US3596949A

US3596949A - Connector for modular building sections

Info

Publication number: US3596949A
Application number: US836344A
Authority: US
Inventors: Russell L Turpen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-06-25
Filing date: 1969-06-25
Publication date: 1971-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-03

Abstract

A connector for use in joining frame elements; floor, ceiling, and sidewall sections; and like components of modular building structures. The connector comprises a pair of connector members or components adapted to be secured to each other in a predetermined orientation of mating juxtaposition. One of the components is a joist connector adapted to have two floor or ceiling joists attached thereto at a relative angular orientation of about 90*, and the other such component is a column-connector member adapted to have a column attached thereto at a generally normal disposition relative to the plane defined by the joists. Position-enforcing structure establishes the desired predetermined orientation of the two connector members, and bolttype fasteners secure the same in such orientation.

Description

United States Patent 1 women [72] Inventor Russell L. Turpen 2200 Central St., Richmond, Calif. 968% [21] Appl. No. 836,344 [22] Filed June 25, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 3, i971 [54] CONNECTOR FOR MODULAR BUllLDlNG SECTIONS 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs;

[52] US. Cl ..287/1l89.36,

I 287/54 A, 52/665 [5 1] Int. Cl l. Fl6b 7/18 150] Field olSearch 52/665, 648, 726; 287/189.36, 189.36 H, 18936 F, 20.95, 54 A, 54 B, 54 C [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,0l9,243 2/1966 Great Britain 287/1 89.36

79,037 9/1962 France 1,325,679 3/1963 France Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Wayne L. Shedd Attorney-Gardner & Zimmerman ABSTRACT: A connector for use in joining frame elements; floor, ceiling, and sidewall sections; and like components of modular building structures. The connector comprises a pair of connector members or components adapted to be secured to each other in a predetermined orientation of mating juxtaposition. One of the components is a joist connector adapted to have two floor or ceiling joists attached thereto at a relative angular orientation of about 90, and the other such component is a column-connector member adapted to have a column attached thereto at a generally normal disposition relative to the plane defined by the joists. Positiomenforcing structure establishes the desired predetermined orientation of the two connector members, and bolt-type fasteners secure the same in such orientation.

CONNECTOR FOR MODULAR BUILDING SECTIONS This invention relates generally to modular building structures and, more particularly, to a connector by means of which frame elements and wall (floor, ceiling and side) sections of such building structure are interconnected one with another.

In recent years the use of building structures of modular form has grown in popularity because they permit rapid onsite assembly of the modular sections or components into a completed building, and subsequent disassembly should this be desired. Further, the various modules can be constructed or preassembled under less costly and otherwise favorable factory conditions, and by proper design, the preassembled modules are readily shipped, stored and handled. By way of example, modular building components may comprise entire roof, floor and wall sections constructed at a factory location and transported to a building site in a prewired or otherwise completed condition (including painting and other decoration), ready for quick assembly and erection upon a foundation prepared therefor, Thus, often in a very few hours an en tire building can be erected and be ready for occupancy or other use.

An object ofthe present invention is to provide an improved connector useful especially in building structures of such modular type so as to facilitate interconnection of the modules and other structural components thereof at the building site.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of an improved modular connector of the type described that is especially useful in association with relatively light-gauge metal frame components defining horizontal floor and ceiling joists and vertical load-bearing columns, and which connector enables such components to be quickly and easily assembled, either individually or in modular composition, at a building site.

Still another object is that of providing an improved connector of the type indicated, that comprises a pair of connector members adapted to be releasably secured to each other in a predetermined orientation or mating juxtaposition so as to unite floor or ceiling joists with vertical columns.

A further object is to provide an improved connector com prised of a pair of mating connector members having open faces adapted to be brought into mating juxtaposition, and which connector members are able to accommodate slight irregularities and misalignment of the building components interconnected thereby, the mating faces having complementary inclines defining a camlike surface operative to enable such accommodation.

Yet a further object is in the provision of connectors as described which can be secured in side-by-side relation and force-interrelated by a shear ring operative to equalize and transfer loads between such adjacent connectors and the building elements fastened thereto.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention, especially as concerns particular features and characteristics thereof, will become apparent as the specification develops.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a broken perspective view of frame sections of a modular building structure in which such sections are secured to each other by connectors embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken perspective view of a corner portion of such frame sections taken generally in the direction of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, broken perspective view of such frame sections taken generally in the direction of the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating in spaced apart relation the connector members comprising a connector embodying the invention;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a connector taken generally along the line 5-5 ofFlG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a broken edge view in elevation of a shear ring used in association with two side-by-side connectors as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the connectors shown in FIG. 3 with portions broken away to illustrate use of the shear ring shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating in spaced apart relation the connector members of a modified embodiment ofthe invention.

As indicated hereinbefore, connectors embodying the present invention are particularly suited? for use in association with modular building structures in which certain frame components thereof may be provided as an assembly and united with other such assemblies at a building site. Frame sections or assemblies (without panelling or other covering thereon) for such a modular building are partially illustrated in FIG. 1 and may be subdivided, for convenience, into a plurality of Ion gitudinally extending floor modules or assemblies 10a and 10b and a plurality of transversely extending ceiling modules llla and lllb. The floor and ceiling modules 10 and 11 are vertically spaced and are interconnected by a plurality ofupwardly extending columns 12 by means of connectors 14 generally located at each corner ofthe modules llll and H. For purposes hereof, the modules 10 may be taken to be substantially identical and, similarly, the modules 11 are substantial duplicates of each other.

Each floor module ll) in the form shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 includes a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending joists l5 and 16 and a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending joists l8 and 19. Each of the joists is hollow, and it will be observed that the longitudinal joists l5 and 16 are of substantially greater crosssectional dimension than the

transverse joists

18 and 19, the reason being that the length of the longitudinal joists l5 and 16 is generally greater than that of the transverse joists l8 and I9 and greater strength is therefore required. The floor joists may also be hollow components open along one side thereof (as shown at 20) so as to provide access to the fastener means used to interconnect the cooperative members defining each connector 14.

The ceiling modules 11 may have exactly the same composition as the floor modules 10 and, analogously, are constituted of transversely spaced and longitudinally extending joists 21 and 22 and a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending

joists

24 and 25. The ceiling joists are open along one side as heretofore explained and as indicated at 26 in FIG. l. The columns 12 may all be identical and, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, they are hollow members that may be open along one side, as generally indicated at 28, but this is not necessary since access thereinto is unnecessary.

As is most evident in FIG. 4, each connector 114 is formed of two separate components referred to as

connector members

29 and 30. The connector member 29' is a joist-connector adapted to have a longitudinal joist H5 or 16 and a

transverse joist

18 or 19 connected thereto. The connector member 30 is a column-connector adapted to have one of the columns 12 attached thereto. The means by which such attachment is accomplished in each instance takes the form of a rib or lip insertable into the end portion of the associated joist or column.

Thus, in the case of the connector member 29, it is provided along one outer surface thereofwith a rib or lip 31 that may be substantially continuous and defines a generally squareshaped perimeter so as to accommodate one of the longitudinally extending joists 15 or M; and it is further provided along another outer surface thereof with a rib or lip 32 that may be substantially continuous and defines a generally rectangular perimeter so as to accommodate the smaller size of one of the transversely extending

joists

18 or 19. Evidently, the connector member 30 is provided along the top surface thereof with a rib or lip 34 that is substantially continuous and defines a generally rectangular perimeter so as to accommodate one of the columns 112.

Accordingly, each of the modules and ill utilizes four connector members 29 respectively disposed at the corner portions of the module, and each such connector member unites a longitudinally extending joist with a transversely extending joist. It should be observed that right-hand and lefthand connector members 29 are required for this purpose. Thus, a connector 14 having a left-hand connector member 29 (as shown in FIG. 4) is used for the corner portion at which the joists l5 and 18 are connected and for the corner portion at which the

joists

16 and 19 are connected. However, at the opposite corner portions, a right-hand connector member is required. This difference is depicted in FIG. 3 which illustrates two connectors disposed in side-by-side relation, and such connectors are differentiated one from the other by the use of the numerals l4 and 14the connector 14 using a left-hand connector member 29 and the connector 14 utilizing a righthand connector member 29' (i.e., a right-hand connector member being one in which the lip or rib 32 and end wall 35 upon which it is mounted are located along the opposite edge of the connector member).

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 through 6, the

connector members

29 and 30 are seen to be respectively provided with mating faces generally denoted 36 and 38 that are tapered or inclined such that the face 36 progressively increases in thickness from the top of the member toward the bottom thereof at which is located an abutment wall 39. The face 38 of the connector member 30 has a complementary taper, and therefore increases in thickness upwardly along the face toward an abutment all 40 along the outer surface of which the rib 34 is located.

The

faces

36 and 38 are respectively equipped with cooperative components therealong defining position-enforcing structure effective to establish the predetermined positional relationship is the

components

29 and 30 in which they are oriented in mating juxtaposition. Such position-enforcing structure includes a slot or recess 41 formed in the inclined face 38 of the connector member 30 and a projecting tongue 42 formed along the face 36 of the connector member 29. The tongue 42 is dimensioned so as to seat snugly within the recess 41, and the recess is open along the lower narrow edge of the connector member 30 so that the tongue 42 can be inserted into the recess through such opening. Evidently, the

inclined faces

36 and 38 are adapted to slidingly engage each other during assembly of the modular frame sections which enables the connector members to be cammed into position relative to each other, thereby facilitating such assembly.

Fastener means are also provided for securing the

connector members

29 and 30 to each other, and such fastener means includes relatively

large openings

43 and 44 respectively provided by the

connector members

29 and 30 at about the centers thereof. The

openings

43 and 44 align with each other when the connector members are in mating juxtaposition and pass a fastener element 45 therethrough, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The fastener 45 is in the form of a nut-equipped bolt having a head 46 adapted to seat within an enlarged annular channel 48 circumjacent the opening 44 along the outer surface of the connector member 30, and further having a threaded shank 49 adapted to extend through the aligned

openings

43 and 44 and receive a nut 50 thereon which bears against the outer face of the connector member 29 generally within the perimeter of the rib 31.

In the case of two connectors being used in side-by-side relation, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the respective connector members are united by a single fastener element which takes the form of a headless, elongated bolt 51 that is threaded along its length so as to receive nuts 50 thereon adjacent each end. In FIG. 8 the two connectors and various members and elements thereof are distinguished one from the other by using in association with the left-hand connector the primed form of the same numerals used to identify the right-hand connector and various members and elements thereof. Accordingly, the

. fastener element 51 which extends completely through the juxtaposed

connectors

14 and 14 respectively receive nuts 50 and 50' thereon which bear against the outer faces of the associated

connectors

14 and 14.

The enlarged annular channel 48 circumjacent the central opening 44 in the connector member 30 is tapered along its perimeter or perimetric edge so as to enlarge outwardly. Such taper is usefully employed in association with a force-equaliza' tion member or shear ring 52 that seats within the channels 48 ofjuxtaposed connectors, as is evident in FIG. 8. The ring or member 52 has an outer annular surface 53 with a compound curvature or taper that enlarges centrally so that such ring can seat within each of the channels 48 and 48' and effectively mate with the tapered surfaces thereof. The ring 52 also has an opening 54 therethrough which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bolt 51 so as to freely pass the bolt therethrough and be relatively loose with respect thereto.

The shear ring 52in association with the recesses 48 and 48' in any pair of contiguous connectors secured to each other by a common fastening means is effective to equalize and dis tribute or transfer force-loadings between such adjacent connectors and the structural components secured thereto. Thus, considering the interconnection illustrated in FIG. 3, if one of the upwardly extending columns 12 is carrying or supporting a generally vertical load of greater magnitude than the adjacent column 12, it is evident that such unequal loading tends to cause a relative displacement between the adjacent columns, connectors, and associated building modules which appears as a shearing force operative between the commonly joined connectors 14 and 14'. Such shear force is accommodated by the ring 52 and tends to equalize the same in application between the

connectors

14 and 14, thereby isolating the fastener elements 51 and

nuts

50 and 50 thereon from such force and the effects thereof.

The ring 52 also serves to accommodate slight relative displacements between adjacent connectors; and because of the cooperative annular surfaces of the channels 48 and 48' and surface 53 of the ring, the connectors are cammed or urged toward a condition of proper alignment as they are gradually secured to each other by tightening ofthe nuts 50 and 50'.

A modified connector is illustrated in FIG. 9, and it departs from the connector heretofore described in two respects. First, and most significantly, the modified connector is universal in the sense that it does not require left-hand and righthand adaptions. Therefore, irrespective of the particular corner portion at which the modified connector is located, it is exactly the same structure. Accordingly, where left-hand and right-hand versions of the connector 14 were required to accommodate the side-by-side juxtaposition thereof shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, use of the modified connector of FIG. 9 would result in such juxtaposed connectors being precisely the same in all oftheir structural characteristics. Secondly, the modified connector does not employ lips or ridges (31, 32 and 34 in the connector 14) as a means of facilitating connection of the joists and columns thereto.

In view of the similarities between the modified connector illustrated in FIG. 9 and the connector 14 heretofore described, the same numerals are used to identify the respectively corresponding components of the modified connector except that the order of such numerals has been raised to the series. Comparing the connector member 129 with the connector member 29 heretofore described in detail, it will be readily apparent that the connectors are the same except that the end wall 155 has been added that serves precisely the same function as the end wall or edge I35, thereby making the connector member 129 symmetrical about a vertical center line therethrough. Accordingly, the component 129 is directly usable as either a right-hand or left-hand component simply by facing it in the opposite direction and securing the

transverse floor joist

18 or 19, or

ceiling joist

24 or 25, to whichever of the end walls and that may be appropriate. It may be observed that no raised ribs or lips are employed along either of the walls I35 and 155, nor is such lip employed along the rear wall thereof (i.e., the reverse side of the inclined face 156), and the joists are simply welded directly to the fiat surfaces of such walls.

A completely analogous situation is presented with respect to the connector member 130, which is exactly the same as the prior described connector member 30 except that the abutment 140 has been extended at each end so as to cover or overlie the upper edges of the

end walls

135 and 155 of the connector member 129 when the two members are secured in mating juxtaposition. Accordingly, the connector member 130 is symmetrical about a vertical line therethrough and mates with the connector member 129 irrespective of its positioning. The upper surface of the abutment Ml) ofthe connector member 130 has no raised rib or lip therealong so that a column 12 is simply welded directly to the upper surface of such abutment wall.

In use of either of the

connectors

14 and 114, the members 29 and 30 (or 129 and 130) thereof may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the joists in the case of the joist-connector members and to the columns 12 in the case of the column-connector members. Such securance ofthe connector members is usually a factory-type operation, and it may be followed by whatever additional fabrication is required to pro vide modules or assemblies having the desired degree of completion prior to being transported to a construction site. At the construction site, the floor and ceiling modules (which are equipped with left-hand and right-hand connector members 29 at the appropriate corners thereof in the case of connectors 14 being used) are integrated with connector members (30 or 1 .30) which are attached to columns 112 of appropriate length.

Integration is effected simply by sliding or otherwise placing the connector members 29 and 30 (or 129 and 130) in mating juxtaposition along the open faces thereof, and by securing the members in such orientation by means of fastener elements 45. ln those instances in which successive modules are to be joined, a common fastener element 51 and the nuts therefor may be used to integrate all of the four members comprising the sideby-side connectors 14 and 14' or comprising the two universal connectors 114. The force-equalization member or shear ring 52 is used in these instances, as heretofore explained. The open sides and 26 of the joists afford access for manual tightening of the nuts 50 to effect the desired joindure of the connector members. .It will be appreciated that disassembly is readily effected for removal of the building structure should this be desired simply by removing the nuts of the fastener elements to release the same, whereupon the connector members can be separated from each other.

Connectors embodying the present invention have the advantage of effecting positive intermodular alignment irrespective of whether such alignment is occasioned by joindure of two connector members or by two connectors disposed in side-by-side relation. in either case, there is positive longitudinal alignment of the interconnected members, positive transverse alignment thereof, and also positive vertical alignment. Accordingly, there is a positive measurement or dimensional control and an automatic squaring of any building structure composed of modules using the connectors. When once joined, the connectors provide a positive antiracking of the building components. The connectors afford a quick, easy and safe technique for erecting building structures and accommodate full modular sectional erection. Shear loads are transferred between successively joined modules and, therefore, enable loadings to be transferred along greater lengths of the joists and other frame components, thereby tending to obviate localized stress concentrations which permits lighter and less costly frame elements to be used. in the case of the connector 114, it is universal and can be used interchangeably for righthand and left-hand installations. Each connector is also quite compact and has a rectilinear shape being of substantially uniform length, width and height throughout.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the in vention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes ofmaking a complete disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A connector for modular building sections and the like, comprising a pair of connector members adapted to be secured to each other in a predetermined orientation of mating juxtaposition even after being respectively attached to structural components of such sections, said connector mem bers having mating faces respectively equipped with cooperative components therealong defining position-enforcing structure effective to establish such predetermined orientation of said connector members when said faces are brought into mating juxtaposition, fastener means for securing said connector members to each other, at least one of said connector members being provided along an outer surface thereof with a channel, and a shear ring adapted to seat within said channel, said shear ring being sufficiently wide to seat within the channels of two connectors juxtaposed in side-by-side relation so as to transfer shear forces therebetween.

2. The connector of claim ii in which said fastener means includes a pair of openings respectively provided by said connector members and alignable when said connector members are in mating juxtaposition, and further includes a fastener element extendable through said openings and operative to clamp the connector members to each other, said channel being an enlargement about one of said openings.

3. The connector of claim 2 in which one of said connector members is a joist-connector equipped with means for having two floor joists or the like attached thereto at a relative angular orientation of about and in which the other of said connector members is a column-connector equipped with means adapted to have a column or the like attached thereto at a generally normal disposition relative to the plane defined by such floor joists when said connector members are so secured to each other, said channel being provided in said column-connector member.

4. The connector of claim 3 in which said mating faces have complementary inclines therealong and said recess is open along one edge thereof slidably receive said tongue therein.

5. The connector of claim 4 in which each of said connector members terminates adjacent the widest dimension thereof along its inclined face in an abutment wall adapted to extend over the adjacent edge of the other connector member when said connector members are secured to each other, the composite connector defined by said connector members when secured to each other being of substantially uniform length, width and height throughout.

6. The connector of claim 5 in which said fastener element comprises a threaded shank and nuts receivable thereon, said shear ring having a central opening loosely passing said shank therethrough which is sufficiently long to project through connectors juxtaposed in side-by-side relation.

7. The connector of claim l in which said channel is annular and has a tapered perimetric edge enlarging toward the outer extremity of the associated outer surface, and in which said shear ring has a complementary taper along the outer surface thereof that enlarges toward the center of such surface and decreases in the opposite direction therefrom.

a. A connector for modular building sections and the like, comprising a pair of connector members adapted to be secured to each other in a predetermined orientation of mating juxtaposition by relative movement in only two permissible directions oriented along axes disposed at substantially 90 even after said connector members are respectively attached to structural components of such sections, said connector members being provided with mating faces having complementary inclines and cooperative components therealong defining position-enforcing structure comprising a recess pro vided by one of said connector members and being open along one edge and along the associated face and a projecting tongue provided by the other connector member and being seata blc within said recess either through said open face or edge, said inclines and tongue and recess having substantially parallel axes extending generally along one of the aforesaid permissible directions and being effective to establish such predetermined orientation of said connector members when said faces are brought into mating juxtaposition, and fastener means for securing said connector members to each other when in such mating juxtaposition.

9. The connector of claim 8 in which said fastener means includes a pair of openings respectively provided by said connector members and alignable when said connector members are in mating juxtaposition, and further includes a fastener element extendable through said openings and operative to clamp the connector members to each other.

10. The connector of claim 8 in which one of said connector members is a joist-connector equipped with means for having two floor joists or the like attached thereto at a relative angular orientation of about 90, and in which the other of said connector members is a column-connector equipped with means adapted to have a column or the like attached thereto at a generally normal disposition relative to the plane defined by such floor joists when said connector members are so secured to each other.

11. The connector of claim 10 in which each of said means for attaching said joists and columns to said connector members comprises a relatively flat surface adapted to have such hollow joist or hollow column, as the case may be, welded thereto.

12. The connector of claim 8 in which each of said connector members terminates adjacent the widest dimension thereof along its inclined face in an abutment wall adapted to extend over the adjacent narrow edge of the other connector member when said connector members are secured to each other, the composite connector defined by said connector members when secured to each other being of substantially uniform length, width, and height throughout.

Claims

1. A connector for modular building sections and the like, comprising a pair of connector members adapted to be secured to each other in a predetermined orientation of mating juxtaposition even after being respectively attached to structural components of such sections, said connector members having mating faces respectively equipped with cooperative components therealong defining position-enforcing structure effective to establish such predetermined orientation of said connector members when said faces are brought into mating juxtaposition, fastener means for securing said connector members to each other, at least one of said connector members being provided along an outer surface thereof with a channel, and a shear ring adapted to seat within said channel, said shear ring being sufficiently wide to seat within the channels of two connectors juxtaposed in side-by-side relation so as to transfer shear forces therebetween.

2. The connector of claim 1 in which said fastener means includes a pair of openings respectively provided by said connector members and alignable when said connector members are in mating juxtaposition, and further includes a fastener element extendable through said openings and operative to clamp the connector members to each other, said channel being an enlargement about one of said openings.

3. The connector of claim 2 in which one of said connector members is a joist-connector equipped with means for having two floor joists or the like attached thereto at a relative angular orientation of about 90*, and in which the other of said connector members is a column-connector equipped with means adapted to have a column or the like attached thereto at a generally normal disposition relative to the plane defined by such floor joists when said connector members are so secured to each other, said channel being provided in said column-connector member.

7. The connector of claim 1 in which said channel is annular and has a tapered perimetric edge enlarging toward the outer extremity of the associated outer surface, and in which said shear ring has a complementary taper along the outer surface thereof that enlarges toward the center of such surface and decreases in the opposite direction therefrom.

8. A connector for modular building sections and the like, comprising a pair of connector members adapted to be secured to each other in a predetermined orientation of mating juxtaposition by relative movement in only two permissible directions oriented along axes disposed at substantially 90* even after said connector members are respectively attached to structural components of such sections, said connector members being provided with mating faces having complementary inclines and cooperative components therealong defining position-enforcing structure comprising a recess provided by one of said connector members and being open along one edge and along the associated face and a projecting tongue provided by the other connector member and being seatable within said recess either through said open face or edge, said inclines and tongue and recess having substantially parallel axes extending generally along one of the aforesaid permissible directions and being effective to establish such predetermined orientation of said connector members when said faces are brought into mating juxtaposition, and fastener means for securing said connector members to each other when in such mating juxtaposition.

10. The connector of claim 8 in which one of said connector members is a joist-connector equipped with means for having two floor joists or the like attached thereto at a relative angular orientation of about 90*, and in which the other of said connector members is a column-connector equipped with means adapted to have a column or the like attached thereto at a generally normal disposition relative to the plane defined by such floor joists when said connector members are so secured to each other.