of the master block into its. component sections along the fracture lines referred to. From the foregoing it will be seen that the master block may be divided in such manner as to produce with the master block itself as many as sixteen different sizes and shapes of blocks or tiles suitable, in one size and form or another, for all the various purposes for which such blocks or tiles are used in ceilings, chimneys, walls, interior partitions and other parts of buildings in which bricks or tiles of this character are generally used. Also it will be seen that each block section or sub-form obtained as a division from the master block is complete in itself, each having one or more voids and webs or shell walls, the arrangement of the voids and webs being such that the webs in certain divisions form complementary shell walls to maintain the characteristic feature of a six-sided corner-shouldered block closed block element and mortar.

An important feature of my invention resides in the fact that the sets of webs 8 and l3, l5, I6, I], arranged respectively on opposite sides of the transverse center of the block, or in the portions divisible into the half block sections A8, A9,

are disposed at right angles to one another. By this means the strength of the block as a whole is not only greatly increased, for the reason that in the latter, the webs may be relatively arranged 5 to adapt the blocksto be used as upper or lower pressure blocks or for obtaining negative or positive flexing moments. Another important feature of my invention is that the

grooves

28, 29, 30, and

3| may be of sufilcient depth to provide full mor- 10 taring spaces and, in those grooves provided with the kerfs 20,- 2I, 24, and 28, to secure a filling of these kerfs with the mortar and a resulting interlocking action with the mortar to more firmly bind the block in place. Still another important 15 feature of the invention is that in all the main sub-divisions of the block the construction issuch that block sections separated along the line of a particular void will be similarly grooved or channeled at the separated sides for the reception 20 of the binding mortar.

The blocks are adapted when used in a ceiling construction to be employed in conjunction with joint closing or cover plates 34. These plates are preferably made of the same material as the 25 blocks, and each plate 84 is of channeled form and comprises a body portion 35 having at opposite sides thereof upstanding flanges 86 provided at their upper edges with outwardly projecting supporting'shoulders or ledges 31. In the forma- 30 tion of a ceiling one of these plates 34 is disposed so as to close the bottom of the mortar receiving channel or space between adjacent rows of blocks or tiles, so as to form a bottom support for the intervening filling or rib of concrete and to lie 35 fiush with the under-surface of the tiles and give proper continuity to the exposed surface of the ceiling. when so disposed the shoulders or ledges 31 of the joint closing plates rest upon the lower shoulders or ledges 83 on the opposed sides or Q4 ends of theblocks of adjacent rows. The described construction of the joint closing plate of a channeled form provides a pocket or trough '88 on its upper or flanged side for the reception of a portion of the concrete filling. I As shown, the 45 inner faces of the plate flanges may be undercut, as at 39, so that the concrete received in the dovetailed pocket or trough so formed will interlock therewith, thereby holding the plate firmly in position andgfirmly bound to the juxtaposed rows 50 distance the rows of blocks are designed to be 55 placed in the building structure.

In the block structures above described the block half A8 is shown as provided with three voids. This number may be increased or diminished by regulation of the widths of the voids. 60

Fig. 23, for example, shows a block lb in which. the block half A8 is provided with two voids, its structure being otherwise the same as blocks I and la.

Figs. 24 to 30, inclusive, show some of themany 65 and various ways of employing the blocks and joint ,closing tiles in ceiling constructions. Figs. 24, 25, and 26 show a ceiling structure 0 in which rows of the full blocks are horizontally disposed,

or placed lengthwise in a horizontal position, the 70 spaces'between adjacent rows being closed by the joint plates and concrete fillings D, which concrete fillings may be suitably reinforced. The blocks in each row are also shown as arranged in staggered relationship to each other and with 75 of -the ceiling structure are more firmly bound together without the necessary use of a concrete or cement overlay. It will be observed that the blocks of a row are arranged so that the open sides of adjacent blocks of each row may abut and be thereby closed against entrance of mortar or other foreign materials, while at the same time the narrow slits in the slitted sides of the blocks are closed by adjacent blocks, and it will be obvious that where the end blocks of a row have their open sides facing outwardly these sides will be closed by adjacent abutment or partition walls. In the ceiling structure shown in Figs, 2'7, 28, and 29 the blocks are arranged in an upright position or endwise vertically to produce a ceiling of greater depth. With this arrangement the grooves in opposed faces of the blocks produce additional voids in the ceiling between the blocks, but otherwise this structure gives the same general results as that disclosed in Figs. 24, 25, and 26. Fig. 30 shows a ceiling structure 02 in which the blocks are also arranged in an upright position, but illustrates how by the use of the block formations shown in Figs. 9 and 10 an increased amount of space may be obtained between adjacent block rows for the reception of a T-shaped concrete filling D when the use of a greater amount of concrete at any point is found necessary or considered advisable. In all the ceiling forms shown the bottoms of the blocks and the joint closing tiles give a finished effect to the ceiling surface and it is only necessary to apply a light facing of cement for the purpose of fillingin grooves and kerfs to form a level finished surface at the top or floor line of the structure. The above illustrations in Figs. 23 to 30, inclusive, apply only to ceiling structures, but by the use of the blocks in unitary shape and divisions of the blocks into the subforms shown in Figs. 8 to 20, inclusive, all the particular block or tile forms commonly found necessary may be obtained for building abutment and partitioning walls and other parts of a building in a ready and expeditious manner and so as to save time and labor and eifectgreater economy in carrying out the building work. I

In the construction of block lc shown in Fig. 31 the voids H and Ham provided withnarrowed extensions Ha, 12a extending to points near the block faces 4 and 5, which allows the

grooves

20, 2| to be dispensed with ifdesired, and as shown.

From the foregoing description, taken 'in connection with the drawings, the construction, mode of use and advantages of my improved building block and its applications will be readily understood by those versed in the art without a further and extended description. Blocks of. this character, in addition to the manifold advantages heretofore stated, may be manufactured by the use of conventional types of block pressing machines. While the constructions disclosed for purposes of exemplification are preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportions, and details of block other than those stated may be made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

What I claim is: v

1. A building block or tile of oblong rectangular form comprising a shell having side and end walls onstruction of the and provided with voids and webs and coacting weakened portions forming determined lines of fracture arranged for division of the block on a transverse line parallel with its ends into half sections and for subdivision of at least one of said half sections on an angular line arranged partially at right angles to and partially parallel with its ends into a plurality of sections, each section being of definite form to constitute a building unit.

2. A building block or tile comprising a shell of oblong rectangular form having two central transverse webs spaced to form a void and weakened surface portions arranged to form inchoate half sections and to allow ready fracture of the block transversely along the line of the void into half sections,v the part of the block forming one of said inchoate half sections-having spaced transverse walls parallel with the first named webs and forming a void and weakened surface portions allowing of its ready fracture transversely along the line of said void parallel with the first-named line of separation into sections forming quarters of the full block.

3. A building block or tile of oblong rectangular form comprising a shell having side and end walls and a central void and weakened shell surfaces in line therewith and relatively arranged to allow ready fracture of the block transversely along the line of the'void into half sections, one of said half sections having voids and weakened shell surfaces allowing ready fracture of said half section along longitudinal and transverse lines on opposite sides of its longitudinal center to produce a central tongue portion and right and left hand corner block portions.

4. A hollow building block or tile comprising a rectangular shell having side and end walls and provided with sets of voids and webs arranged respectively on opposite sides of its transverse center, the voids and webs of each set being disposed in parallel relation to each other, the set of voids and webs arranged on one side of the center of the-block extending in a direction longitudinally of the block and parallel with the 7 side walls thereof and the set of voids and webs arranged on the other side of the transverse center. of the block extending in a direction transversely of the block and parallel with the end walls thereof, the latter-namedset of voids and webs including 'a void between adjacent transverse webs arranged substantially in line with the transverse center of the block and dividing the block into two transversely divisible half sections.

5. A hollow building block or tile comprising a rectangular shell having side and end walls and provided with sets of voids and webs arranged respectively on opposite sides of 'its transverse center, the set of voids and webs arranged on one side of the transverse center of the block extending in a direction longitudinally of the block andparallel with the side walls thereof and the set of voids and webs arranged on the other sideof the transverse center of the block extending in a direction transversely of the block and parallel with the end walls thereof, the block being provided with weakened shell portions arranged in alinement with voids of each set and providing lines of fracture on which the block may be divided into component parts longitudinally or transversely of the block.

6. A hollow building block or tile comprising a six-sided rectangular shell having sets of voids and webs, respectively arranged on opposite sides of the transverse center of the block, said voids opening at one end through one side of the shell and all of the voids terminating at their opposite ends within the plane of the opposite side of the shell,the latter-named side of the shell being provided with slits narrower than and communicating with the latter-named ends of some of the voids, said slits being of such reduced width as to render the ends of the voids with which they communicate substantially closed against entrance of mortar.

7. A hollow building block or tile comprising an oblong rectangular shell provided with sets of voids and webs on opposite sides of its transverse center, said voids opening at one end through one side of the block and terminating at their opposite ends within the plane of the opposite side of the block, the voids and webs of one set being arranged substantially on one side of the transverse center of the block and extending all in a direction longitudinally of the block and the voids and webs of the other set being arranged substantially on the opposite side of the transverse center of the block and extending all in a direction transversely of the block, the sec-. ond-named side of the block being provided in alinement with voids of each set with slits communicating with the ends of the voids terminating adjacent to said side and being of materially less width than the width of the voids so as to substantially close such ends of the voids against the entrance of mortar, and kerfs formed in the sides of the block at right angles to the aforementioned sides in alinement with certain of the voids and said slits, whereby the block may be fractured along determined lines; transversely and longitudinally of the block into component sections each constituting a building element.

8. A hollow building block or tile of oblong rectangular form and comprising a shell having bottom, top, side and end walls and provided with a set of voids and webs arranged transversely of the block at one side of its transverse center and parallel with the end walls and an other set of voids and webs arranged longitudinally of the block at theopposite side of its transverse center and parallel with the side walls, a particular void of the first-named set being disposed at or near the transverse center of the block and particular voids of the second-named set being disposed one on each side of the longitudinal center line of the block and between said line and the respective sides of the block, said voids opening at one end through the bottom of the block, and weakened portions in the sides and top of the block in line with said particular voids along which and said voids the block may be divided into sections.

9. A hollow building block or tile of oblong rectangular form and comprising a shell having bottom, top, side and end walls and provided with a set of voids and webs arranged transversely of the block parallel with the end walls and another set of voids and webs arranged longitudinally of the block and parallel with the side walls, a particular void of the first-named set being disposed at or near the transverse center of the block and another particular void of said set being disposed between the first-named void and an end of the block, and particular voids of the second-named set being disposed one on each side of the longitudinal center line of the block and between said line andthe respective sides of the block, said voids opening at one end through the bottom of the block, and weakened portions in the sides, in one end and in the top of the block respectively in line with said particular voids of the first and second-named setsalong which and the alin'ed voids the'block may be divided into sections. I

. 10. A hollow building block or tile of rectangular form having top, bottom, side and end faces and provided between its transverse center and one of its end faces with a plurality of transversely arranged voids and webs, said voids opening through the bottom face and extending therefrom toward and terminating near the' top face, a particular one of said voids being disposed at or near the transverse center of the block and another particular void being arranged at a point substantially equidistantly between the aforesaid central void and the said end face of the block, the top face of the block having transverse fracture grooves or slits of less width than the said particular voids and alined therewith and substantially closing the voids at such side against the entrance ofimortar, and the side faces of the block having fracture grooves in line with the said voids and grooves or slits, whereby the block may be readily divided along the line of the first-named central transverse void into half block sectionsand transversely divided along the line of the second-named void into sections forming substantially equal divisions of that portion of the block in which said second-named void is formed.

11. A hollow building block or tile of rectangular form and having parallel top and bottom faces, parallel side faces and parallel end faces, and provided with a plurality of transversely arranged voids and webs, said voids opening at one and through the bottom face of the block and terminating at their upper ends adjacent to but below the top face of the block, said top face being provided with transverse fracture slits in line with and extending from said face toward the upper ends of at least some of the voids, said slits being of less width than said voids so as to substantially close the same against the entrance of mortar and said side faces having fracture grooves in line with the slits and voids with which the slits aline, whereby the block may be readily divided transversely into sections along the line of said voids.

12. A hollow building block or tile of rectangular formand having parallel top and bottom faces, parallel side faces and parallel end faces, and provided between its transverse center and one of its end faces with parallel longitudinal voids, one located on each side of its longitudinal center and between the same and the adjacent side face, the top face of the block being provided with similarly arranged fracture slits of less width than the voids and overlying the same and said end and side faces of the block having fracture grooves in longitudinal and transverse alinement respectively with the outer and inner ends of the respective slits, ,whereby that portion of the block between its transverse center an intermediate void, arranged between said center void and said end of the block, said center and intermediate voids being spaced to permit transverse fracture of the block along lines predetermined thereby, said block having weakened face portions in line with said center and intermediate voids to facilitate fracture of the block along said lines into sections, the arrangement of the webs and voids being such that in any division of the block each section is formed with at least a single void and at least one of the void forming webs forms a face of the section.

14. A hollow building block or tile comprising a rectangular shell having a set of spaced transverse webs forming transverse voids located on one side of its transverse center, and having a set of spaced longitudinal webs forming longitudinal voids located on the opposite side of its longitudinal center, the first-named set of voids including a void arranged substantially at the transverse center of the block and a void arranged substantially midway between the transverse center of the block and the outer end of that portion of the block in which said transverse set of voids are arranged, and said second or longitudinal set of voids including voids disposed equidistantly on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the block and between its longitudinal center and the opposite sides of the block, the block shell having external weakening and fracture line determining portions in its top and side faces and in the outer end of that portion of the block in which the longitudinal voids are formed registering with said particularly located transverse and longitudinal voids whereby the block may be readily fractured transversely and longitudinally into sections along the lines of said particular voids.

ROBERT ZOE'I'I'L.