US2195655A - Building unit and construction - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BUILDING UNIT AND CONSTRUCTION April 2, 1940.

INVENTOR Hen/"g CT Monk/750m BY W ATTORNEY April 2,1940. H. c. MORTENSON BUILDING UNIT AND CONSTRUCTION s Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1959 INVENTOR Hen/"g CMor/enson I W W ATTORNEY April 2, 1940- r H. c. MORTENSON BUILDING UNIT AND CONSTRUCTION Filed June 5, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet s T E NM m C M w my #5 Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED 'srl 'rl-zs PATENT OFFICE BUILDING UNIT AND CONSTRUCTION Henry. 0.1Mortenson, Redwood .City, Calif. Application. was, 1939, Serial No. 277,404 7 realms. (o1. its-'85), Q

My invention relates to means for erecting building structures, preferably from a plurality of prefabricated or partially prefabricated .units. I

It is an object of myinvention to building unit which is exteriorly and interiorly finished prior to erection.

Another object of myinvention is to provide a building unit having a porcelain enamel surface finish, yet which is fabricated by welding.

Another object of my invention is to provide a building unit which has a great deal of inherent strength and stiffnessfor its weight. I

A further object of my invention isto provide a building unit of substantially standard characteristics, a plurality of whichcan be assembled to provide a building construction.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a building constructionmade up or a plurality of substantially standardized, prefabricated panels.

The foregoing and other objects are attained. in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which p Fig. l is a side elevationoiv a building constructed in accordance with my invention;

i Fig. 2 is a cross-section to an enlarged scale, the plane of which is indicated by the line 2-4 ofFial;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structureshown mFig-Z; L

Fig. 4- is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. l; v

Fig. 6 is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 6 -6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 1-1 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 8-8, of Fig. 1/

Fig. 9 is a cross section showing a means of' fastening an interior finishing panel'to thestructure.

provide a In its preferred form, thebuilding construc turesof numerous and variecl forms, they have found successful utilization in a service station building substantially of the design shown in the drawings, which is provided with an overhanging roof 6 and the usual Walls including side =6 walls 1. While, because of the cantilever or overhanging characteristics of the roof portion 6,

it is advisable to provide a supporting truss structure 8 constituting a plurality of structural shapes suitably arranged and fastened, the side wall 1 shows atypical arrangement of building units in accordance with my invention which require no particular additional structural-shape reinforcements but are in themselves sufficiently rigid and strong to support the weight of the superposed structure.

'The wall 1 includes a window panel ID, a

plain panel Sand a door panel i I, each of which is fabricated substantially in accordance with the general scheme but which has individual variations. A basic arrangement is that of the panel 9 which is. shown in horizontal cross-section in Fig. 2 and in vertical cross-section in Fig.

4. This panel isconstituted by an exterior surface pan I2 which is preferably of rectangular shape having inturned flanges 13 on all four edges thereof. The material of the pan i2 is enameling iron, since, accordance with my invention, I

therein. The perforations afford means for providing one or more of the welds IS at substantially each of the pair of contacting zones between the undulatory strip and the outer pan l2. Because of the undulatory character of the strip, when the pan i2 is subsequently'treated to provide the porcelain enamel surfaces, including a baking operation at high temperature, the mass of the undulatory strip is so slight as not to cause warning of the surface of the pan l2.

In order to impart to the structure a great deal more strength than can be obtained from the pan I! by itself, I positionsubstantially adjacent the pan a corrugated sheet 2! and I arrange the corrugations in whichever direction will be of the'greatest assistance in resisting the stresses which are to be imposed upon the sheet. That is to say; the corrugations 2l'can runeither horiel baking operation is permitted without intro-- ducing permanent superficial irregularities intothe external pan 52.

As a final closure and added stiffening member, I can, if desired, introduce a planar sheet between the shapes l4 and tack-Weld it to the corrugated sheet 2! in order to provide a smooth interior surface, but this is not essential for most installations and can readily be omitted if desired.

The building unit fabricated of the corrugated sheets 2| welded to the enameled sheets through the medium of sinuous strips ll and reinforced on the edges by structural shapes it is incorporated with other units of like character to provide the building. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, adjacent the i2 is a ccinparable par. 26 the flanges 2'! of which abut the flanges 13 or substantially so. Space intervening the structural shape M of the pan l2 and the corresponding structural shape 28 of the pan 2% may be filled with a water-proof filler, such as plastic cement 29, whereas the edges of the structural shapes M and 28 are connected together into a permanent structure by welding 31. While the building panels themselves are prefabricated and are merely assembled at the site of the finished structure, the introduction of plastic cement and the performance of the operation to produce Welds may be wholly or in part conducted as the units are erected.

To facilitate the erection operation, some of the units may be provided on some of their edges not with relatively light straps i l or 28 but rather with relatively heavy angle-irons '32 and 33, or can be provided with relatively heavy straps 3'3 and 35. If the angle- irons 32 and 32 are utilized. preferably there is welded to each of them at an appropriate interval a standard bolt 3? adapted to pierce an aperture in the adjacent strap or 38 so that when a nut 38 of standard variety is tightened upon the bolt the panels are held in closely adjacent position. A washer 3% can be interposed between the angles and the straps in order to prevent twisting strains thereupon as the fastening is tightened; and the same type of waterproof plastic cement 4! can be introduced into the joint to keep out moisture.

The bolted joint especially disclosed in Fig. 2 is utilized wherever the panels are sufficiently large as to be substantially of maximum size for handling, whereas the welded joint, as shown in Fig. 4, is utilized either for permanently asseinbling such relatively large panels in the field or, where a plurality of smaller pans such as It and 26 are to be factory assembled, the welding is utilized to constitute a plurality of such pans into a panel large enough for field welding or bolting. This latter variation is shown particularly in the center panel il in which a plurality of pens are utilized, each of them being, for example, a different color. That is, the lowermost pan 42 may be one color, the intermediatepan 43 may be another color, the pan der such conditions (see Fig. which as to this portion is substantially a duplil2 still another color, and the uppermost pan 26 still a difierent color. The four pans l2, 43 and 42 together are factory welded with joints such as shown in Fig. 4, to constitute a single panel which is held in place on the job and is permanently connected by the bolted arrange ment as shown in Fig. 2.

Adjacent a corner of the building, for example the rear corner, a somewhat different form of connection may be provided, since in most in stances the rear wall of the structure is of cheaper character than the remaining part, and the exterior surface may not be porcelain enamel but may bepaint or a comparable finish. Un-

a panel Ii,

cate oithe panel 3 in that it terminates in strap is fastened by a nut 52 to a bolt connected by welding to an angle 53 included in p a corner structure. This angle clamps in position the inturned member 56 of an elongated flange 5'6 extending from the outer plate 5'5 of the rear panel 58. The panel 5%? is illustrated as of the corrugated, reinforced porcelain-enameled type, but if desired the exterior sheet 57 may be notenameled but simply painted. In either case it is but necessary to position the panel 58 with the angle 53 in juxtaposition w th the. strap 35 in the panel ll and to tighten the nut 5!, plastic cement 59 bein interposed in the joint and the final connection being made by welding 6i. I

As an alternative corner arrangement, there may be provided the construction. shown in Fig. 6 in which panel 62 on the sideof the structure is connectedtc acomparable panel on the front thereof. These panels are constructed of exterior enameled pans E54 and. 56, respectively, which have elongated, inturned flanges 61 and 6B thereon reinforced by straps and H, respectively. These straps are suitably secured together by a bolt "12 and a nut '53 and include water-proof plastic cement l4 and a final weld it to secure the union.

Adjacent openings, such as a window '5"? or a door 18, the construction is preferably that illustrated in Fig. 8, in which the pans "l9 and 3! included in the panels 1' or H provided with elongated inturned flanges 82 and respectively, which are secured by welding .s-i to elongated straps 8'5 and Bl, preferably entirely surrounding the opening for reinforcement purposes.

Where such an opening is glazed, the construction is substantially that illustrated in'Fig. 7 wherein the panels E2 and 88 are abut'tcd. The panel 88 for the most part is of substantially standard fabrication, but adjacent its edges is provided with elongated, inturned flanges 8.9 and 9i. The flange Bl is reinforced by a strap 92 comparable to the straps 8%? and El but carries a glass support 53 secured thereto against a spacer 94 with waterproof plastic G6 interposed in the spacer therebetween. A panel'dl is mountedin the holder Adjacent the flange 85 a reinforcing shape 98, such as an angle iron, is secured and is provided with a spacing strap It'll. To the strap is secured a glass holder I02 held in place against the spacer lfii with waterproof plastic cement 1H3 inthe intervening space. A plate of glass Hi l is mounted in the holder I02.

As a way of finishing the interior of the structure, especially a structure in which an exterior wall 'Hll' has an inturned horizontal strap I88 planar exterior pan having inturned edges and thereon, I preferably provide the detachable panel I09 which is inclusive of a flanged outer sheet Hi having a corrugated inner sheet H2 secured thereto. H2 particularly by welding is a spring clip H3 representative of a plurality of such spring clips,

each of which is effective to enter into an aperture i It piercing the strap I08, so that while the weightof the panel 869 is borne by the flanges H4 on the strap [08, the position of the panel is secured-by the spring clips H3. The panel is readily assembled by simply positioning it adjacent its location and then forcing it toward the exterior panel Hi1. Similarlythe interior panel I09 is readily removed if desired or can be permanently anchored in place.

With the arrangement described, a building such as is illustrated can be constructed of a plurality of individual panels, the panels being assembled at the side of the structure and being either permanently bolted or bolted and welded into assembled position with the interstices therebetween filled with a plastic waterproof cement so that the structure is permanently weathertight. Each of the panels is preferably constituted'of a plurality of units, such particularly as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and "3. Each of these constitutes an exterior pan capable of receiving a porcelain-enamel exterior coating and including a corrugated sheet attached thereto by the medium of a sinuous strip so that the panel. itself is adequately strong for all structural purposes yet the construction is such that the enameling operation does not unduly warp the various masses of metal. After the enameling operation,

' the cooling of the parts leaves the enameled surthe major components thereof.

face planar and free of unsightly ripples and irregularities.

Since the building as constructed in accordance with my invention is itself adequately strong 1. A building unit comprising a generally Fastened to the inner sheet' adapted to receive a baked enamel finish, a sinuous perforated strip spot-welded to said pan, and a corrugated sheet disposed within said pan and spot-welded to said strip.

2. A building unit comprising a pan having a baked enamel finish, a corrugated sheet adjacent said pan, and'a sinuous strip interposed between said corrugated sheet and said pan and welded to each of them.

3. A building unit comprising a rectangular flanged pen, a corrugated sheet disposed within said pan, a sinuous strip interposed between said sheet and said pan, and welded connections between said strip and said sheet and between said sheet and said pan.

4.,A building unit comprising a flanged pan,

5. A building unitcornprising a panel consti tuted of a plurality of, flanged pans, structural I shapes constituting frames for said pans, welded connections between said shapes, corrugated sheets in said pans, and means including interposed strips for affording Welded connections between said pans and said sheets.

6. A building unit comprising a panel constituted of a plurality of flanged pans, structural shapes constituting frames for said pans, welded connections between said'shapes, waterproof material between said shapes, reinforcing sheets within said pans, connecting strips between said reinforcing sheets and said pans, and welded connections between said strips and said sheetsand said pans.

7. A building unit comprising a panel constituted of a plurality of flanged pans, structural shapes constituting frames for said pans, secondary structural shapes included in said panel,

reinforcing sheets for said pans, means for indirectly welding said sheets and said pans together, and fastening means engaging said secondary structural shapes for engagement with a similar panel.

- HENRY C. MORTENSON.

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