WO2007009473A1

WO2007009473A1 - Modular building systems

Info

Publication number: WO2007009473A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/007863
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steinar Lundberg; Jostein FØRLAND
Original assignee: Norsk Hydro Asa
Priority date: 2005-07-19
Filing date: 2005-07-19
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: EP1920117A1

Abstract

Modular building system comprising a number of vertically oriented columns (1) interconnected by horizontal beams (2) connecting each pair of neighbouring columns at the level of each floor of the building, each column being formed by a number of hollow profiles, where in that, each column comprises at least two column-elements and that each neighbouring pair of column-elements in the same column is connected to each other by means of a connecting element (25) which is formed by a profile which is partially inserted into the lower and upper element of each neighbouring pair, said connecting element being connected to each column element by form fit and fastening elements (35, 36).

Description

Modular Building Systems

The invention relates to a modular building system comprising a number of vertically oriented columns interconnected by horizontal beams connecting each pair of neighbouring columns at the level of each floor of the building, each column being formed by a number of hollow profiles.

Such a building system is known from the German Utility Model 20 2004 013 200.

In this known system the columns and beams are interconnected by means of special connecting elements which are fastened to the side walls as top walls of the columns and beams making up the construction.

The connection between two successive portions of a column is made through an intermediate beam and two connecting elements. Apart from the fact that this is a complicated construction involving a number of connections to be made, it can also cause problems with respect to the stability of the construction especially with respect to deformations caused by torsion of the construction as a whale.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved construction by which the above mentioned problems can be avoided.

This object is achieved in that each column comprises at least two column- elements and that each neighbouring pair of column-elements in the same column is connected to each other by means of a connecting element which is formed by a profile which is partially inserted into the lower and upper element of each neighbouring pair, said connecting element being connected to each column element by form fit and fastening elements.

By providing a direct connection between two neighbouring column elements, which connection is made in such a way that on the one hand the vertical forces are transferred to the base by fortuning elements, whereas the torsional forces between the two elements are absorbed by the form fit between the different elements.

Other advantages and characteristics will become clear from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawings, in which :

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the composition of a modular building composed of columns and beams in accordance to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a ground plan of the positioning of the columns in a building according to the invention,

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the main element of a column according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a connecting element between superimposed column elements according to Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a connecting element between a column and a beam at the level of a transition between two successive column elements , according to Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a finishing element at the level of the transition between two successive column elements according to Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a connecting element between a column and two beams at the level of the transition between two successive column elements according Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is a cross-section of a connecting element between a column and one beam at the level of the transition between two successive column elements according to Fig. 3,

Fig. 9 is a cross-section of a finishing element at the level of the transition between two successive column elements according to Fig. 3,

Fig.10 is a cross-section of a connecting element between the foundation and a column according to Fig. 3,

Fig.11 is a cross-section of a beam to be used in connection with the elements shown in Fig. 3-9,

Fig.12 is a cross-section view of a column element according to Fig.3 but on enlarged scale,

Fig.13 is a cross-section of a column element according to Fig. 3 provided with two connecting elements according to Fig. 4,

Fig.14 is a cross-section of a column element according to Fig. 13 provided with two connecting elements according to Fig. 4 and provided with two connecting elements according to Fig. 5,

Fig.15 is a cross-section of a column element according to Fig. 3 provided with two connecting elements according to Fig. 3, provided with two connecting elements according to Fig. 5 and provided with a connecting element according to Fig. 6,

Fig.16 is a perspective view of an assembly of a column and a number of beams at the foundation level, made by means of the profiles shown in

Fig. 3 - 11 ,

Fig.17 is a perspective view of an assembly of a column and a number of beams at the level of the transition between two column elements and made by means of the profile shown in Figs. 3 - 11 ,

Fig.18 is a cross-section of the main element of a column according to a second embodiment of the invention, Fig.19 is a cross-section of a connecting element between superimposed columns elements according to Fig. 18,

Fig.20 is a cross-section of a connecting element between a column and a beam at the level of a transition between two successive column elements according to Fig. 18,

Fig.21 is a cross-section of a finishing element at the level of the transition between two successive column elements according to Fig. 18,

Fig.22 is a cross-section of a connecting element between a column and two beams at the level of the transition between two successive column elements according Fig. 18,

Fig.23 is a cross-section of a connecting element between a column and one beam at the level of the transition between two successive column elements according to Fig. 18,

Fig.24 is a cross-section of a finishing element at the level of the transition between two successive column elements according to Fig. 18,

Fig.25 is a cross-section of a connecting element between the foundation and a column according to Fig. 18,

Fig.26 is a cross-section of a beam to be used in connection with the elements shown in Figs. 18-24.

In figure 1 there is shown the general pattern for a modular building according to the invention. The frame work of building is formed by a number of vertical oriented columns 1 which are regularly spaced in two directions perpendicular to each other. In the embodiment shown the distance between each pair of adjacent columns is always equal independent of the direction, so that a regular chess-board like pattern is obtained where viewed in vertical direction as shown in figure 2.

Each column 1 is positioned on top of a fundament, which has been prepared before entering the column 1 and which may consists of a concrete implement as is used in the building technique. Interconnecting each part of adjacent columns is a number of beams 2, which are located at the level of each floor in the ultimate building and at the level of the roof. In this way a girder of columns 1 and beams 2 is formed which can be used as the basic frame for the ultimate building. The building can be finished by means of wall elements provided with doors and windows where needed, which can be positioned in any square constituted by two adjacent columns 1 and interconnecting beams 2. In this way the frame can be divided into different rooms. In addition floor elements are positioned in each square formed by four adjacent beams so as to complete the horizontal force distribution. All this is common in modular building and will not be explained in more detail.

As shown in fig. 2 each column is formed by a rectangular profile, having in horizontal cross-section two long sides and two short sides. Preferably these columns are made of aluminium or aluminium alloys.

The different columns in the grid of the building frame are oriented that for each columns the adjacent columns have a different orientation, id est an orientation of its long sides which is perpendicular to the long side of the neighbouring columns. So it is shown in fig. 2 that the column 1A has its longer side perpendicular to the longer sides of the adjacent columns 1 B, 1C, 1 D and 1 E. In this way it is possible to give the building an optimal strength against lateral movement in any direction, and at the same time to reduce the total amount of material to be used in the columns.

As shown in fig. 3 each column 1 has in horizontal cross-section the shape of a rectangular hollow profile. It has two long sides walls 10, 11 and two short side walls 12, 13 each side wall being provided with a T-shaped recers 14, 15, 16 and 17 to be used as connecting means for wall elements and the like. The long side walls 10, 11 are interconnected by means of an internal flanks, which is located at halfway the length of the long side walls 10,11.

In this way two spaces 19 and 20 have been formed in the profile. Extending from each longer side wall into the spaces 19 and 20 respectively there are protecting edges 21 , 22, 23, 24 each pair of edges 21 ,22 and 23, 24 extending into the same space 19 and 20 respectively being positioned in the same places and being located about halfway between the wall 17 and the stud 18, and the wall 19 and the stud 18 respectively.

According to the invention each column is not one single length of such a profile, but is composed of at least two lengths which are connected to each other at the level of each floor. As such each column 1 shown in figure 1 is composed of three elements, a bottom element 6 extending from the fundament up till the ground floor level, and two elements of standard length 7 and 8 extending respectively from the ground floor to the first floor to the top floor. At the level of each floor the adjacent elements of each column are connected to each other, and in this connection means are provided to offer connections possibilities between the beams and the columns.

In order to connect to super imposed columns elements there is provided a profile 25 as shown in cross-section in figure 4.

The profile 25 has a general rectangular cross-section comprising a first part 26 (left in Fig. 4) with a greater width than the second part 27 (right in Fig. 4). The first part 25 has a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a base flange 28 and two parallel legs 29, 30. The second part 27 also has a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a base flange 31 and two parallel legs 32, 33. For strength reasons an additional flange 34 is connecting the legs 32, 33 and is parallel to the base flanges 31.

The dimensions of the profile 25 are chosen in such a way that the profile 25 can slide into the opening defined by the walls 10, 12, 11 and 18 or by the walls 10, 13, 11 , 18 in such a way that this is a close fit between the profile 1 and the profiles 25. This is clearly shown in Fig. 13 where two profiles 25 have been inserted in one profile 1.

As the profile 25 is intended to be used as a connecting element between two successive profiles 1 it is only partly inserted into each of these two profiles 1. In this way the length of the connecting profile 25 is divided into these portions, a first portion inserted into the lowermost profile 1 , a third portion inserted into the uppermost profile 1 , and a second or intermediate portion between the two other portions, which can be used for connecting beams or the like to the columns.

As already mentioned before the profile 25 has a close fit in 1 each profile 1 in which it has been inserted, thereby assuring that a torsionless connection is established between the profiles 1 and 25. In order to transfer the tensile, compression and bending forces a number of bores, has been provided in the relevant portions of the profile 1 and 25, and bolts 35 inserted in said bores and provided with nuts 36 will establish a firm connection between the profile 1 and 25, as shown in fig. 17.

In order to be able to connect a horizontal beam to the profile 1 , which beam is oriented in the direction of the longer dimension of profile 1 , a profile 40 has been provided as shown in Fig. 5.

The profile 40 consists of a first part 41 which has substantially the same cross- section as the profile 25, but with different dimensions and which part 41 can be slid over the central second portion of the profile 25 when the latter has been inserted in the lowermost profile 1. The part 40 has the wall portions 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 comparable to the wall portions 29, 32, 27, 33, 30 and 28 of the profile 25. The profile 40 further has a second part 42 which can have different shapes and which serves for the connection to the horizontal beam. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 the part 42 consists of two parallel walls 50, 51 one side being connected to the wall 48 and a number in the embodiment shown two connecting walls 52, 53 which are parallel to the wall 48. In the embodiment shown in fig. 14 the part 42 has a square cross-section, but for the rest it is completely comparable to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Fig. 14 two such profiles 40 can be mounted on the central of second portion of the two connecting profiles 25, whereby the part 42 of the two profiles extend beyond the cross-section of the profile 1 in the direction parallel to the longer cross-section dimension of the profile 1. These two extensions constitute anchoring means for the horizontal beams to be mounted to it as will be explained below.

In case it is not required to have a beam connected to the above mentioned side of the profile 1 , i.e. there is only one or no beam extending in the direction parallel to the longer cross-sectional dimension of the profile 1 , a profile 55, shown in figure 6 can be used. Basically the profile 55 is exactly identical to the part 41 of the profile 40, its walls 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61 corresponding to the walls 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48, with the exception that the wall thickness of the wall 61 is greater than the wall thickness of the wall 48. The thickness of the wall 61 is chosen in such a way that when the profile 55 is mounted over a profile 25 on top of a profile 1 , the outer surface of the wall 61 is completely in alignment with the outer surface of the corresponding wall 12 or 13 in the profile 1.

From Fig. 14 it will be clear that when two profiles 40 are mounted on a profile 1 and two profiles 25 the walls 31 of the two profiles are not touching each other but that a small gap 65 is left over between the walls 31 of both profiles 40. In case of use of two profiles 55, or the combined use of a profile 40 and a profile 55 the same gap 65 will also be present.

In order to make it possible to have horizontal beams perpendicular to the horizontal beams to be mounted to the part 42 of the profiles 40, there is provided a profile 70 as shown in Fig. 7.

The profile 70 consists of a part 75 having three walls 71 , 72, 73 which together in cross-section constitute a H-profile. The thickness of the wall 71 is exactly equal to the width of the gap 65 described above and the distance between the two walls 72, 73 is equal to the distance between the outer surface of the walls 44, 46 or 57, 59 so that the part 75 can be mounted between the central or second portion of the profile 25 as shown in Fig. 15. Two parallel walls 76, 77 and 78, 79 respectively are mounted perpendicular to the walls 72 and 73 respectively, whereby the distance between these pairs of walls is somewhat smaller than the width of the walls 72, 73.

Each pair of walls 76, 77 and 78, 79 is again connected by two connecting walls 80, 81 and 82, 83 respectively which are parallel to the walls 72 and 73. In this way the walls 76, 77, 80, 81 together forms a part 85 for the connection to a horizontal beam.

In the embodiment of the profiles as shown in Fig. 7 the parts 84 and 85 have an open end. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 45 the parts 84 and 85 are in fact simply formed as rectangular profiles. From Fig. 15 it becomes automatically clear that the dimensions of the different components of the profiles 1 , 25, 40 (or 55 ) and 75 are chosen in such a way that at the connecting portion between two superimposed profiles 1 , there are no external recourses at gaps, but the wall parts are completely filled up thereby increasing the strength of the construction especially with respect to torsion.

In case it is required to have only one horizontal beam connected to the column in the direction of the parts 84, 85 or to have no horizontal beams at all in that direction, the profiles 90 respectively 91 of Fig. 8 respectively Fig. 9 can be used. The construction of these profiles is obvious and it will be immediately clear that by means of these profiles a continuous surface can be formed, either on one side or on both sides.

In order to complete the construction as a framework for building two more profiles have been made available. The profile 92 shown in Fig. 10 has substantially a U-shaped cross-section in which a step like reduction 93, 94 of the distance between the two parallel walls 95 and 96 has been provided in the neighbourhood of the base wall of the Li- shaped profile. The use of this profile 92 is to provide a connection between the foundation and the columns as shown in Fig. 16. Before erecting the columns, a foundation has to be made at the location of the columns. On these locations a portion of a profile 92 is connected with its base plats 97 to the foundation, e.g. by means of a bolt. Between the walls 95, 96 a short length of a profile can be mounted and connected thereto by means of bolts and nuts. For that reason the distance between the two walls 95, 96 is equal to the distance between the outer surface of the walls 10, 11 of profile 1. The length of this part of the profile is equal to the first portion of a profile 25 inserted therein and in this way a number of horizontal beams can be mounted at that level as shown in fig. 16. In this way the ground floor level can be established.

In fig. 11 there is shown a cross-section of a profile 100 which can be used as a horizontal beam.

In the embodiment shown the profile 100 consists of a base plate 101 the two longitudinal edges of which are provided on one side with a cross plate 102, so as to form a L-shaped profile and on the other side with two cross plates 103,104 extending in opposite direction from the base plate 101 , so as to form a T-shaped profile.

In order to connect the profile 100, 101 to the columns the profile 100 is placed with its base plate 101 in a vertical position and placed against one side of the parts 42, 84, 85 whatever may be the case. By placing two profiles 100 against such parts, with the plate 103, 104 as the bottom side a beam is formed with an open top, thereby allowing utility lines such as electricity, water or gas lines to be inserted in the beams. Dependent upon the final construction one or two profiles 100 can be connected to the parts 42, 84 or 85 and are interconnecting in this way the different columns.

In the figures 19 - 26 a modified embodiment of the profiles shown in fig. 3 - 11 has been shown. As such the profiles shown in fig. 18, 19, 21 , 24 and 25 are almost identical to the profiles shown in the figures 3, 4, 6, 9 and 10 respectively. The profiles shown in figures 20, 22 and 23 are only different from the profiles shown in figures 5, 7 and 8 respectively in the construction of the parts 42, 84, 85. In the figures 5, 7, and 8 these parts have been formed as box-like structure, whereas in the figures 20, 22 and 23 these parts are formed as flanges 10 110, 111 , 112 and 113 respectively.

The beam profile 115 shown in fig. 26 is also modified in that it now becomes an almost U-shaped profile, which when mounted to the flanges 110, 111 , 112 or 113 has two outwardly extending flanges.

In the figures 16-17 a build-up configuration has been shown in which the profiles according to the figures 18 - 26 have been used, but it will be obvious that the same construction can be used when using the profiles according to figures 3 - 11.

For a man skilled in the art it will be obvious that by using the disclosed profile and the assembly construction according to figures 16 and 17 a construction according to figures 1 and 2 can be made, which can be used as a base for building. By providing the profiles of the required openings, and connecting elements wall element and other utilities required for a building can be used for finishing the building.

Claims

1. Modular building system comprising a number of vertically oriented columns interconnected by horizontal beams connecting each pair of neighbouring columns at the level of each floor of the building, each column being formed by a number of hollow profiles, characterized in that, each column comprises at least two column-elements and that each neighbouring pair of column-elements in the same column is connected to each other by means of a connecting element which is formed by a profile which is partially inserted into the lower and upper element of each neighbouring pair, said connecting element being connected to each column element by form fit and fastening elements.

2. Modular building system according to claim 1 , characterized in that at the level of each connection between each part of neighbouring column elements a number of protrusion are connected to the column for fixing the horizontal beams.

3. Modular building system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in each pair of neighbouring column elements the upper end of the lower element is located at the same distance from the lower end of the upper element.

4. Modular building system according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that each connecting element is extending through a hollow carrier which is provided with a number of said protrusions and the hollow carrier is connected to the connecting element by form fit and fastening elements.

5. Modular building system according to claim 4 characterised in that the hollow carrier has a height which equal to the distance between the upper end of the lower column element and the lower end of the upper column element.

6. Modular building system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each connection between each pair of neighbouring column elements in each column are connected by two connecting elements both being connected by form fit and fastening element to each column element.

7. Modular building system according to claim 6, characterized in that each column element is formed by a profile with a substantial rectangular cross-section having one longer dimension, and that the profile of two positions which are symmetrical with respect to the shorter central axis line.

8. Modular building system according to claim 7, characterized in that each portion of the profile has a shape which allows a form fit of a connecting element, and that the two connecting elements leave over a central space for the insertion of a part of the carrier.

9. Modular building system according to claim 8, characterized in that a carrier is placed over each connecting element, at least one of said carrier being provided with a protrusion for connecting the horizontal beamer.

10. Modular building system according to claim 9, characterized in that both carriers have a protrusion, which postures are oriented in the same direction.