GB2118592A - Modular structure for the construction of buildings - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular building structure comprises upright columns B which are L-shaped in cross section and support a floor/ceiling structure comprising a number of three-dimensional trusses C and a number of planar trusses D, the floor/ceiling structure having its corners accommodated in the angles of the L- shapes. The structure may include further quadrilateral frames (K Fig. 6) which during containerised transportation of the elements of the structure constitute a head frame for the container load. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Modular structure for the construction of buildings This invention relates to a modular structure for buildings, in particular industrial buildings, hospitals, laboratories and the like, formed by modular elements which can be assembled together to facilitate transport either as single parts or as groups rationally bound with complementary and/or integral parts of the buildings such as for example, machinery, plant equipment and components and other services of the building itself.

Modular, usually, metal, structures for buildings in general, including, in addition to conventional structural elements (such as foundation plates, columns, main beams, etc) a plurality of structural modular elements, apt to form the floors and roofing of the building, have been known for a long time.

According to the present invention there is provided a structure for building single- or multi-story buidling structures consisting at least in part of modular elements and comprising: a plurality of modular parallel epipedonal trusses which may be joined to each other and the ends of at least one of said trusses may be movably securable for transport with quadrilateral frames; a further plurality of planar modular trusses which may be joined to each other and with the former and which may be placed adjacent to each other to form a single assembly, the ends of which are at least in part securable movably for transport with quadrilateral frames; a plurality of "L" shaped trusses which may be overlapped and, if necessary, installed side by side, the ends of terns of longitudinal elements of at least one of said elements being movably securable for transport to quadrilateral frames by means of complementary bars which connect the free vertexes of said quadrilateral frames to each other, in a manner such that the jointing and/or overlapping of said "L" shaped elements may form the supporting columns for the floor of the structure consisting of said parallelepipedonal trusses and of said flat trusses to form at least two overlying rooms or quarters, one of which is delimited by the interspace in said parallelepipedonal trusses and the other is delimited between said floor and the floor adjacent to it.

As will become apparent from the following description, the illustrated embodiment provides a metal structure for buildings in general, in particular buildings for industrial use with one or more floors (in the broader sense especially as to end use also for heavy industry), for hospitals, clinics, meetings, show rooms and so on. These structures may be resistant to seismic phenomena and be of considerable extension, i.e. without internal columns or supports, to meet the specific requirements of some final uses which call for ease of access and movement.

The structures can provide the buildings for different locations, regardless of ambient conditions and practically without need for specialized labour and with limited, uncomplicated low cost yard facilities which permit the employment of unskilled personnel. They may make possible the production of elements or metal assemblies in rationally and satisfactorily equipped workshops, so that in addition to being technically and statically sound the elements may also be competitive on the market and, most important, recoverable and re-utilizable.A further advantage (subordinate to the realization of the elements or metal assemblies in rationally equipped shops), is the possibility afforded to assemble these together for transport in a simple, practical and economic manner regardless of the transport means adopted, whether on land, and/or sea and/or air: this in order to permit the use of transport structures and packings apt to limit encumbrance to the very least and which may be utilized, with economic advantage, also in the building structure itself.

A further subordinate advantage of the illustrated embodiment is that it affords the possibility to make use of the teachings and regulations in effect for the transport by standard type containment bodies commonly known as "containers", so that these may be easily assembled and loaded on any type of transport conveyance, utilizing lifting and handling facilities which are normally available at any site.

Finally the embodiment provides packing and the like for transport of the elements or metal assemblies almost totally consisting of the metal elements themselves, to avoid the return of same to the place of origin or re-use.

The invention also provides a method of building comprising assembling a building from the modular elements of a structure according to the invention.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example with specific reference to the annexed drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates the structure of a single story building constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2, analogous to Fig. 1, shows part of the structure of a multi-story building according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a partial front view of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, the cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a front elevational detail of one of the columns of the metal structure, formed by two angular or L-shaped truss elements set side by side.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the L element utilizable as column and also suitable *f transport.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a threedimensional modular truss element, utilizable for the structures of Figs. 1 and 2 and suitable for transport as a normal containment befidy or container.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a plurality of trusses assembled together and ready for transport.

Figure 9, analogous to Fig. 8, shows a group of flat trusses of different length, ready for Shipment and the encumbrance of which is aNays equal to that of a standard modular type container.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the foundation plinths before pouring the basic cast.

Figure ii is the perspective view of a corridor connecting two adjacent buildings to each other such as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Considering the structures shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the different parts of said structures are identified with the same reference symbols, such as the metal modular elements illustrated in the further figures of the drawings.

Specifically, the structures according to the invention are provided with foundation plinths A for columns B, consisting of a plurality of metal angle- or L-shaped lattice elements, which are overlapped depending on the height required.

Columns B support, as will now be described, the floors of the structure formed by two types of metal trusses C and D, having modubr characteristics. Specifically, the first, C, are three-dimensional trusses of parallelepipedonal shape, and the second, D, are flat trusses, said truss elements C and D are joined together, head to head, by known connecting means such as bolts, rivets or even by welding, to obtain beams true and proper, of the desired longitudinal and transversal characteristics to form the floors of the metal structure. Each floor of the structures shown forms two overlaying rooms or chambers H1 and H2 of different height.The first of these is that of greater height constituting the lounge or living quarter proper, whilst the room of smaller height H2 essentially delimited by three-dimensional trusses C, is used for the auxiliary services and other uses to be described hereinafter.

Again with reference to the figures already mentioned, the intermediate chamber or quarter H2 of each three-dimensional truss C may be used to house services, equipment, machinery and complete plants pertaining to the operation of the building considered. For example, the possibility is afforded to install steam generating equipment, air conditioning system, compressed air systems filters and cleaners for liquid or gases and so on, as well as electrical equipment such as transformers, telephone networks, bathrooms, files, dressing rooms, etc.

Obviously and advantageously the equipment under consideration is installed in the intermediate quarters H2 of the three dimensional trusses C so as to form with these latter a single unit which may be easily transported and installed in the building complex, said equipment being connected with the other three dimensional trusses of the structure, by means of suitable joints and fittings at the ends of said three-dimensional trusses after installation of the latter in the structure in question.

Again in the relation to the characteristics of the metal structure to be formed, one or more complementary three-dimensional trusses C, forming the floor may be coupled with one or more complementary trusses C,. placed above and/or below the truss in question. This variant can be advantageously applied especially in the case of single story buildings, in which the use of complementary equipment is most frequently required without encumbering and limiting the area covered of the main space H2 If the complementary trusses C, are placed below one or more three dimensional trusses C1, they will form inside chamber H, an observation and handling post or pulpit which may be used to supervise the operating cycles and other similar activities taking place in the main chamber H,.

The modules of the structure shown in Figs.

1 and 2 of the drawings can be completed if required, before their installation, with cover elements F of known type, for example metal or synthetic material plates, as walls, internal partitions and so forth.

The floors which delimit two superimposed areas H2 and which are formed predominantly by the three dimensional trusses C, are realised on the ground, i.e. on the ground delimited by the bars 1 6 (Fig. 1), as will be described hereinafter.

Each floor constituted by three dimensional trusses C and by flat trusses D is assembled joining together trusses C and D in such a manner that the vertical corners of this floor are placed in the acute angles defined by the L shaped elements of columns B (see for example the columns B to the top left of Fig.

1).

When the assembly of the floor is finished, the floor is slid along the columns B and lifted and then secured to them in the appropriate position.

In the case of multifloor buildings, when the first floor is lifted and anchored also the second floor will be assembled on the ground delimited by the bars 1 6 and when this operation is completed the floor is lifted and anchored to the column B under the first floor.

Referring to Fig. 10, the individual foundation plinths consist of a concrete block A of adequate dimensions in which is embedded a metal armature.

In the case illustrated, the armature consists of a box shaped body 10, divided into a number of parts to permit easy transportation of the same and formed by trellises to the lateral walls of said body. Top wall 1 2 retains, at one of its corners, a shaped plate 14 forming the base for column B and which terminates at one of its ends with perforated lugs, to secure the end of the latter by means of bolts. A part of the walls of box 10 of plinth A retains one end of bars 1 6 extending along the entire base perimeter of the building; these perimetral bars are suitably anchored to the ground and levelled to retain, if required, by the structure, column B, (Figs. 1 and 3). The bars 1 6 retain also various materials such as sand or other that constitute the floor or foundation for the room H2.

Advantageously, perimetral bars 1 6 and part of the longitudinal bars pertaining to trusses C and D, which will be described below, have a grooved profile to retain the edges of panels C (Fig. 4) constituting the walls of the building considered.

The structures of the elements relating to columns B and the floors will now be described.

Each one of the elements of columns B consists of a set of 3 longitudinal bars (20) (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7) connected to each other by cross bars (22) and diagonal elements to form a truss structure. The ends of bars 20 are provided with connecting means to join to each other two or more elements B and to anchor the terminal element to the base plate 14 of plinth A.

The top ends of bars 20 are connected to three dimensional trusses C and with flat trusses D forming the floor; specifically, the corners of the floor fit in the longitudinal vane formed by the tern of bars 20; said corners can be engaged with and anchored to cross bars 22 of column B, directly (Fig. 3) or by a counter cross bar or diagonal 24 (Figs. 1 and 5).

If a column B is to have a parallelepipedonal form, namely to consist of two L shaped truss elements, in which the outer bars 20 of the tern are in common, in such a case retention of the floor can be effected by connecting the ends of three-dimensional trusses C with the cross bars 22 with the aid of supports.

A further possibility for constructing the columns B of the structure is illustrated in Fig.

5; in this case, two of the L shaped truss elements are coupled along two of the outer bars 20 of tern 20 to form a large open vane into which fit the end of one of the threedimensional trusses C of the floor.

The L shaped modular elements may be produced in well equipped workshops and transported to site with the usual conveyances and anchored to the chassis or frame of the latter so that the loading and unloading operations may be performed rapidly, utilizing for the purpose the teachings in regard to transport by containment bodies or "containers." For this purpose two quadrilateral frames K are anchored to each L shaped modular element (Fig. 6), said frames consisting advantageously of the head frames used in containers and which are provided, at their corners, with anchoring devices K, which can be utilized for both lifting and anchoring of the container to the chassis or floor of the vehicle.A parallelepipedonal body (Fig. 6) is thus obtained the longitudinal corners of which consist of the tern of bars 20 which are secured, with their perforated ends by means of bolts and the like, to bars K2 of frames K.

If required, and for reasons of stability, the parallelepipedonal body of Fig. 6 may be stiffened by one or more bars 26 which, besides completing the parallelepiped may be advantageously utilized in the metal structure, for example, to provide columns B,.

Obviously, and for a rational utilization of the space available in the containment body or "container", head frames K may be secured to one or more of the modular L shaped truss elements which form columns B, by coupling or joining such elements to each other, to provide a parallelepipedonal body of the desired dimensional characteristics.

Further to what is stated above in regard to the L-shaped modular truss elements forming columns B of the structure, the same concepts also apply generally to all the other modular elements of said structure, in particular, modular truss elements C and flat trusses D, illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9.

Fig. 7 of the drawings illustrates a parallelepipedonal truss element C consisting of bars 30 connected to each other by cross bars 32 and diagonals 34 that form the three-dimensional structure. The ends of bars 30 are apt to retain jointing devices to secure threedimensional truss C or other parts of the metal structure, to columns B in particular.

To transport the trusses C, the drilled ends of bars 30 are removably secured to said truss end frames K, already considered for the L elements of Fig. 6, to provide thereby a parallelepipedonal body equal or modular with the body of Fig. 6 and which, in like manner, may also be easily handled and transported to the site of installation.

Three-dimensional trusses C, after their production, may be completed with the introduction of electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic plants and so on, depending on the final end use of the building built with the metal structure.

Such plants may be installed within the truss structures C even after fitting end frames K, mainly in suitable work-shops, for ease of transport of the modular body obtained.

From Figs. 8 and 9, it will be evident that what has been stated for three-dimensional trusses C also applies to flat trusses D. The latter consists of elements 40 connected by cross bars 42 and diagonal bars 44; the bars may be provided in different modular lengths, for particular use requirements and to provide end frames K to form a parallelepipedonal body equal or modular with the previous ones considered.

The transport of the modular flat trusses may proceed in the manner as already stated.

More precisely a plurality of the trusses D may be placed side by side or one upon the other, as shown in Fig. 8, and the ends of their bars 40 engage with two of the opposite rods K2 of the end frames K so as to thus form a parallelepipedonal body which is equal to or modular with respect to the ones previously considered.

The procedure is similar in the case of flat trusses D of different lengths, by arranging said trusses side by side or on top of each other as shown by way of example in Fig. 9.

The ends of bars 40 of the long trusses are movably secured to the pair of opposite bars K2 of head frames K, while bars 40 of the short trusses are secured to the pair of bars K2 of only one of head frames K.

The other ends of bars 40 of short trusses D are retained to each other by at least one cross bar 46 movably secured to the free parts of bars 40 of the long trusses and which cooperates with the other head frame K by means of tie rods 48. In this case also a parallelepipedonal body is obtained, of volume equal or modular to that of the standard (usual) types of containers and which may be shifted and transported like the containers, making use of the normal lugs in corner elements K, in said head frames K.

Fig. 11 shows a covered alleyway or corridor connecting two adjacent buildings and which is obtained by utilizing one or more of said head frames K which may be recovered from said parallelepipedonal bodies just considered (Figs. 6 and 9). In the case illustrated the corridor consists of two head frames K connected to each other by two or more flat trusses D, provided with cover plates F.

Thus the illustrated embodiment of the invention can provide metal structure buildings in any location utilizing structural elements which may be assembled together for transport in the form of parallelepipedonal modular bodies having at their ends quadrilateral frames such as those normally used in containers. Usually said frames are defined in the regulations as 20', 30' and 40' containers, apt to be loaded on normal vehicles and anchored to these with simple usual means.

Although some preferred forms of embodiment relating to frames and metal structures assemblable into parallelepipedonal modular bodies have been described, the composition or formation of said bodies with the frames and other components for the metal structure may vary in relation to practical transport and space requirements. However, it is obvious that these and other variations may be introduced, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended

Claims (12)

claims. CLAIMS

1. A structure for building single- or multistory building structures consisting at least in part of modular elements and comprising: a plurality of modular parallelepipedonal trusses which may be joined to each other and the ends of at least one of said trusses may be movably securable for transport with quadrilateral frames; a further plurality of planar modular trusses which may be joined to each other and with the former and which may be placed adjacent to each other to form a single assembly, the ends of which are at least in part securable movably for transport with quadrilateral frames; a plurality of "L" shaped trusses which may be overlapped and, if necessary, installed side by side, the ends of terns of longitudinal elements of at least one of said elements being movably securable for transport to quadrilateral frames by means of complementary bars which connect the free vertexes of said quadrilateral frames to each other, in a manner such that the jointing and/or overlapping of said "L" shaped elements may form the supporting columns for the floor of the structure consisting of said parallelepipedonal trusses and of said flat trusses to form at least two overlying rooms or quarters, one of which is delimited by the interspace in said parallelepipedonal trusses and the other is delimited between said floor and the floor adjacent to it.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the parallelepipedonal trusses have at least one of their faces provided with plates or similar elements, to form a covering roof and/or covering and/or partition walls of the structure; said plates being secured, at least in part, to said parallelepiped truss structure in the erection phase.

3. A structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a part of a parallelepipedonal truss structure is provided with jointing and connecting means to retain and house electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal equipment, machinery and so on, as may be required by the end use of said metal structure, and which equipment may be at least in part secured to the parallelepipedonal truss structure in the phase of erection of the structural elements of said truss structure.

4. A structure according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein at least parts of the longitudinal truss members of the parallelepipedonal trusses and/or of the planar trusses are formed by grooved section elements adapted to house, in their grooves, the edges of lining panels and/or of frames which delimit the access apertures for windows, doors, and the like, contemplated in said metal structure.

5. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the "L" shaped elements comprise a tern of longitudinal bars to which are secured the ends of pairs of suitably spaced cross truss members to retain, at the desired height, possibly with the aid of diagonal bars, a part of the corners of the floor formed by the parallelepipedonal trusses and by the flat trusses and the ends of which diagonal bars engage movably with the outer elements of said tern of longitudinal bars.

6. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head bars of the tern of bars of the " L" shaped trusses may be joined with those pertaining to "L" shaped adjacent trusses to form the parallelepipedonal columns to support the floor formed by the parallelepipedonal and flat trusses.

7. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims, which, in combination with the columns formed by "L" shaped trusses is provided with "break" columns consisting of bars at least part of which connect the free vertexes of the quadrilateral frames secured to the ends of the "L" shaped elements to complete the transport structure for the latter.

8. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the "L" shaped elements comprise terns of bars, the ends of which may be movably joined with foundation plinths provided with a metal structure consisting of a frame formed by modular elements which may be combined with each other and/or with at least a part of said "L" shaped elements, to form a single assembly the ends of which may be secured movably, for transport, with quadrilateral frames.

9. A structure according to claim 8, and including base bars, at least in part grooved and secured to the structure by foundation plinths to delimit the perimeter of said structure, the grooved bars, together with the other bars of the structure, retaining lining elements or panels or frames, the apertures of which delimit the doors and windows of the structure; the bars comprising modular elements the length of which corresponds to the length of the parallelepipedonal trusses and/or planar trusses and/or "L" elements, to be joined and assembled to form a single unit the ends of which may be removably secured for transport, with quadrilateral frames.

1 0. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising said quadrilateral frames, the quadrilateral frames constituting the head frames of containers used to transport the structure to the site of use.

11. A structure for a single or multistory building, formed by at least two adjacent bodies constructed of structures according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said bodies communicate with each other by means of at least one corridor or gallery formed by quadrilateral frames, joined and placed side by side with each other to form the corridor which, once disassembled may also be overlapped to form, with covering elements for said corridor, a substantially parallelepipedonal assembly which may be easily transported and the heads of which are formed by two of said frames.

12. A method of making a structure according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising delimiting an area of the ground by perimetral bars anchored to foundation plinths, securing to said plinths the columns comprising L shaped elements so that the vertical corners thereof are opposite to each other and their edges aligned, placing inside the perimeter, delimited by said vertical corners of the L shaped elements, a plurality of parallelepipedonal trusses and planar trusses, joining and clamping to each other said trusses to form a floor, lifting and guiding along the L shaped elements of the columns B the so formed floor, anchoring the corners of said floor to the pairs of transversal bars of said L shaped elements and completing the structure.

1 3. A structure constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.