US2117377A - Atmospheric protected flexible joint for building units - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1938.- w. E. s. STRONG ATMOSPHERIC PROTECTED FLEXIBLE JOINT FOR BUILDING UNITS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1935 INVENTOR v a D.

onq,

1 TORNEY May 17, 1938. w, E, s STRONG 2,117,377

ATMOSPHERIC PROTECTED FLEXIBLE JOINT FOR BUILDING UNITS Filed Dec. 12, 1935 2 Shee1s-$heet 2 Zo ZQC 1: If H l4- INVENTOR William ESSfrong Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATMOSPHERIC PROTECTED FLEXIBLE JOINT FOR BUILDING UNITS Application December 12, 1935, Serial No. 54,028

6 Claims.

.My present invention relates to joints for building units arranged and constructed to be protected from the atmosphere.

Preferred embodiments of my invention pro- 5 vide for flexibility of the joint thus arranged and constructed.

As illustrations of the present invention I cite two types of embodiments, one type which is :adapted for interconnection between adjacent units coordinated in side-by-side relationship to form awall assembly, and the other type adapted for. coordination between the jams,,lintel and sill of awindow, door or like frame relative to thereto adjacent units forming a thereto surrounding Wall assembly.

In thevarioustypes of embodiment of thepresent invention there are provided coordinated re-l cesses opening out in contiguous faces of the respectivewallunits, in the above named one type andsimilar recesses in the respective stated frame parts and the thereto adjacent wall units, .in which recesses a cement, preferably elastic when set, is applied and strips of suitable material, such as of. metal, advantageously of steel, are

positioned, one strip for each pair of coordinated recesses, each strip being imbedded in the cernent of such pair of coordinated recesses, whereby upon setting, i. e.,.matun'ng of the cement in any pair of such recesses, its strip is firmly retained in position, and therewith the adjacent wall units, in the one type, and the stated frame parts and thereto adjacent wall units, in the other type, are aligned and locked in position relative to one another.

.By such or equivalent provision of means, the joints between the respective adjacentwall units and the frame parts and thereto adjacent wall .units are protected from the effects of the outer atmosphere.

As will appear, my invention affords provision for expansion and contraction. arising from changes intemperature ensuing from temperature changes of the outer atmosphere and/or from temperature changes incident to the. heating of the interior of the building or the like of which the wall assembly forms apart.

Further features and objectsof my invention will'be more fully understood from the following detail description and the accompanying draw- :50 ings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 an edge view of a typical building unit adapted for utilization of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through a building unit of the character shown in Figs. land 2, and

a thereto adjacent cement covered vertical column, the same being coordinated pursuant to my invention. The scale ofFig. 3 is enlarged as comparedwith: that of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, but illustrative of two adjacent building units of the character shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section centrally through a metal window frame and thereto adjacent building units, illustrating the application of my invention, similarly as in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the type of embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4, a typical unit of a wall assembly for a building or the like is indicated at ID, the essentials of which, so far as pertains to my invention, are that the unit be formed of suitable material providing an exposed face H resistant against erosion arising from; atmospheric conditions; further, that such unit l have mating lateral faces, see l2, l2, Fig. 4, usually normal to the exposed face I l andplanar; and, still further, that each lateral face I 2 be provided with a recess I 3. Accordingly, such recesses l3 of any given unit extend as a groove about the complete lateral periphery of the unit.

Desirably, such recesses and resulting lateral groove l3 are located more closely adjacent the exposed face of each unit as compared with the inner face M of the unit.

The configuration of such recess or groove l3 may be as desired. The spacing of such recess 13 of the respective wall units of any given wall assembly, relative to the exposed face II, is uni:

form, whereby upon positioning the wall units in side-by-side relationship in horizontal courses and vertical superposition of such courses, the recesses or grooves l3 are brought into substantial alignment as coordinating pairs.

The specific construction, i. e., material and arrangement of outer and inner elements, reinforcement of the material of the respective outer and inner elements shown in Figs. 1 through 4, is set forth and claimed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 727,383, filed May 25th, 1934, entitled Composite building units, and therefore the detail description of the same is deemed not essential in the present application, since the principles of my present invention are applicable irrespective of the stated specific parts.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 4, upon assembli suchwall units I 0, 19, etc. in side-by-side relationship, cement indicated at I is applied in the respective recesses or grooves I3, and also a strip iii, of steel or the like, positioned within each pair of coordinated recesses or grooves at contiguous lateral faces l2, l2, of adjacent units In, I0, each strip I6 being of a width to extend from one such recess [3 into the other coordinating recess l3, and thus bridging or spanning the joint I 1 resulting upon assembling two such units l0, l0, in side-by-side relationship.

Advantageously, such wall units H], are successively assembled along a horizontal course, assuming any suitable foundation upon which the lowermost horizontal course of the units ID are laid.

The length of each strip I6 is selected as desired. Preferably, each strip It has a length exceeding the length of the groove of any individual wall unit, and most advantageously a length of the combined over-all length of the aligned grooves of a multiple number of such wall units.

In the instances, as preferred, where the length of the strips i6 exceeds the length of the groove of any individual wall unit, the respective strips I6 are positioned within the aligned grooves at the proper stages in the assembly of the respective wall units. Thus, in the assembly along a horizontal course, the strips I6 of such multiple length are readily positioned upon assembling the wall units side-by-side, in horizontal direction, in the thus aligned horizontal grooves of such units. With respect to the pairs of coordinated vertically extending grooves, the respective strips 16 are forced into the cement applied within the grooves and after full insertion, extend vertically beyond the wall units of such horizontal course. Upon laying of the wall units of the succeeding horizontal course, care is taken of the registry of the horizontally extending grooves on the lower face of the unit with the theretofore positioned horizontally extending strips, the cement having been previously applied within the grooves on the lower faces of the respective wall units.

The cement may be advantageously applied within any groove by means of a. pressure gun appliance, or equivalent. Optimum results are attained by filling each groove substantialy completely, whereby upon insertion of a strip I6, displacement of the cement takes place upon the immersion of the strip within the cement, causing a flow of the cement from the volumetric capacity of each groove outwardly and within the crevice of the joint.

The stated phase of efiectuating the positioning of the cement, particularly present day so-termed elastic cement, is of marked importance, in that such type of cement contains an ingredient which imparts the elastic attribute, which when subjected to the atmosphere, deteriorates by oxidation or other atmospheric eiTect.

By my invention, as stated above and as embodied in practice, the facial area of the cement, in the crevice of each joint between adjacent wall units (both outwardly in the direction of the exposed faces of the units and in the opposing direction, 1. e. toward the inner faces of the units) exposed to the atmosphere, is minute as compared with the total facial area of the cement in such joint directly engaging the surfaces of the adjacent units. of such joint, and therefore the atmospheric effect upon the elastic cement pursuant to my invention is substantially nil. The volumetric value of the strip is selected, whereby upon completion of the assembly of adjacent wall units and consequent total immersion of the strip, complete filling of the two mutually related recesses is effected, and also the flow of cement (in excess of the total volumetric capacity of such two mutually related recesses) into the crevice of the joint, in both the directions, as aforesaid.

The cement thus or otherwise disposed in the crevice of each joint serves to seal each joint, and thereby seal the inner face of the wall assembly from the outer atmosphere.

It is observed, and as is shown by tests, that upon insertion and subsequent total immersion of each strip within the mass of cement in the respective grooves, any void in such mass, possibly arising in the stage of applying the cement into a groove, is eradicated.

Fig. 3 illustrates another application of my invention, pursuant to the above; like parts are designated by like reference characters. Fig. 3, in particular, illustrates the embodiment of my invention applied to vertically superposed wall units it! and a layer or coating l8 of cementitious or other suitable material secured about a column l9, such as a corner column or intermediate column of a building or other structure, or the like. 7

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a preferred manner of adaptation of my invention, similarly as above, to the parts of a frame 20, such as for a window, door or the like, relative to building units laid adjacent the peripheral members of such frame 20. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each groove in the faces of the wall units is designated l3, similarly as above, the cement l5 and the strip l6. For coordinating with such building units 10 or the like, the peripheral members of such frame 20 are provided with recesses, advantageously recess-providing formations when the frame is of metal construction. Thus the sill member 20a of such frame, usually hollow, is provided at its lowermost horizontally extending surface, with a recess formation, see 20b, Fig. 5, in coordination with a recess l3 of the thereto abutting building unit Ill of the thereto lower horizontal course. The lintel 200 of the frame is shown. likewise provided with a recess formation, see 20d, at its upper, horizontally extending face, abutting the horizontally extending face of the building unit !0 of the thereto adjacent upper horizontal course.

Similarly, as illustrated in Fig. 6, my invention is applied to the jam members 20d by providing a recess formation 20c coordinating with the aligned grooves l3 of the vertically superposed wall units It, adjacent thereto.

The assembly of wall units relative to a window or other frame or the like indicated by 20 in Figs. 5 and 6, is had by applying a proper quantity of cement within the horizontally aligned grooves l3 of the wall units at the lower margin of the opening of the window, door or the like. Then a length of strip I6 is placed within the cement mass, and the sill member 20a positioned thereover, whereupon the strip 1 6 is wholly immersed,

causing the cement l 5 to completely fill the volumetric capacity of the recess formation 2% and to be exuded forwardly and rearwardly thereof within the crevice of the joint thereat. The assembly of the succeeding horizontal course is then carried out, as, firstly, at one side of the frame opening or frame 20, and upon completion of the necessary number of vertically superposed wall units at such one side of the frame, cement having been applied in the mutually related grooves, similarly as above, a strip l6 immersed from above to displace the determined propor- -Ifi tion of the cement from such grooves into the recess formation 20a of the jam member 20d at such side of the frame. The wall units at the opposite side of the frame opening are then placed in position and a similar operation carried out with respect to the application of the cement and insertion and immersion of a strip l6. Then the units of the horizontal course immediately above the frame 20 are placed in position, succeeding the step of application of the cement in the horizontally extending recess formation 20d of the lintel member 200 of the frame 20.

Accordingly, my invention in its various embodiments provides for the jointing of coordinated wall or other units to one another and with respect to a frame or the like included in a wall assembly, whereby the crevices of the joints are sealed against air and weather leakage. In the preferred embodiments of my invention, utilizing a cement or the like of elastic quality, the jointing is accomplished with a degree of flexibility and assurance of relatively long life.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a building construction having the joints between joined adjacent structure weather-- proofed, open-face grooves provided in respective contiguous faces of the joined structure for mutual coordination in providing a laterally enclosed recess running substantially coextensive lengthwise with the joint between respective structures and communicating with the joinder cracks between respective contiguous faces, originally-plastic sealing material within said recess, and means, positioned in said recess and extending substantially coextensively lengthwise therewith, eifecting displacement of a quantity of the said sealing material into the extension of said joint between respective structures.

2. In a building construction having the joints between joined adjacent structure weatherproofed, open-face grooves provided in respective contiguous faces of the joined structure for mutual coordination in providing a laterally enclosed recess running substantially coextensive lengthwise with the joint between respective structures and communicating with the joinder cracks between respective contiguous faces, originally-plastic sealing material within said recess, and strip-means, positioned in said recess, said strip means being substantially coextensive lengthwise with the recess and having a width approximating the Width thereof and effecting displacement of a quantity of the said originallyplastic material'into the said joinder cracks between respective structures.

3. In building construction having respective contiguous faces of joined structure provided with an open-face groove, the said grooves coordinating mutually to provide a laterally enclosed recess running substantially coextensively lengthwise with the joint between said contiguous faces and communicating with the joinder cracks along the lengths thereof, the method of Weather-proofing said joint comprising, substantially filling said laterally enclosed recess with a plastic material, inserting means of a length substantially coextensive with the length of the recess but of a volume less than the volume of the recess, Within said recess to displace plastic material from said recess into the said joinder cracks.

4. In building construction having respective contiguous faces of joined structure provided with an open-face groove, the said grooves coordinating mutually to provide a laterally enclosed recess running substantially coextensively lengthwise with the joint between said contiguous faces and communicating with the joinder cracks along the lengths thereof, the method of weather-proofing said joint comprising, substantially filling said laterally enclosed recess with a plastic material, inserting strip-means of a length substantially coextensive with the length of the recess and of a width approximating the width thereof but of a volume less than the volume of the recess, within said recess to displace plastic material from said recess into the said joinder cracks, and filling, if necessary, with additional plastic material, any space remaining around said strip-means to effectively encase said strip-means within said recess.

5. In a building construction, a weather-sealed joint formed between contiguous faces of adjoining structure, comprising a laterally closed recess running lengthwise of said contiguous faces, spaced inwardly from the margins thereof, and communicating with the joinder cracks between contiguous faces; originally-plastic sealing material filling said recess and extending into said joinder cracks; and means embedded in said plastic material effecting displacement of a portion of same into said joinder cracks.

6, In a building construction, a weather-sealed joint formed between contiguous faces of adjoining structure, comprising a substantially closed recess running lengthwise of said contiguous faces and spaced inwardly from the margins thereof with its width extending across the lines of joinder formed by said contiguous faces; sealing material filling said recess, and a strip-element embedded in said sealing material and extending substantially coextensive lengthwise of said recess and across the said lines of joinder between the contiguous faces.

WILLIAM E. S. STRONG.

Images