WO2002008525A1

WO2002008525A1 - Foundation bed for structural members

Info

Publication number: WO2002008525A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000887
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cecil E. Williams
Original assignee: Ludowici Limited
Priority date: 2000-07-24
Filing date: 2001-07-20
Publication date: 2002-01-31
Also published as: AUPQ895000A0

Abstract

A foundation bed for structural members, the bed including a liner which includes a channel shaped element having electrical insulating properties which, in an installed position is disposed within a channel in a surface, the channel shaped element having a space therein which is adapted to receive at least partially a structural member, the foundation bed further including filler material which is receivable within the space within the channel shaped element so as to at least partially surround that part of the structural member disposed within the space.

Description

FOUNDATION BED FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS

This invention relates to an improved foundation bed suitable for use in the support of structural members for constructions. The structural members may, for example, take the form of walls, beams or the like.

It is generally the current practice to lay structural members such as beams or walls in pockets which are cut or cast into surfaces, such as concrete surfaces. In some situations the structural members need to be electrically insulated from its surroundings by encapsulation in a non-conducting rubber element. The rubber element may also provide some vibration and noise isolation. Currently known elements are either one piece and very complex or are supplied in pieces which have to be assembled onto the structural member. Further, as different structural element shapes are used, a different element is required for each application.

It is an object according to one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved foundation bed for structural elements which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

It is another object according to another aspect of the present invention to provide an improved method of installation of structural members.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a foundation bed for structural members, the bed including a liner which includes a channel shaped element having electrical insulating properties which, in an installed position is disposed within a channel in a surface, the channel shaped element having a space therein which is adapted to receive at least partially a structural member, the foundation bed further including filler material which is receivable within the space within the channel shaped element so as to at least partially surround that part of the structural member disposed within the space.

Preferably, the channel shaped liner includes a base wall and spaced apart upstanding side walls, the cross-sectional configuration of the liner substantially conforming to the cross- sectional dimensions of the channel within which it is disposed.

Preferably, the structural member when in the installed position, rests on the base of the liner. In some arrangements the upper section of the structural member projects from the liner.

The liner may be made from any suitable material such as, for example, an elastomer including plastics such as thermoplastic or the like. The filler may take any suitable form such as, for example, grout, plastics material such as foamed plastics or elastomeric material. For example, the filler may be in the form of blocks or strips of material adapted to fit against opposite faces of the structural member. The filler material may have magnetic properties which in some instances can assist in assembly of the foundation bed.

Any suitable manufacturing technique may be used to form the liner. In one preferred form, the liner is formed from a generally flat strip body. Preferably, the strip includes hinge sections at selected positions so that it can be bent at the hinge sections so as to form the channel shaped liner. In one form, the hinge sections may be in the form of notches. In another arrangement, the hinge sections may be in the form of thinned or waisted portions. This latter form of the invention finds particular application where the channel may be formed by slip forming The strip may be in the form of an extrusion.

The liner may further include vibration isolating means for permitting limited deflection of the liner. The vibration isolating means may in one form include one or more grooves formed in one or more of the base and/or side walls of the liner. In another form, the vibration isolation means may include one or more elongated holes in one or more of the basic and/or side walls of the liner. In another form the vibration isolation means may include a section or sections formed from cellular elastomeric elastoplastic material.

The liner may also include support wall sections which, in the installed position abut against the structural member to assist in supporting the structural member against lateral forces. In one form, the support wall sections may be formed of material of greater rigidity than the other parts of the liner. The strip may still be formed as an extrusion using coextrusion techniques.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of installing a structural member the method including the steps of forming a channel in a surface, providing a liner in the form of an elongated generally flat strip having hinge sections at spaced apart positions thereon, locating the liner above the channel, positioning the structural member on top of the liner, causing the structural member to be lowered into the channel and thereby causing the liner member sections to move relative to one another at the hinge sections so that the liner adopts a channel shape and is moved into the channel and providing filler material in the space within the liner around the structural member either before or after the structural member is lowered into the channel.

In order to enable a clearer understanding of the invention, drawings illustrating an example embodiment are attached and in these drawings:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are schematic side elevations of different types of foundation beds for various examples of structural elements according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 4(a) to 4(e) are schematic views of preferred forms of liner according to various preferred embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 5(a) to 5(d) illustrate the sequence of steps involved in a method of installation of a structural member according to one preferred embodiment of the invention; and,

Figure 6(a) to 6(d) illustrate the sequence of steps involved in the method of installation of a structural member according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a foundation bed generally indicated at 10 for supporting a structural member in the form as a wall. The wall 50 is installed in a channel 60 in a surface such as a concrete surface 65.

The foundation bed 10 includes a liner 12 of elastomeric material having a base 13 and side walls 14 and 15. The liner 12 is generally channel shaped and substantially conforms to the shape of the channel 60 in the surface 65. In the installed position the lower part of the wall 50 rests on the inner surface of the base, the wall projecting out of the channel.

As best seen in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the liner 12 is formed from an elongated strip having hinge sections 17 and 18 extending longitudinally of the body. The hinge sections, as shown in Figure 2(a), are in the form of notches which separate the body into sections which define the base 13 and side walls 14 and 15 of the liner. In the embodiment of Figure 2(b), the hinge sections are in the form of thinned or waisted sections 17 and 18 of the strip.

The liner further includes vibration isolating means in the form of slots or grooves 21, 22 and 23 which in the form shown are in the outer surface of the base 13 of the liner 12. It will be appreciated that in addition or alternative to these grooves there could be similar grooves in one or both side walls 14 and 15 of the liner 12.

The space within the liner 12 is filled with grouting material 30, the grouting material surrounding the lower section of the wall 50.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown a foundation bed 110 for support a beam 150. The beam 150 is installed in a channel 160 in a surface 165. The beam 150 includes a lower flange 151, a web 152 and an upper flange 153.

The foundation bed 110 is similar in structure and includes a liner 112 of elastomeric material having a base 113 and side walls 114 and 115. The liner 112 is generally channel shaped and substantially conforms to the shape of the channel 160 in the surface 165. The liner 110 further includes support walls 111 and 116 which abut against the beam 150 when in the installed position. In the installed position the beam 150 rests on the inner surface of the base. The lower flange 151 of the beam terminates adjacent the side walls 114 and 115 and the upper flange 153 of the beam 150 terminated adjacent the opening. The support walls 111 and 116 abut against opposite sides of the beam.

As shown in Figures 4(c) to 4(e), the liner 112 is formed from an elongated strip having hinge sections 117 and 118 extending longitudinally of the body. The hinge sections, as shown are in the form of notches or waisted sections which separate the body into sections which define the base 113 and side walls 114 and 115 of the liner.

In the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3 the filling material is in the form of blocks 130 and 131 configured to fit snugly against opposite sides of the web 152 of the beam 150.

Figure 3 illustrates a different form of beam which can be used as a rail. Like reference numerals have been used to identify like parts.

One method of installation of a wall will hereinafter be described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

Once a channel 60 has been formed in the surface 65, the flat strip from which the liner 12 is formed is located over the channel with the section forming the base wall 13 immediately above the channel 60 with the sections forming the side walls 14 and 15 disposed to respective sides of the channel 60.

The wall 50 is then positioned on top of the section of the strip forming the base 13 of the liner. The weight of the wall 50 causes it to drop into the channel causing the sections of the strip forming the side walls of the liner to fold upwardly at the hinge sections 17 and 18.

When the wall and the liner are correctly positioned the remaining space around the rail is filled with grouting material 30. Another method of installation of a beam will hereinafter be described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Once a channel 160 has been formed in the surface 165, the flat strip from which the liner 112 is formed is located over the channel with the section forming the base wall 113 immediately above the channel 160 with the sections forming the side walls 114 and 116 disposed to respective sides of the channel 160.

The beam 150 is then positioned on top of the section of the strip forming the base 113 of the liner. Blocks 130 and 131 of filling material are located adjacent opposite sides of the web of the beam. The weight of the beaml50 causes it to drop into the channel causing the sections of the strip forming the side walls of the liner to fold upwardly at the hinge sections 117 and 118.

The bed of the present invention has considerable advantages in that the liner is low cost and very easy to install. It can be manufactured from an elastomeric material with suitable electrical properties and may contain particulate matter to achieve vibration and noise isolation of certain frequencies.

Further, the liner is suitably designed to allow controlled levels of deflection in order to further isolate vibration. The arrangement also facilitates installation and allows for fitment to various sized channels. A further advantage is that it allows for easy removal of the assembly from the channel for replacement or maintenance of beams.

Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of tis aspect can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A foundation bed for structural members, the bed including a liner which includes a channel shaped element having electrical insulating properties which, in an installed position is disposed within a channel in a surface, the channel shaped element having a space therein which is adapted to receive at least partially a structural member, the foundation bed further including filler material which is receivable within the space within the channel shaped element so as to at least partially surround that part of the structural member disposed within the space.

2. A foundation bed according to claim 1 wherein the channel shaped liner includes a base wall and spaced apart upstanding side walls, the cross-sectional configuration of the liner substantially conforming to the cross-sectional dimensions of the channel within which it is disposed.

3. A foundation bed according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the structural member when in the installed position, rests on the base of the liner.

4. A foundation bed according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the liner is formed from a generally flat strip body, the strip including hinge sections at selected positions so that it can be bent at the hinge sections so as to form the channel shaped liner.

5. A foundation bed according to any preceding claim further including vibration isolating means for permitting limited deflection of the liner.

6. A foundation bed according to claim 5 wherein said vibration isolating means includes one or more grooves formed in one or more of the base and/or side walls of the liner.

7. A foundation bed according to claim 5 wherein said vibration isolation means includes one or more elongated holes in one or more of the base and/or side walls of the liner.

8. A foundation bed according to claim 5 wherein said vibration isolation means includes one or more sections of a cellular elastomeric or elastoplastic material in one or more of the base and/or side walls of the liner.

9. A foundation bed according to any preceding claim wherein said liner further includes support wall sections which, in the installed position abut against the structural member to assist in supporting the structural member against lateral forces.

10. A foundation bed according to claim 9 wherein said support wall sections are formed of material of greater rigidity than the other parts of the liner.

11. A method of installing a structural member the method including the steps of forming a channel in a surface, providing a liner in the form of an elongated generally flat strip having hinge sections at spaced apart positions thereon, locating the liner above the channel, positioning the structural member on top of the liner, causing the structural member to be lowered into the channel and thereby causing the liner member sections to move relative to one another at the hinge sections so that the liner adopts a channel shape and is moved into the channel and providing filler material in the space within the liner around the structural member either before or after the structural member is lowered into the channel.

12. A foundation bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of installing a structural member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.