GB2281085A

GB2281085A - Structure for use in building modules

Info

Publication number: GB2281085A
Application number: GB9415491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Mueller
Original assignee: Alusuisse Lonza Services Ltd
Current assignee: 3A Composites International AG
Priority date: 1993-08-19
Filing date: 1994-08-01
Publication date: 1995-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2014-08-01
Also published as: GB9415491D0; NO943023L; GB2281085B; NL9401348A; NO943023D0

Abstract

Buildings particularly above-ground buildings on artificial islands, are formed from modules which contain main beams 1, cross beams 2 and covering elements 3 on or between main beams and cross beams. Mechanically releasable means (8, 10 and 18, 19 respectively) are used to join (a) covering elements to beams and (b) covering elements to other covering elements. <IMAGE>

Description

ABOVE-GROUND BUILDING NODULES The present invention concerns modules for the erection of above-ground buildings for residential, work and storage purposes and the use thereof.

It is known that above-ground buildings can be erected from individual modules which if occasion arises are placed one on top of the other. Such individual modules may constitute so-called containers. Fitted with doors and windows, from case to case residential or work units are produced. These simple solutions can however be used only to a very limited extent.

For example, on drilling platforms in the so-called offshore region, i.e. on the open sea, by the coast, such solutions would be unsuitable. Therefore on these drilling platforms single-storey and multi-storey building modules are erected from welded steel or aluminium materials.

For reasons of weight, price and corrosion, such building modules are being increasingly erected from aluminium materials. In this case, in order to achieve the desired strength, the modules are manufactured in a welded construction, i.e. the bottom, side and top portions are made from beams, profiles and metal sheets by mutual welding, and assembled into the corresponding module by welding too.

As is known, aluminium materials can be welded only with considerable technical expenditure, namely in an inert gas. In erecting welded constructions from aluminium materials, therefore, there must be suitably equipped work places. It is e.g. precisely on open sites that this is difficult, and the quality of welding work may be impaired by the extreme external climatic conditions. Also the expenditure of time on such constructions by the preliminary treatment, the welding process itself, as well as subsequent alignment, is extremely time-consuming.

These disadvantages are to be avoided.

It is the object of the present invention to provide modules for the erection of buildings above ground, for residential, work or storage purposes, for example on artificial islands in the nearer or further coastal region (offshore), in high mountain ranges, and buildings which are in extreme regions with respect to climate, which can be erected in an easy manner and with simple means.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the fact that the modules contain main beams and covering elements on or between the beams, and the main beams and the covering elements and the covering elements with each other are joined together by mechanically releasable means.

Preferred according to the present invention are modules which contain main beams and the main beams are joined together by cross beams and the covering elements with the main beams and/or the cross beams, as well as the covering elements with each other, are joined together by releasable means.

The connections between main beams, cross beams and covering elements may be joined together with releasable form-locking and force-locking means in such a way that they can assume load-bearing functions within the overall structure.

The main beams and cross beams may have different cross-sectional shapes, such as for example T-beams, double T-beams, single-chamber or multi-chamber hollow profiles and tubes or shaped tubes.

The main beams and cross beams may, for mutual fixing and for fixing cross beams to main beams and for fixing covering elements, comprise means such as for example integrally formed lugs, integrally formed lugs with thicker edges, grooves, undercut grooves or integrally formed Cprofiles.

The main beams with each other, the main and cross beams or the cross beams with each other may also be at least partially joined together by welding.

The covering elements may comprise for example metal sheets and preferably profiles. The profiles may be plateshaped or panel-shaped, wherein ribs, for example longitudinally extending ribs, are formed integrally on one side. The ribs can for their part have a T-shaped crosssection. The profiles may also constitute single-chamber or multi-chamber hollow profiles. On the longitudinal and transverse sides may be mounted means such as integrally formed lugs, integrally formed lugs with edge connections, grooves, undercut grooves or integrally formed C-profiles.

The covering elements may form ceilings, walls, floors, floors for walking on, etc. The covering elements may assume load-bearing, self-supporting or jointly supporting functions.

In particular for mutual joining of covering elements to each other, the covering elements may contain at the edges e.g. mortise and tenon, i.e. the covering elements may contain provisions for easy joining together in the correct position and an added structure of side, bottom or top surfaces which can be fixed at least in one direction.

The main beams and/or cross beams may likewise contain these provisions such as e.g. mortise or tenon, and the covering elements can easily be joined e.g. to main beams and cross beams. The mortise and tenon elements may also form a clamping joint.

Preferably the main beams, the cross beams and/or the covering elements are made of metal and in particular of aluminium or aluminium alloys.

For instance the main beams and if occasion arises the cross beams too can be made of metals such as e.g. steel.

Due to the screwed joints according to the invention, no problems arise from such pairing of materials in joining the parts to each other.

If the parts such as the main beams, the cross beams and the covering elements are made of aluminium or aluminium alloys, then preferably extruded profiles can be used. If occasion arises, rolled metal sheets can also be used as the covering elements.

The releasable mechanical means for joining main bean, cross beam and covering elements may be screwed, grooved or clamping joints.

Screwed and riveted joints can be constructed by the formation of recesses and mutual joining by means of screws or bolts and nuts or by riveting, shear tension riveting etc.

Clamping joints can be constructed by a pair of clamping plates, wherein a first clamping plate is arranged in an undercut groove of a first component, and a counterplate. Through the first clamping plate and the counterplate passes e.g. a bolt. By tightening e.g. a nut on the bolt, the clamping plate is pressed against the undercut portions of the groove, and the counterplate presses, e.g. by a lug or rib formed integrally on a second component, the two components towards each other.

For example, two components can also be joined by two clamping plates through which a screw joint passes and which comprise e.g. channels or grooves opposite. In particular if the components comprise beads at the edges, e.g. on integrally formed portions, the beads can engage in the channels or grooves of the clamping plates, and with tightening of the screw joints between the clamping plates a non-slip fixing is obtained.

Instead of clamping plates, clamping strips with one or more screw joints can be used. Combinations of releasable fixing means are possible too.

The main beams may constitute e.g. the floor beams, columns or ceiling beams of a module. The cross beams may be arranged as floor beams, columns or ceiling beams parallel, transversely or if occasion arises obliquely to the main beams. The covering elements can be arranged between the main and/or cross beams or on the main and/or cross beams. The covering elements form for example the floor surface which can be walked on or covered, the side walls and the ceiling. On the main beams, the cross beams and/or the covering elements, at least in the region of the mutual seams, joints and/or contact faces, fire-resistant, fire-retardant and/or heat-expandable non-combustible coverings may be provided.

Such coverings may cover the whole main beams, cross beams and covering elements or are appropriately arranged at least at the contact faces of the main and cross beams with the covering elements and on the surfaces of use between the covering elements. In case of heat, these coverings expand and fill out the gaps and cracks and prevent the passage of smoke, gases and fire. The surfaces of the main and cross beams and of the covering elements may also comprise treated surfaces such as lacquered, anodised, galvanised, thermally sprayed or vapour deposition coated, enamelled or dispersion-coated surfaces.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate the present invention by way of example in more detail.

Figure 1 shows a detail of a module from the front, Fig. 2 shows the same detail from obliquely above. Figures 3 and 4 show details from Figures 1 and 2.

A main beam 1, here of two-part construction, with for example a T-beam made of steel or aluminium and a multichamber profile 17 placed on top, for example an extruded aluminium profile, is joined to a cross beam 2, here essentially a double T-beam constructed as an extruded aluminium profile. Over the cross beam 2 are arranged the covering elements 3.

With modules according to the present invention, one or in particular more main beams may be provided, between which one or preferably more cross beams are arranged.

With one or appropriately more covering elements, e.g.

closed bottom, side or top surfaces are produced. The upper top surface 14 of the multi-chamber hollow profile 17 extends beyond the chambers and ends with an integrally formed portion which forms a groove 4 and a channel 13.

In the region of the bottom 16 of the chambers of the multi-chamber hollow profile 17 is arranged an integrally formed portion 15 with an edge bead 5. Thus the top surface 14 or the channel 13 and the integrally formed portion 15 form a groove in which the cross beams 2 can be inserted. The cross beams 2 can then be fixed e.g. with pairs of clamping plates 6 to the multi-chamber hollow profile 17. One clamping plate of the pair of clamping plates 6 is inserted in the undercut groove 7 of the cross beam, while the clamping plate on the outside abuts against the groove 7 externally. The clamping plate on the outside of the pair of clamping plates 6 comprises a groove or channel which engages in the edge bead 5 of the integrally formed portion 15. By tightening the screw between the pair of clamping plates 6, the cross beam 2 is joined to the main beam 1.

With a further pair of clamping plates 8, 10, the main beam 1 and the cross beam 2 as well as a covering element 3 are joined, wherein an upper clamping plate 10 engages in the channel 13 and behind the last of the ribs 9 on covering element 3, and the lower clamping plate 8 of the pair of clamping plates 8, 10 engages under the top surface of the upper T-portion of the cross beam 2. The top surface may also comprise an edge bead which for its part engages correspondingly in a channel or groove of the lower clamping plate 8.

Over the length of the cross beams 2 can be arranged e.g. several covering elements 3, 3'. The covering elements are constructed by way of example as extruded profiles from a top surface and integrally formed ribs 9.

Parallel on one side edge and parallel to the ribs 9 runs a groove 12 along the covering element 3, 3' and on the opposite side edge of a covering element 3, 3' an integrally formed portion or bead 11. The bead 11 of the first element 3 engages in the groove 4 of the multichamber hollow profile 17. The bead 11 of the second covering element 3 engages in the groove 12 of the first covering element 3'. Further covering elements 3 can be arranged correspondingly.

By a pair of clamping plates 18, 19, the covering elements 3 and 3' are fixed relative to each other and to the cross beam 2. The upper clamping plate 19 of the pair of clamping plates 18, 19 can fix the two covering elements 3 and 3' just by the pressing force, or the clamping plate 19 may comprise two grooves or channels which engage in edge beads at the outer edges of the T-surface of the first or last rib. The clamping plate 18 of the pair of clamping plates 18, 19 can engage behind a bead or channel of the cross beam 2, and the pair of clamping plates 18, 19 can be fixed by a screw joint.

As an example, the joint can also be made by means of angle pieces between main beams, cross beams, and main and cross beams. In this case one arm of an angle piece can be screwed e.g. to the main beam and the other arm screwed e.g. to the cross beam. The screw joints can be made for example by means of clamping plates which are arranged in an undercut groove of the main or cross beam.

The clamping plates can be locked in the groove in all the above cases by twisting or tilting. The clamping plates may in each case constitute the nut piece for the bolt.

The main beams, the cross beams, and the main and cross beams may also be joined by means of intermediate and corner joint pieces which for example engage in formlocking relationship in corresponding dovetail guides of the main or cross beams and are mutually screwed.

Figure 3 shows an example of joining two covering elements 3, 3' mutually and to the cross beam 18 in a section parallel to the end faces of the covering elements 3, 3'. The clamping plate 18 engages in one channel of the upper T-shaped profile portion of the cross beam 2 and abuts against the surfaces of the T-shaped ribs 9. The clamping plate 19 engages behind the T-shaped portions of the ribs 9, which are provided with edge beads. A bead 11 of the covering element 3' engages in the groove 12 of the covering element 3.

Figure 4 shows a section through the top view of the detail of Figure 4. In the present case the clamping piece 19 is however a different shape than in Figure 3. The clamping piece 19 has the form of a parallelogram. The clamping piece can be introduced longitudinally into a groove, and on tightening, the clamping piece 19 twists and wedges after a rotational movement in the direction of screwing.

The sequence of main beam 1 and cross beam 2 and of covering elements 3 can be repeated as desired according to the structural design. From the sequence of main beams and cross beams and of covering elements, modules can be designed and built in almost any extent in length, width and height, which can be used as single-storey or multistorey residential, work and storage rooms.

The present invention also concerns the use of the modules according to the present invention for above-ground buildings for residential, work and storage purposes on artificial islands in the nearer or further coastal region.

Other possible applications for the modules are buildings for residential, work and storage purposes in high mountain ranges and in locations of extreme climatic stress.

Claims

1. Modules for the erection of above-ground buildings for residential, work and storage purposes, characterised in that the modules contain main beams and covering elements on or between the main beams, and the main beams and the covering elements and the covering elements with each other are joined together by mechanically releasable means.

2. Modules according to claim 1, characterised in that the modules contain main beams and the main beams are joined together by cross beams, and the covering elements with the main beams and/or the cross beams, as well as the covering elements with each other, are joined together by releasable means.

3. Modules according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the main beams, cross beams and covering elements are joined together with releasable form-locking and forcelocking means.

4. Modules according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the main beams, the cross beams and/or the covering elements are made of aluminium or aluminium alloys.

5. Modules according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the main beams, the cross beams and/or the covering elements are extruded profiles.

6. Modules according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the main beams, the cross beams and/or the covering elements are joined together by screwed, riveted or clamping joints, as releasable mechanical means.

7. Modules according to claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the main beams, the cross beams and/or the covering elements, at least in the region of the mutual seams, joints and/or contact faces, are provided with fireresistant, fire-retardant and/or heat-expandable noncombustible coverings.

8. Use of the modules according to claim 1 for above-ground buildings for residential, work and storage purposes on artificial islands in the nearer or further coastal region (offshore).

9. A building module, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.