US3319387A

US3319387A - Roof structure of concrete blocks having wave-shaped passages containing stressed reinforcing

Info

Publication number: US3319387A
Application number: US389629A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stewing Albert; Polonyi Stefan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-10-03
Filing date: 1964-08-14
Publication date: 1967-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-16

Description

y 1967 A. STEWING ETAL 3,319,387

ROOF STRUCTURE OF CONCRETE BLOCKS HAVING WAVE-SHAPED ASS-AGES CONTAINING STHESSED REINFORCING Filed g- 14, 4 P, Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTORS. ALBERT STEWING STEFAN POLONYI ATTORNEYS.

y 1967 A. STEWING ET'AL 3,319,387

ROOF STRUCTURE OF CONCRETE BLOCKS HAVING WAVE-SHAPED PASSAGES CONTAINING STRESSED REINFORCING Filed Aug. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. AL BERT STEWING S TEFAN POL 0N YI ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,319,387 Patented May 16, 1967 Germany Filed Aug. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 389,629 Claims priority, appliEc lation Germany, Oct. 3, 1963,

23 6 Claims. (Cl. 52-227) This invention relates in general to roof construction and a process for assembling a roof structure, and to a new and useful roof construction, including a plurality of individual prefabricated concrete elements, which are adapted to be placed side-by-side to form a roof structure and wherein the elements include an opening therethrough for reinforcing element which openings align from block-to-block in a row to permit a reinforcing element to be connected through a group of such blocks and then to tighten the blocks in position.

Roof constructions consisting of prefabricated reinforcing concrete elements are known in the art and are used frequently. All these constructions have in common that they are composed of a support structure. as a carrying part and include a roof sheathing. Over-hanging roof constructions, for example, those supported only on a single prop where special support structure is omitted are known in the art as shell or foldwork roofs. Such constructions are made of uniform shells or foldworks, which are usually constructed at the site by pouring concrete into suitable molds, for example.

A disadvantage of the roof structures of the prior art is the required cost and the relatively long production and assembly time. Considering on the other hand the broad possibilities for the use of such roofs, for example, for filling stations, shelters, public carrier stops, etc. one immediately recognizes the great need of the bulding trade for over-hanging roofs held by one or only a few props and made of prefabricated reinforcing concrete elements, which can be assembled on the site of use with the least possible costs and in the shortest possible time.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a roof construction and a process of forming a roof from prefabricated reinforced concrete elements. The prefabricated reinforced concrete elements are designed as area support structure elements, and they each include a through opening for receiving a reinforcing element or rod which also functions to hold the elements together in compression. The reinforcing elements are advantageously positioned to extend through contiguous openings defined in successively arranged reinforced concrete structural blocks. The reinforcing elements are then tightened at the outer ends of the resultant roof structure formation of a plurality of said blocks by clamping means such as a turnbuckle arranged at each of the blocks on the outer ends of the structure. In this manner over-hanging uniform area support structures can be produced from correspondingly formed prefabricated structural elements made in a variety of shapes or forms. A preferred form of construction, which has independent importance because of its simplicity comprises a simple support structural element simply curved or simply folded, such as in a shell or in a foldwork element configuration. The roof structure formations are advantageously made by arranging the structural elements in sideby-side relationship extending in a direction normal to the plane of curvature of the respective element members. The individual structural elements are aligned in cross directions, and are clamped together as a uniform over-hanging area support structure by clamping steel elements or reinforcing rods, which extend through all of the elements and which provide an initial stressing of the structure so that it is put in compression. By clamping the concrete elements together with the reinforcing wire structure which extends therethrough, it is possible to obtain a wide field of application for the resultant structure. The clamped uniform over-hanging area support structure which is formed by these elements may be held by one or more props or supporting columns.

A principal "advantage of the inventive construction and method is the low erection costs and the short produc tion time required for the assembly of the roof construction. The geometry of the area support structural elements essential to the invention leads to moments of inertia per area and to stress distribution favorable for the clamping together of the elements as well as to the strength of the resultant structure member mounted on a supporting stanchion. The initial stressing of the element is favorable for the distribution of stress in the resultant structure. This is particularly true when the reinforcing metal rods or steel members are arranged in a region of the peripheral zones of the area support structural elements. With the inventive method and construc tion, it is easy to clamp the reinforced concrete elements together. The individual concrete elements are advantageously treated at the joint or contact areas in order to insure two-dimensional contact.

In a preferred method of the invention, the individual concrete elements are arranged side-by-side in an assembly so that the openings defined therein provide a through passage way for stringing a reinforcing element com- .pletely through the assembly. In addition, each element is advantageously provided with a mortar such as a synthetic resin mortar along the joint areas or contact areas therebetween and thereafter the concrete elements are clamped against the mortar by tightening the reinforcing rods which extend through the concrete elements to place the structure in compression.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved roof structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved process for forming a roof structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roof structure made up of a plurality of individually preformed concrete block elements, which are arranged in side-by-side relationship to form a roof structure, and which includes an opening defined through each block from one side to the other, the openings of all of said lblocks being aligned to receive a reinforcing rod ele ment and with means at the outer ends of the outermost blocks for clamping the reinforcing elements to hold the block structure together.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for forming a roof structure using blocks having openings defined therethrough from one side wall to the other and using reinforcing rods, comprising arranging the blocks in side-by-side relationship with the openings aligned, inserting a reinforcing member through all of the blocks so aligned and clamping the ends of the reinforcing member to exert inward pressure on each end of the row of concrete blocks in order to form an overall roof structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a process in which roof structural elements made of individual preformed concrete blocks are assembled by using mortar between the joints of the elements and a reinforcing rod which extends through all of the elements, which is tightened to hold the elements closely to the mortar at the joints thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roof structure which is simple in design, and economical to manufacture and assemble and rugged in construction.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described perferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal section through a roof construction according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the roof indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4-7 are perspective elevational views of various embodiments of individual free formed concrete structural elements.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention as embodied in FIGS. 1-3 comprises a roof construction generally designated 1, made up of a plurality of prefabricated reinforced concrete elements or blocks 2. In the embodiment illustrated, the blocks 2 are substantially V-shaped in section, as indicated in FIG. 3 and form a simple foldwork element. Other forms of reinforced concrete elements are, of course, possible, such as, for example, the elements indicated in the drawing FIGURES 4-7. In FIG. 4 a simple curved shellwork element or shell 3 is provided, while in FIG. 5 a modified V-shaped formation 2 is shown. In FIG. 6 a very drastically modified curved V formation 20 is shown. Whereas, in FIG. 7, an inverted arch-shaped configuration 4 is provided. These forms should be so selected advantageously according to the purpose of use of the area supports structure. In the form of construction preferred because of its simplicity, the area support structural elements are arranged in side-by-side relationship with the course direction proceeding in either direction as indicated by the

direction arrows

7, 7. The course direction proceeds in a direction normal to the plane of curvature 5 or respectively parallel to the fold line 6 of each element.

In accordance with the invention, each of the

elements

2, 2, 20 and 4 is provided with through passages or channels 8, which align in the course direction to permit clamping steels or reinforcing rods 9 to be passed in a straight or curved line uninterruptedly through each of the elements. Clamping means, such as turnbuckles 10 are provided on the outer faces of each of the concrete elements 2 which are arranged on the outer ends. The turnbuckles 10 are tightened to pre-stress the assembled concrete elements 2 to place these elements under corn pression. The resultant structure may be easily sup ported on only a single prop 11 or on two props 11 spaced as indicated in the drawings.

In accordance with the invention method, the preformed concrete elements are arranged in side-by-side relationship proceeding in a direction of the course, and thereafter reinforcing rods are inserted through the aligned openings of the assembled elements, the rods are clamped and tightened to place the elements under stress and the resultant roof structure is mounted on a support. In some insances it is advantageous to employ a synthetic resin mortar or concrete joint between the side faces of each adjoining reinforcing element 2. The inventive process in such an instance is modified to provide for the clamping of the elements together by tightening the turnbuckles at the ends of the reinforcing elements 9 only after the synthetic resin mortar is applied along the joint areas.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A roof structure comprising a plurality of reinforced concrete elements each of said elements having a passage of wave-shaped configuration extending therethrough from one side to the other, said element being adapted to be arranged in side-by-side relationship, a reinforcing element extending through the passages of each of said reinforced concrete elements, said reinforcing element conforming to the wave-shaped configuration of said passages with substantially one half of a wave length being arranged in each of said elements and means for clamping the outer ends of said reinforcing element adjacent the outer ends of the outermost ones of said reinforcing elements.

2. A roof structure comprising a plurality of reinforced concrete elements each of said elements having a passage of wave-shaped configuration extending therethrough from one side to the other, said elements being arranged in side-by-side relationship with the passage of each aligned and with adjacent elements arranged to define a continuous wave-shaped passage with the passage of each element defining one half of a complete wave length, a reinforcing steel extending through the passages of each of said reinforced concrete elements and conforming to the wave-shaped configuration, means for clamping the outer ends of said reinforcing steel adjacent the outer ends of the outermost ones of said elements to tension said elements, and a synthetic resin motar placed between the contacting edges of adjacent concrete elements.

3. A roof structure, according to claim 1, wherein said concrete elements are of a substantially V-shaped cross section.

4. A roof structure, according to claim 1, wherein said concrete structural elements are substantially curved archshaped configurations.

5. A roof structure, according to claim 1, wherein said concrete elements are of a curved V-shape in section.

6. A roof structure, according to claim 1, wherein said concrete structural elements are of a pointed arch-shaped construction in section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,402 12/1933 Dischinger et a1 5218 X 2,705,929 4/1955 Atkins 52227 X 3,142,136 7/1964 Silberkuhl et al. 52223 X 3,145,502 8/1964 Ru'beinstein 52-223 FOREIGN PATENTS 661,194 4/1963 Canada.

812,881 5/1959 Great Britain.

935,852 9/1963 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

A. C. PERHAM, Assistant Examiner.