Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2/04—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements
  • E04B2/06—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position
  • E04B2/10—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position by filling material with or without reinforcements in small channels in, or in grooves between, the elements
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2/14—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element
  • E04B2/16—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position
  • E04B2/20—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position by filling material with or without reinforcements in small channels in, or in grooves between, the elements
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
  • E04C1/00—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings
  • E04C1/40—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings built-up from parts of different materials, e.g. composed of layers of different materials or stones with filling material or with insulating inserts
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2002/0202—Details of connections
  • E04B2002/0243—Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins or keys
  • E04B2002/0254—Tie rods

Definitions

• This invention relates to stackable, interiockable building elements, and a system including such elements.
• the invention relates to interlocking building bags for constructing a structure such as a building wall or a flood wall, for example.
• a stackable, interlockable building element for use in constructing a structure, the element including a body having flexible walls defining an internal cavity which can be filled with a filling medium, wherein the walls of the body which, in use, are the top and bottom walls have holes extending through them such that, when filled, the holes in the top and bottom walls align to receive a vertically extending support therein.
• the body may be in the form of a bag.
• the body is woven from polypropylene yarn or strips.
• the walls of the bag may be shaped such that the bag forms a substantially rectangular prism when filled.
• the ratio of the length of the body to its width may be about 1, 2, 3 or 4.
• the building element may further include a series of equally spaced apart holes extending through the top and bottom walls, the series of holes being aligned along the longitudinal centre line of the body and provided in the centre of the length of the body so that the distance from each of the longitudinally opposed end walls of the body to the nearest hole is half of the distance between the holes, thereby allowing multiple elements to be stacked offset on the vertical support.
• the building element includes at least one area of reinforcement in which the holes extending through the top and bottom walls are located.
• the top and bottom walls may be joined together in the area of reinforcement.
• the top and bottom walls are joined together by welding, gluing or stitching them together.
• a grommet may also be located in each of the holes extending through the top and bottom walls.
• the building element Is preferably filled by using sand or water as the filling medium.
• a building system including:
• each element comprising a body having flexible walls defining an internal cavity which can be filled with a filling medium, and at least one area of reinforcement provided in the walls of the body which, in use, are the top and bottom walls, wherein the area of reinforcement in the top and bottom walls of the body has a hole extending therethrough;
• the structural supports may be U-shaped with the two legs of the support forming the vertically, upstanding supports received by the aligned holes in the stacked building elements.
• the building elements of the system are preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. Elements of different length to width ratios may be included in the building system. The ratios of length to width of the individual building elements are preferably selected from the group including 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1.
• each comprising a body having flexible walls defining an internal cavity
• the building elements in one row may be off-set to the building elements in an adjacent row when stacked.
• the method may include the step of hosing off the structure once the building elements have been stacked.
• the method may further include the step of adding a bonding material to the filling medium upon inserting it into the cavities of the building elements.
• the method may also include the step of tamping the structure to obtain substantially flat surfaces.
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one example of a stackable building element according to the invention
• Figure 2 shows a top view of the building element of Figure
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of another example of a stackable building element according to the invention.
• Figure 4 shows a top view of the building element of Figure
• Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a structure in the form of a wall constructed using a number of stackable building elements of Figure 3;
• Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional front view of the wall of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 shows a top view of the wall of Figure 5;
• Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the building element of
• Figure 9 shows a top perspective view of a double row wall constructed using a number of the stackable building elements of Figure 3;
• Figure 10 shows a top perspective view of the wall of Figure 9 wherein cross-bonding between the layers can be seen;
• Figure 11 shows a bottom perspective view of the wall of
• Figure ⁇ Figures 12 to 20 illustrate different stages of the process of constructing a building using a number of the building elements in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 21 shows a perspective view of yet another example of a stackable building element according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
• a non-limiting example of a stackable, interlockable building element in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numerals 10.
• the stackable interlockable building element 10 has a body 12 including walls defining an internal cavity which can be filled with a filling medium.
• the wails are flexible so that the building element 0 is in the form of a bag, which may be woven from polypropylene yarn or strips. It is envisaged that the bag 10 could in use be filled by sand, for example.
• the walls of the bag 10 are shaped such that the outward profile of the bag forms a substantially rectangular prism when filled as shown in Figure 1.
• the walls indicated by reference sings 14.1 and 14.2 are referred to as ends walls, while those indicated by reference signs 16.1 and 16.2 are referred to as side walls.
• the walls 18 and 20 are, in use, the top and bottom walls and define the top and bottom surfaces respectively.
• the bag of Figure 1 has a length to width ratio of about 2. It must be clear that the length is the distance between the two longitudinally opposing ends 14.1 and 14.2, while the width of the bag is the distance between the two opposing sides 16.1 and 16.2. It follows naturally that the height of the bag is the distance between the walls 18 and 20, which are also, in use, the top and bottom walls respectively. In the illustrated embodiment the ratio of the width to the height is 1.
• each of the top and bottom walls of the bag which align with one another when the bag is filled, thereby enabling a vertical support 22 to be received in the aligned holes.
• the embodiment of the bag 10 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 has a series of holes, in particular two holes 24.1 and 24.2, which extend through the top and bottom walls and which are spaced apart along the longitudinal centre line of the bag.
• the holes are spaced apart and located in the centre of the top surface i.e. at a location where the distance between each of the holes and the ends 14.1, 14.2 of the bag are equal.
• the distance from each of the longitudinally opposed ends 14.1, 14.2 of the body to the nearest hole is half of the distance between the holes, thereby allowing multiple bags to be stacked offset on the vertical support.
• the distance from each of the longitudinal ends to its nearest hole 24.1, 24.2 is x while the distance between the holes is 2x and the length of the bag is 4x. It should be clear that the width of the bag is 2x and the distance between the holes and each side wall 16.1, 16.2 is x.
• FIG. 3 and 4 An alternative embodiment of the bag is shown in Figures 3 and 4.
• the top and bottom walls are joined together to provide an area of reinforcement 28 around the holes. It is envisaged that the top and bottom surfaces may be welded, glued or sewn together to provide the area of reinforcement.
• the area of reinforcement around a hole is large enough to allow the hole to be punched out of it
• a grommet (not shown in the accompanying drawings) may be used to secure the top and bottom wall together and provide additional reinforcement around the holes.
• the vertical support 22 is U- shaped with a transverse section 22.1 connecting two substantially parallel sections 12.2 and 12.3 together.
• the transverse section 12.1 is placed on the ground, for example, so that the parallel sections 12.2 and 12.3 extend generally vertically upward from the ground.
• the distance between the upright sections corresponds with the distance between the holes in the bag. In other words, the distance between the upright sections is also 2x.
• the U- supports are placed in line next to one another along the building line.
• Filled bags 10, 26 are stacked on top of the aligned U-supports such that their vertical sections 22.2, 22.3 extend through the holes 24.1, 24.2 to lock the bags to one another. It must be understood that by locking the bags together, the U-supports provide structural support to the wall 100.
• the supports 22 are in the form of galvanised steel wires. It is however envisaged that in an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, the U-shaped supports could also be in the form of bars or tubes, such as electrical conduit or water pipes, for example. It is further envisaged that transverse connections to the supports may be inserted where necessary to provide junctions, switches, plugs, taps or the like. Transverse connections to the supports 22 could also be inserted above openings in the wall to act as lintels.
• vertical frame members may be used to provide additional loadbearing support. This may be particularly useful where the sandbag wall 100 will carry additional weight, such as a roof, for example.
• the vertical frame members may either be located in the holes 24.1, 24.2 already provided in the bags or may extend through their own holes (not shown in the drawings) located closer to one of the sides 16.1 or 16.2 of the bags.
• the vertical frame members may simply be located adjacent the sandbag wall 100. When located adjacent to the wall, the frame members may be secured to the wall 100 by, for example, tying it to the components of the wall.
• conventional door and window frames may be inserted in openings provided in the wall 100 where required.
• the window and/or door frames are, in use, trapped in the wall by stacking the bags 10, 26 up against and on top of them.
• a stackable bag being substantially half of the illustrated bag 10, i.e. bag having a length of 2x and a single hole extending through its top and bottom walls.
• the bags 10, 26 are preferably shipped to the building site while empty and filled in situ by sand.
• one of its ends walls 14.1 or 14.2 is left open so that the bag may be placed upright with the open end at the top to receive the sand (shown in Figure 8).
• the filled bag is filled up to about the hole which is the top hole when the bag is upright.
• the end wall 14.1 or 14.2 forming the open end could be enlarged (as shown in Figure 8) so that it has a portion which overlaps with the top or bottom walls 18, 20 when it is folded into a closed position so that it can be closed-off.
• a sliding or compression zip may also be used to seal the bags.
• the bags 10, 26 are stacked on top of each other in an off-set manner so that the second hole 24.2 in one bag lines up with the first hole
• the U-shaped supports 22 are placed along the building line prior the stacking the bags on top of one another. By placing the U-shaped supports 22 on the ground prior to stacking the bags their upright sections 22.2, 22.3 will act as guides when stacking the bags. As a result of the distance between the upright sections 22.2, 22.3 being equal to the distance between the holes 24.1,
• the bags 10, 26 are automatically placed in their desired positions by simply sliding their holes over the corresponding upright sections. Wherever it is required to provide a vertically straight end, for example at the end of the wall or to insert a window or door frame, the single-hole bag as described above is used to fill the opening at the end of each alternate layer.
• the constructed wall is then hosed off to allow the sand in the bags to infill so as to ensure proper fitment of the stacked bags on top of one another. It is further envisaged that a bonding material such as clay, lime or cement may be added to the sand inside that bags to fix the wall in position through hardening of the bonding material.
• the assembled layers of the wall may then also be tamped to obtain substantially flat surfaces. If required, the surfaces of the wall 100 can be plastered to obtain a smooth, decorative finish.
• Figures 12 to 20 show different stages of construction of a building using the building system in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 20 shows the walls plastered to obtain a smooth, decorative finish.
• the bags 10, 26 could be filled with another filling medium, such as water for example.
• the bags 10, 26 are manufactured from a non-woven material such as a plastic material to prevent water from leaking out when filled.
• the bag could further include sealing means (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings) to create a water tight seal at the opening through which the bag is, in use, filled.
• the bag could include sealing means in the form of an adhesive strip or section, or alternatively in the form of a zipper seal such as that sold under the trade mark Ziplock®.
• the sealing means could be carried on the portion of the open wall which overlaps with the top or bottom walls when it is closed-off.
• the bags 10, 26 could be particularly useful in constructing flood walls. Due to the rapid rate of construction of the wall 100, the bags 10, 26 are suitable for constructing water barriers to retain flood waters. In times of a flood it is important that a flood wall gets erected in a short as possible time to control the flood water and minimise damage. It is for this reason that the bags 10, 26 are well suited for this particular application. It must be understood that the flood waters can be used to fill the flood bags on site.
• a double or triple- walled structure could easily be constructed by using the U-shaped supports as transverse supports between two or more adjacent rows of bags.
• the distance between the hole of one bag to that of a bag which is cross-bonded to it is 2x. This is the same distance as the holes between two bags located in line with one another in the same row and, therefore, permits cross-bonding between multiple rows. In theory there is no limit of the number of rows that could be connected to one another by means of the U-shaped supports.
• FIG. 9 to 11 An example of a double row wall 102 can be seen in Figures 9 to 11 in which the cross-bonding between the two rows of building elements is clearly visible. Cross-bonding of bags to tie double or multiple rows together at various layers provides further structural integrity.
• bags 10, 26 according to the invention can be produced at high speeds using equipment designed to weld (uKrasonically or otherwise) two layers of sheeting together so that the top and bottom wall are fused together while the bags are diecut.
• the areas of reinforcement around the holes may also be fused simultaneously or sequentially by the same welding/fusing process.
• the holes 24.1, 24.2 may then or simultaneously be punched out or diecut.
• the wall 100 has been described and illustrated as being straight, it must be understood that the bags 10, 26 could easily be used to construct a curved wall. This will be done by arranging the U-shaped supports 22 along the curved building line and then stacking the bags on top of them following the method described above.
• the dimensions of the bag 10, 26 could vary greatly from embodiment to embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
• the bag 10, 26 has been described as having a length of x and having two holes extending through it, alternative embodiments could have a length of 2x, 6x, 8x or greater and have 1, 4, 6 or more holes, for example.
• the holes extending through the top and bottom walls 18, 20 could be arranged in more than one row instead of a single row as illustrated in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 3.
• An example of a bag including more than one row of holes is illustrated in Figure 21 and indicated by the reference numeral 30. From this figure it can be seen that the bag 30 has six holes 32.1 to 32.6 arranged in two separate rows running along its length. In other words, the holes 32.1 to 32.6 are arranged in a matrix.
• the bag 30 is similar to the bag 26 described above wherein the top and bottom walls are joined or fused together around the holes. However, in applications in which it is not required to use leak-proof bags, the top and bottom walls could simply have aligned holes without being joined together.
• each row of holes could be used to connect the bag a separate, adjacent bag.
• the holes in one row could be used to connect the bag to a first, adjacent bag while the holes in the other row could be used to connect the bag to a second, adjacent bag.
• the bag 30 as illustrated in Figure 21 has six holes arranged in two rows, the invention is not limited to this configuration. In an alternative embodiment not shown in the accompanying drawings the bag could include 4, 8 or more holes arranged in a matrix.
• the bags 10, 26, 30 in accordance of the invention allow quick and cost effective construction of walls and buildings.
• the building elements can therefore be used to provide inexpensive housing.
• the tensile strength of the polypropylene strands from which the bags may be made also contributes to the overall structural integrity of the wall.
• the polypropylene strands not only prevent the bags from tearing around the holes in its walls due its excellent tensile strength but also provide frictional abrasive surfaces engaging one another when the bags are stacked. Due to these characteristics of the polypropylene strips it is envisaged that, in applications where the constructed wall will be subjected to weak external forces, the bags could simply be stacked on top of each other without the use of any supports.

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ID=49915478

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Citations (3)

• 2013
  • 2013-07-10 WO PCT/IB2013/055659 patent/WO2014009892A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-07-10 CN CN201380037026.7A patent/CN104704178A/zh active Pending
  • 2013-07-10 GB GB1500145.6A patent/GB2517878A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2015
  • 2015-02-09 IN IN1044/DELNP/2015A patent/IN2015DN01044A/en unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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