US3031043A - Building construction - Google Patents

Description

April 24, 1962 J. R. DRESSER ET AL 3,031,043

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26, 19s? 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 J E %JVENTOR5 @77265 v r6556? fiober J Ewen/72625,

April 24, 1962 J. R. DRESSER ETAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 11 Sheets$heet 2 Filed July 26, 1957 April 24, 1962 J. R. DRESSER ET AL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 26, 1957 INVENTORQ" Jami. Brewer,

April 1962 J. R. DRESSER ETAL 3,031,043

. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 24, 1962 J. R. DRESSER ET AL 3,031,043

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Jarrzee B. Z7re65er, JZOb/Z QEOSBIZ/ZQ/ZI April 1962 J. R. DRESSER ET AL 3,031,043

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet s g2 7 /IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 4 W V v v INVENTOkfi. James Framer, BYfioberi J Werzzka April 24, 1962 Filed July 26, 1957 J. R. DRESSER ET AL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION III/I ll Sheets-Sheet 8 p 24,, 1962 J. R. DRESSER ETAL 3,031,043

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR5. Jamaal? Z7/e55er,

BYfiab arid/2056225204 J. R. DRESSER ET AL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION April 24, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed July 26, 1957 p 1962 J. R. DRESSER ET AL 3,031,043

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR5 Janzeaii. mea er;

United States Patent 3,031,04 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION James R. Dresser and Robert A. Rosenthal, bothof Rte. 3,

Spring Green, Wis.; said Dresser assignor of thirtyseven and one-half percent to R. N. Howton, Williams,

Ariz.

Filed July 26, 1957, Ser. No. 674,339 8 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates, generally, to building construction and it has particular relation to prefabricated building construction.

A prefabricated building, such as a dwelling house, garage, school, factory, etc., as presently understood is one which either is constructed at a factory and shipped as a unit to the site or the wall, partitions (roof, etc., are fabricated at the factory, either partially or entirely, and then assembled at the side. In either case a conventional building of the custom built type is the result. While some economies can be effected over the strictly custom built type of building, the so-called prefabricated building still is essentially a custom built house. In order to reduce further the cost of such constructions, identical or only slightly varying types are often employed. Usually they are unattractive and generally they lead to a condition where values tend to diminish faster than they otherwise would if the houses were dissimilar and more attractively constructed.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ off the site manufactured structural units which can be assembled at the site to form the building walls. However, they have been expensive to construct and difficult to assemble. Generally they are limited to use for the walls and partitions. They have not been readily adapted for floor and roof construction.

Accordingly, among the objects of this invention are: To provide a single universal panel construction that can be assembled at the site to form part or all of the floors, walls, partitions, and roof of a building; to construct the panel of light weight, weather proof material in such manner that the cost is a minimum; to arranged the panel in such manner that it can be assembled with other like panels by unskilled laborers; to provide the panel construction so that it can be disassembled from other panels without damage; to provide dilferent interior and exterior finishes on the panels; to construct each panel of spaced apart relatively thin metallic or plastic skins and to electrically and heat insulate the skins on the opposite sides of the panel from each other; to interconnect the outer metallic skins and the inner metallic skins of adjacent panels and to energize them electrically to the end that they may serve to distribute electrical energy throughout the building; to interconnect adjacent panels by detachable links; to hold each link in place by a cooperating lock; to construct the lock of conducting material and arrange for it to electrically interconnect the metallic skins of adjacent panels; to fill the space between the skins with light weight, heat insulating material; and to provide for the construction of a large number of buildings of different design, appearance and size using a single panel design, or a combination of panels.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the. embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention reference can behadto thefollowing detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view ofa typical dwelling house which can be constructed employing the panels of the present invention;

FIGURE'Z is a typical floor plan for the dwelling house construction as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 to 7 illustrate five common cross sections of building constructions that can be made employing the present invention, it being understood that they are merely typical of cross sections that can be made and that many other combinations can be employed;

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 illustrate typical foundations which can be employed in conjunction with the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a plan or elevation view of one side of a typical panel constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 12 is a plan or elevation view of the opposite side of the panel shown in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 1 313 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14 is a plan or elevation view showing how five of the panels illustrated in FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 can be assembled in a unitary'construction;

FIGURE 15 is a vertical sectional view, at an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 1515 of FIGURE 14 and showing one form of joint construction for fastening adjacent panels together, it being understood that the section is typical of any of the joints between adjacent panels;

FIGURE 16 is a plan or elevation view of another form ofpanel construction;

FIGURE 17 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 17-17 of FIGURE 16 and illustrating how the adjacent panels are detachably interconnected;

FIGURE 18 is a plan or elevation view, at an enlarged scale, of that portion of the panels shown in FIGURE 16 adjacent the common meeting corners of four panels;

FIGURE 18a is a sectional view, at an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 18a--18a of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view at an enlarged scale, showing the means whereby the panels illustrated in FIG- URE 16 can be detachably interconnected and assembled;

FIGURE 20 isan end view of the link portion of the connecting means shown in FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 21 is an end view of the lock forming a part of the connecting means shown in FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 22 is a sectional view showing how a partition can be joined to the side wall of a building construction employing the panels of the present invention;

FIGURE 23 shows the panels can be joined so that they are acute. angularly related;

FIGURES 24 to 28 are sectional views illustrating how diiferent coverings can be. applied to the panels of the present invention;

FIGURE 29 is a vertical elevational view showing one form ofpanel arrangement containing a fixed sub-panel of glass and a pair of movable sub-panels which provide vents;

FIGURE 30 is. a vertical sectional view, at an enlarged scale, taken. generally along the line 30-30 of FIGURE 29 and showing certain details of construction;

FIGURE 31 is a view, similar'to FIGURE 29, showing a panel arrangement employing a door and a fixed window;

FIGURE 32 is a view, similar to FIGURES: 29 and 31, and shows a panel arranged to receive three doors;

FIGURE 33 shows a floor plan of the typeillustrat'ed in FIGURE 2 with provisionmade for one form of heat distribution;

FIGURE 34 is a top plan view illustrating how the 26, 27, 28 and 29, as shown.

heating ducts are located in a corner floor or roof panel;

FIGURE 35 is a view, similar to FIGURE 34, showing how the heating duct is located in an intermediate 1 floor or roof panel;

FIGURE 36 is a view showing overhung and wall panels together with roof and floor panels in which heating ducts are provided;

FIGURE 40 is a sectional view showing another panel locking arrangement;

FIGURE 41 is a vertical sectional view, taken generally along the line 41-41 of FIGURE 42, showing details of construction of an interior partition; and

FIGURE 42 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 42-42 of FIGURE 41.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character designates, generally, a one story house which can be constructed in accordance with this invention. It i will be understood that the house as illustrated at 10 is merely typical of a wide variety of constructions that can be made employing this invention. The house 10 can be provided with a car port, shown generally at 11, and it can be extended by a fence as indicated at 12 to com- .plete the construction and provide a balanced arrangement. Along the front of the house 10 is an exterior terrace 13. Centrally located on the house 10 is a chimney 14.

As shown by the floor plan in FIGURE 2 the house 10 has a front wall 15 and a rear wall 16 interconnected by side walls 17 and 18. A roof 19, FIGURE 1, overlies these Walls and the entire combination is positioned on a floor 20 which, except for a slab containing the utilities, can be of a construction similar to that employed for the walls and roof.

Included in the floor plan shown in FIGURE 2 are bedrooms 24 and 25 which are formed by interior walls A combination kitchen and breakfast room is indicated at while a family work room is indicated at 31, the two being joined in a generally L-shape. A utility entrance is provided at 32.

The layout and design of the house 10 are such that all of the utilities are located on a central slab which preferably is a concrete slab that is cast about the various utili- -ty lines after they have been installed. The utility center is indicated, generally, at and it will be understood that the Water, gas and sewer pipes are laid prior to the casting of the concrete slab on which the utility center 35 1 is positioned and that, if the electric circuit is run under- Included in the utility center 35 is 4 wall 17 and extensions of the roof 19 and floor 20 all of which are constructed of panels, as indicated at 43, and which will be described in detail hereinafter. By making various arrangements of these panels 43 and applying various coverings to opposite sides, an infinite variety of arrangements can be provided.

When the side wall 17 is positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 2, additional living space is provided. For example there is a living room 44 and a master bedroom 45. The extension also permits the provision of a powder room 46 which is located adjacent the utility center 35 where the necessary plumbing connections can be made. If desired, a fire place 47 can be constructed in the living room 44 and connected suitably to the chimney 14. The

main entrance would then be provided as indicated at 48 and an exterior storage room 49 could be provided as illustrated. Overlooking the exterior terrace 13 are panrangements shown in FIGURES 3-7 of the drawings.

is located. The utility center also includes a complete.

bathroom 37. Since the incoming electric circuit prefjerably is located in the utility center 35 a kitchen range 38 is located conveniently thereto are a refrigerator 39,

aiwasher 40 and a dryer 41. When it is desired .to construct only a two bedroom house with essential living quarters, the side wall 17 can be located along the broken line.42. Such a construction would provide modest living quarters for a small family with the construction being such that they could .be expanded, in accordancewith this invention, merely by adding additional panels for the extensions :of the'front and rear walls '15. and Y16, theconstructionlofa' new side In FIGURE 3 a rectangular cross section is shown that has the roof, floor and side walls formed of the panels 43. The fioor formed by the panels 43 is positioned on a gravel bed 52 which may be of concrete. The dimensions of the panels 43 are such that the height between the floor and roof is spanned by a single panel, a number being used to provide the wall.

Another arrangement that can be employed is shown in FIGURE 4 where the roof, formed of the panels 43, invertedfrom the arrangement shown in FIGURE 3, is

' spaced by transparent or translucent glass panels 55 from overhanging panels that are carried by the side walls.

A semi-circular cross section is shown in FIGURE 5. Here a concrete slab 54 can be employed in lieu of floor panels.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show different arrangements of gabl roof construction. FIGURE 6 shows one with a slight pitch while FIGURE 7 shows a roof construction with a greater pitch.

All of the constructions shown in FIGURES 3-7 are formed principally by the prefabricated panels 43 which can be constructed on a mass production basis in a factory and then transported to the building site where they can be assembled, as described hereinafter, by unskilled labor to provide the particular configuration desired. Because of the substantially limitless combinations which can be made from the panels 43, in a single building development, it is possible to have a correspondingly large number of different appearing dwellings. It is then possible to avoid conventional row house constructions with the result the property values tend to either remain constant or improve over the years.

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a few of the many different foundation arrangements that may be employed with the present invention. Because of the relatively light weight of the panels 43 and the resulting light weight of the building construction, provision should be made for securely anchoring the final construction to the ground.

FIGURE 8 shows a portion of the floor and one side wall constructed of identical panels 43. a The completed building is located on a gravel bed 56 and an earth anchor 57 is employed for holding the building in place on the ground. It will be understood that a number of anchors 57 are employed, the number of course depending upon the size of the building, the type of ground in which they are positioned, etc.

, FIGURE 9 shows the gravel bed overlaid with a layer of polystyrene insulation 58. Then overlying the layer gal 1.5 58 is a concrete slab 59. In this case the floor is formed by the concrete slab 9 and a closure plate 60 is cast in the concrete slab 59 for receiving the panel 43 providing the side of the house. Fingers 60 formed integrally with the closure plate 60 and depending therefrom serve to further anchor the closure plate 60in the concrete slab 59.

FIGURE illustrates how the building construction of the present invention can be located on a site which has sloping ground 61 without requiring that it be excavated to provide a generally horizontal building surface. As here shown a foundation button 62 is positioned just below the ground level, the number depending upon the size and shape of the ultimate building. The foundation button 62, in each case, is secured in position by the anchors '57, previously described. Mounted on each foundation button 62 is a support strut 63 which is adjustable, as desired, for carrying the floor that is made up of panels 43. As before, the side wall is made up also of panels 43. A closure plate 64 extends over the joint between the panels 43 making up the wall and floor to seal the same against the weather.

It will be apparent that the panels 43, and similar panels described hereinafter, can be combined with conventional wall constructions of wood and masonry where desired.

Referring now to FIGURES lll5 of the drawings, it will be observed that one form o-f'construction of the panel is there illustrated together with one arrangement for interconnecting adjacent panels. Each panel 43 can be made up of four triangular panels shown generally at 65 in FIGURES l1 and 12. The face of the panel 65 as shown in FIGURE 11 is formed by three triangular skins 66, 67 and 68 which are sheets of relatively thin metallic material such as sheet aluminum. The skins 66, 67 and 68 and like skins disclosed herein can be formed of thermoplastic sheet material and also of a glass product sold under the trade name Pyroceram. They are arranged in concave configuration to take advantage of the stressed skin construction. The opposite face or side of the triangular panel 65, shown in FIGURE 12 is merely a triangular skin '69 which overlies the three triangular skins 66, 67 and 68 of the other side. It will be observed that edge 70 of the skin 66 and edge 71 of the skin 69 are co planar. Similarly, edges 7Z73 and 74-75 are coplanar, thereby making it possible to receive a closure plate 76 of uniform width. The adjacent panel is provided with a corresponding closure plate 77 and they have nesting intermediate portions 78 and 79.

The skins 66, 67 and 68 can be spaced fromthe skin 69 by struts 80 and 81, as shown in FIGURE 13. Alternatively, or in addition, the space between the skins on the opposite sides of the panel 65 can be filled with a suitable insulation such as a rigid porous sponge like insulation. Also the space between the skins can be evacuated to provide insulation therebetween. Such a construction is facilitated when the skins are formed of plastic material, such as thermoplastic sheet material.

In order to join the triangular panels 65 together strips 82ers secured along the juxtaposed edges and they are provided with shoulders 83 for slidably receiving thereon the link 84. A dovetail connection is provided so that when the links 84 are slid over the juxtaposed shoulders 83 of'the strips 82, the adjacent panels 65 will be secured firmly together and yet they can be disassembled merely by removing the links 84.

In FIGURE 14 it will be observed that four of the triangular panels 65 are employed to make up a single rectangmlarpanel. It is this general type of construction that is illustrated in FIGURE 1 for the. building construction and it is. illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURES 37. By placing the concave portions of the panels 43 on one side or the other, different appearances can be provided as will be obvious.

Another panel construction is illustrated at 43 in FIG- URE 16v of the drawings. Here the opposite sides of each panel 43' are formed by flat rectangular skins 87 and 88 and they are joined together by closure plates 89 along the four sides. It will be understood that the edges of the skins 87 and 88 are positioned in coplanar relation so that closure plates 89 of uniform width can be employed for interconnecting them and also for joining them to adjacent similar panels. The space between the skins 87 and 88, as shown in FIGURE 17, can be filled with a rigid porous sponge like insulation 90* such as foamed phenolic or polystyrene plastic. Such a material, while light in weight, has excellent insulating properties.

In FIGURE 19 is shown the manner in which the closure plates 89 are secured to the respective skins 87 and 88. It will be observed that each closure plate 89 has a central portion 91 and that these portions are juxtaposed when the panels are positioned in operative relation to form a roof, wall or floor. At each end of each flat central portion 91 is an offset arcu-ate end portion 92 which is provided with a slot 93 for receiving an inturned edge 94 of the adjacent skin 87 or 88 as the case may be. Since it is desirable to electrically insulate the skins 87 and 88 from each other, each slot 93 is provided with a layer 95 of insulation.

With a view to mechanically interconnecting the oifset arcuate end portions 92 of the closure plates 89 they are provided with locking shoulders 96 and 97, the former projecting outwardly and the latter projecting inwardly. These shoulders are provided with ridges 98 and 99 for interfitting with grooves 100 in locking shoulders 101 which project radially and laterally from a central tubular section 102 of a link that is indicated, generally, at 103 in FIGURE 20- of the drawings.

It will be understood that the closure plates 89 and links 103 can be formed of metallic extrusions, such as extrusions formed of aluminum. The link 103 can be provided with radial openings 104 for receiving a removable tool, shown by broken lines at 105, which facilitates the rotating of the link 103 to position the ridges 98 and 99 in locking engagement with the grooves 100. Also, the tool 105 can be inserted in one or the other of the radial openings 104 to remove the link 103 from the connecting position shown in FIGURE 19 to permit disassembly of the adjacent panels.

In order to lock the link 103 in the retaining position shown in FIGURE 19 and to provide a weatherproof enclosure therefor a semi-circular lock 106 can be employed. Preferably it is formed of a metallic extrusion, such as aluminum, and it has shouldered ends 107 which inteifit, as shown in FIGURE 19, with the inturned edges 94 of the skins 87 and are thereby held in position. Projecting radially inwardly from the lock 106 is a detent 108 that is arranged to interfit behind one of the locking shoulders 101, as shown. It is desirable to insulate the lock 106 from the link 103 andfor this purpose a layer 109 of insulation can be used by providing the same in overlying relation along the detent 108. Since the shouldered ends 107 of the lock 106 are in mechanical and electrical engagement with the adjacent portions of the metallic skins 87, each lock 106 constitutes an electrical connection between the adjacent skin and thus continuity for one side of an electric circuit is provided. Since the skins 87 and 88 are electrically insulated from each other, they can be employed as conductors and can be energized for the purpose of distributing electricity throughout the building construction.

When four of the panels 43' are arranged as illustrated in FIGURE 16, the meeting portions of the semi-circular locks 106 can be provided with angular end portions 110. The edges of these end portions 110 are spaced slightly from each other and a gasket 111 having an H- shaped cross section, shown in FIGURE 18a can be employed to provide a weatherproof construction.

FIGURE 22 shows how a partition or roof and overhang panels can be joined to the panels making up an exterior Wall. Here panels 43' are positioned in alignment and in spaced relation for receiving the panel 43 at right angles thereto. At the inner juxtaposed edges the panels are joined in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 19, except that the adjacent Skins are located at 90 to each other. This is permitted by the appropriate positioning of the locking shoulders 101 on the links 103. Then the space opposite the panel 43 which extends at right angles to the other two panels can be closed 011 by a closure plate 89 which is unattached to any panel or skin.

FIGURE 23 shows the panels 43 in obtuse angular relationship. Here a closure plate 112 is employed and it is provided with arcuate end portions 113 which carry locking shoulders 114 and 115 to interfit with the respective links 103 therealong. Where an arch or dome construction is desired and a lesser degree of angular change between panels is required than that shown in FIGURE 23, a link 103 can be used at the outer side having a slightly larger diameter than that used at the inner side. This creates a slight calculated angle between the adjacent closure plates 89.

FIGURES 24-28 illustrate a few of the many possibilities for applying various surface coatings to the panels 43. Here only one of the skins 87 and a portion of the insulation 90 of each of the panels 43' is illustrated. The combination link-lock is illustrated diagrammatically at 116, it being understood that in detail it is as shown in FIGURE 19.

In FIGURE 24 it will be seen that a plastic laminate or Wall paper 117 can be applied to the surface of the skin 87. When such an arrangement is used for a wall or ceiling, the plastic laminate or wall paper provides an appropriate decoration.

FIGURE 25 shows how the panels can be employed for a floor construction with a layer 118 of padding over the skins 8'7 and underlying carpet square 119. The padding 118 and carpet square 119 can be applied in the factory so that, when the panels are assembled on the site the carpeted floor is provided immediately upon assembly. It will be noted here that a small portion of the link-lock 116 is exposed for ornamental purposes.

FIGURE 26 shows a filler 12 of foamed plastic with the carpet 119 overlying the same when continuous carpeting is used.

In FIGURE 27 a layer 1'21 of foamed plastic is employed and over it is a layer of wood 122 or artificial board all of which can be preassembled in the factory.

If desired, as shown in FIGURE 28, a layer 123 of concrete or terrazo can be poured on the skin 87 with a screed 124 being carried by the link-lock 116.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 29 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 125 designates a panel which can be employed in a building construction made up of panels 43 or 43' and can be interchangeably used therewith where it is desired to provide windows, doors, ventilators, etc. The panel 125 includes a sub-panel 126 of glass which may be fixed in position and two sub-panels 127 of glass which may be movably mounted to provide vents. The sub-panels 126 and 127 are separated by a transverse member or transom 128 while the sub-panels 127 are separated vertically by a mullion 129. The panel 125 includes a four-sided frame, indicated generally at 130, the details of construction of which are shown more clearly in FIGURE 30.

As there shown the frame 130 comprises four closure members, indicated generally at 131, and formed preferably of extruded aluminum. Along the opposite edges of the closure members 131 offset arcuate end portions 133 and 134 are formed which are provided, respectively, with an inwardly projecting locking shoulder 135 and an outwardly projecting locking shoulder 136. These locking shoulders on the arcuate end portions 133 and 134 are arranged, as illustrated at the lower portion of FIGURE 30, to cooperate with locking shoulders 137 on links 138. It will be observed that the locking shoulders 137 on the links 138 are arranged to cooperate with shoulders 139 and 141) on a closure member or plate, that is indicated, generally, at 141 and corresponds to the closure plate 60, previously described, which, as shown in FIGURE 9, can be cast in a concrete slab, if desired. Semi-circular locks 142 similar to the lock 106 are employed in overlying relation to the link 133. Each lock 142 carries an inwardly extending detent 143 which fits behind one of the locking shoulders 137 and prevents rotation of the respective link 138 in the unlocking direction.

The inner faces of the closure members 131 along their edges are provided with spaced recesses 146 into which the ends of the transverse member or transom 128 can be snapped. It will be understood that a similar arrangement is provided for receiving the mullion 129.

It will be understood that the glass sub-panel 126 can be provided by a single fixed pane or by double panes as may be desired for heat insulation purposes.

Suitable provision is made for movably mounting the sub-panels 127 of glass which serve as vents. A conventional operating mechanism, indicated generally at 147, can be employed for opening and closing the sub-panels 127. In FIGURE 31 another panel arrangement is illustrated at 14 8. The frame details of construction are similar to those illustrated in FIGURE 30 in conjunction with FIGURE 29. However, in FIGURE 31 a door 149 is suitably swingably mounted while a Window 150 is fixedly mounted. They are separated by a vertically extending mullion 151.

FIGURE 32 shows another of the many combinations of panel construction that can be employed using the present invention. Here three doors 153 are mounted within a panel 152 and they are separated by mullions 154.

It will be understood that the closure members 131 can be assembled into the frame 130 either in a factory or on the site as may be desired. Standard lengths of transoms and mullions can be provided to form any desired subpanel arrangement.

One manner in which the heating or cooling of the building construction embodying this invention can be accomplished is illustrated in FIGURES 33-36. Referring particularly to FIGURE 36, it will be observed that a portion of a building construction is illustrated, generally, at 156. It is made up of an end wall panel 157, a side wall panel 158, a floor panel 159 and a roof panel 160. It will be understood that these panels are constructed as described hereinbefore and illustrated at 43 or 43. In the space between the opposite skins of the floor panel 159 a duct 161 is positioned while another duct 162 is positioned between the skins of the roof panel 160. If air is employed for heating or cooling, it flows from the duct 161 through a vent 163 in the inner skin of the floor panel 159 to the room space. A similar vent 164 is provided for exhausting the air from the room space into the duct 162. The flow of air for heating purposes is indicated by the arrows 165 and 166. Any suitable arrangement can be provided for eifecting the circulation of air through the ducts 161 and 162. Where cooling air is circulated through the ducts 161 and 162 it may be desirable to provide for it to flow from each duct into the room space or for the cooling air to flow only through one or the other of the ducts 161 or 162.

FIGURE 33 shows a typical arrangement for the ducts in the floor or roof construction that is indicated, generally, at 167. The heating equipment is located centrally as indicated at 168 and may be of any suitable type as will be understood. Assuming that a hot air heating system is employed, then a transverse return duct 169 can be provided for interconnecting side ducts 171 andv 172. They are interconnected by end ducts 173 and 174 that, in turn, are connected intermediate their ends by a longitudinal conduit 175 to the heating plant.

A typical corner floor or roof panel is indicated at 176 in FIGURE 34. Here a portion of a side duct 171 and a portion of an end duct 172 are shown. 1

In FIGURE 35 are intermediate floor or roof panel 177 is illustrated along one side of which there is a portion of the side duct 171.

FIGURE 37 shows one manner in which electrical connections can be made to the skins 87 and 88 of the panel 43. It will be recalled that provision is made for energizing the skins 87 and 88 and for insulating them from each other so that electrical energy can be distributed throughout the building construction. Because of the relatively large cross section of conductors thus provided and because it is desirable touse a low voltage for safety reasons, provision is made for energizing the skins 87 and 88 at a relatively low voltage. For example, a voltage of the order of from six to twenty volts alternating or direct current is preferred. Any su-tiable means such as a step down transformer energized from a C0111 ventional power distribution source can be employed for energizing the skins 87 and 88 in the manner described. If the direct current is used and it is desired to provide alternating current for operating certain devices, as described hereinafter, a suitable converter can be used, such as a vibrating type converter. It can be combined with the transformer assembly referred to hereinafter to energize the same.

In considering the illustration shown in FIGURE 37 it will be assumed that the skins 87 and 88 are energized at a difference of potential of the order from six to twenty volts alternating current. In order to make connection to the skins 87 and 88 an electrical conductor assembly, indicated generally at 180, can be employed. It includes an insulating tube 181 which can be inserted through a suitable opening 182 in the inner skin 88. At the adjacent end of the insulating tube 181 a fitting 183 is provided having bendable connecting flanges 184. Preferably the fitting 183 is threaded, as indicated at 185, into the tube 181 so that after the tube 181 is inserted through the opening 182, the fitting 183 can be unscrewed from the tube .181 to cause the connecting flanges 184 to engage and make good contact with the inner surface of the inner skin '88. Extending through and insulated from the fitting 183' is a connector pin 186. At the remote end a contact brush 187 is provided which has contact engagement with the inner surface of the outer skin 87. When the fitting 183 is unscrewed from the insulating tube 181, the contact brush 187 is urged in good contact engagement with the inner surface of the outer skin 87. Just outside the opening 182 is a connector block 188 which forms a part of the fitting 183 and to which a terminal 189 can be connected that, in turn, can be connected to a conductor 190. Likewise a terminal 191 is connected to the inner end of the connector pin 186 for connection to a conductor 192. It will be understood that the conductors 190 and 192 can be connected to any suitable load device that may be desired.

A typical application of the connector assembly 180 for use in conjunction with a load device is illustrated at the left hand end of FIGURE 37. Here it will be observed that an outlet box 195 is employed and is arranged to be secured suitably to the inner surface of the inner skin 88 centrally of the connector assembly 180. Also a lamp control assembly is shown, generally, at 196. It includes a suitable socket 197 for receiving a low voltage bulb 198. Energization of the bulb 198 is effected through a relay 199 which is controlled by a radio receiver 200. When the radio receiver 200 receives the proper signal, the relay 199 is energized, it contacts are closed and a circuit is completed for energizing the low voltage bulb 198.

The control of the radio receiver 200 can be effected from a push button control station that is indicated, generally, at 201 in FIGURES 38 and 39 of the drawings. The push button station 201 can be located at any convenient position in the house or it can be carried from room to room as desired. It is provided with a number of push buttons, for example four as indicated at 202, 203, 204 and 205, each of which is arranged to selectively control an oscillator 206 which may be poweredby a battery 207. Each of the push buttons 202-205. is arranged to cause the oscillator 206 to transmit at a different frequency. Thus one or more-of the radio receivers 200 can be arranged to receive and be operated by certain he quencies so that when the push button 202, for example, is depressed, the oscillator 206 operates to effect the transmission of the corresponding signal to operate the relay 199. Assuming that a number of lamp control assemblies 196 are tuned to operatev on the same frequency, it will then be understood. that all of such assemblies will be operated under the control of the push button 202. Other load devices can be controlled by means of the push button control station 201 or combinations thereof as may be desired.

It is often the case that the load devices are available only for operation on a relatively high voltage such as volts. For such application the arrangement shown at the right hand end of FIGURE 37 can be employed. An electrical connector assembly is applied and, assembled in operative relation thereto, is a transformer assembly indicated, generally, at 210. It includes a transformer 211 the low voltage primary winding of which is arranged to be connected for energization by the connector assembly 180 across the energized skins 87 and 88. The high voltage winding of the transformer 211 is connected to energize an outlet socket 212 that is arranged to receive a plug 213 which may be connected on one end of a two conductor cord 214 which, in turn, is connected to the device to be operated at the conventional voltage.

FIGURE 40 shows another arrangement for interconnecting juxtaposed panels which may be employed where unusually great stresses are involved. It will be observed that the skins 87 and 88 extend from arcuate fittings 215 and 216 that many be formed of extruded aluminum. Slots 217 and 218 are provided in the fittings 215 and 216 for receiving the inturned ends of the skins 87 and 88 as shown. Locking shoulders 219 and 220 are formed integrally with the fittings 215 and 216 for receiving shoulders 221 and 222 of a link 223 only one of which is shown at the bottom of this figure. Each link 223 is held in place by a lock 224 the ends of which are snapped into notches 224 in the fittings 215 and 216. An inclined shoulder 244", formed integrally with the inner surface of the lock 224, bears against the link 223 to hold it securely in position.

Instead of providing an integral plate connection between the arcuate fittings 215 and 216, other means are provided for interconnecting them which reduces the expense of manufacture and provides insulation therebetween. It will be noted that slots 225 and 226 are provided in the fittings 215 and 216 respectively. Secured by cement or otherwise in these slots 225 and 226 are hardboard connectors 227.

The details of interior partitions that may be used in practicing this invention are illustrated in FIGURES 41 and 42 of the drawings. In FIGURE 41 the ceiling line is indicated at 228 and the floor line is indicated at 229. Between them a partition, shown generally at 230, is adjustably positioned. The partition 230 may comprise wood veneer skins 231 which are cemented in a suitable manner to a foamed plastic core 232. The assembly is adjustable between the ceiling and floor lines 228 and 229 through the agency of a base extrusion 233 which rests on a soft rubber gasket 234 that is adhesive coated and lies on the floor. The base extrusion 233, which is for-med preferably of aluminum, is provided with upstanding flanges 235 having a slot 236 therebetween for receiving 21 depending tongue 237 of a bottom member 238 which underlies the wood veneer skins 231. A sinuous spring member is provided in the slot 236 for adjustably positioning the tongue 237 with respect to the base extrusion 233.

Along the upper edges of the wood veneer skins 231 is an extruded cap 240 which is overlaid by a soft rubber 1 l gasket 241 that is adhesive coated to secure it to the ceiling and to the upper surface of the cap 240.

As shown in FIGURE 42 the sides of the wood veneer skins 231 can terminate a door jam 242 that may be formed of extruded aluminum. In order to secure adjacent sections of the partition 230 together alignment splines 243 can be used. One of these is shown in FIG- URE 42. The splines 243 can be formed either of metal, wood or hardboard as may be desired.

While various details of construction have been described with considerable particularity herein, it will be understood that a wide variety of combinations can be made employing the principles of this invention. Accordingly, since many combinations and modifications of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matters shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. i

What is claimed as new is:

1. A building panel comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced relatively thin metallic skins having matching coplanar edges, and a closure plate of uniform width along each pair of skin edges having offset longitudinal concave edge portions secured to the respective skin edges and a locking shoulder projecting from each edge portion and juxtaposed to the respective skin edge, the locking shoulder along one edge of said closure plate projecting outwardly and the locking shoulder along the other edge of said closure plate projecting inwardly.

2. A building Wall comprising, in combination; a plurality of juxtaposed panels each including a pair of spaced relatively thin metallic skins having matching coplanar edges, and a closure plate of uniform width along each pair of skin edges having offset longitudinal concave edge portions secured to the respective skin edges and a locking shoulder projecting from each edge portion adjacent the respective skin edge, one locking shoulder projecting outwardly and the other projecting inwardly; and links extending along the juxtaposed edges of said panels having shoulders interfitting with adjacent pairs of locking shoulders therealong for holding said panels in a unitary assembly.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein looking means interfit with each link to hold the same in locked position.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein the skin edges are insulated from the respective closure plates, and each locking means is a conductor and electrically interconnects the adjacent skins on the same side of the Wall.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein each link has a central tubular portion with the shoulders thereon projecting radially therefrom.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein the central tubular portion is arranged to receive a removable tool for assembling or disassembling the link in the wall.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein the central tubular portion has a radially outwardly extending locking shoulder between the other shoulders; and the locking means is semi-circular, has a radially inwardly projecting detent engaging said locking shoulder, and the longitudinal edges are detachably secured to the juxtaposed edges of the assembled panels.

8. A building and wall comprising, in combination, a plurality of juxtaposed panels each including a pair of spaced relatively thin metallic skins having matching coplanar edges, a metallic closure member of uniform Width along each pair of edges interconnecting the same, insulating means between each closure means and said skins whereby the skins are insulated from each other, means interconnecting the adjacent closure members to hold the panels in position in the wall, means interconnecting the skins on opposite sides of the Wall whereby they can be electrically energized, and connecting means extending through one skin for connection thereto and to the opposite skin to energize a load device connected thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,124 Brandt June 27, 1922 1,478,979 Stoehrer Dec. 25, 1923 1,895,667 Junkers Jan. 31, 1933 2,103,407 Dean Dec. 28, 1937 2,193,550 Coe Mar. 12, 1940 2,268,636 Becker Jan. 6, 1942 2,349,358 McLaughlin May 23, 1944 2,394,443 Guignon Feb. 5, 1946 2,628,078 Krauss Feb. 10, 1953 2,808,624 Sullivan Oct. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 796,356 France Jan. 22, 1936

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