Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
115Z2~
This invention relates to a pre-fabricated
house construction and more particularly a
modular-skeleton structure building construction that
can be quickly assembled from a relatively small number
of pre-fabricated components with a minimum input of
unskilled labour.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a strong need in the building
construction industry, and particularly the private home
construction industry, for a simple, high quality,
rigid, stable, storm and earthquake-proof building
construction system that utilizes relatively few long
lasting components and permits rapid building erection
time involving basically unskilled labour. Existing
building construction systems in the industrialized
world are expensive, compllcated, labour intensive and
time consuming to erect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The applicant's modular-skeleton structure
building construction system comprises a skelet~n
construction combined with grid elements. Th0 materials
of construction are mainly long lasting and sturdy non-
corrodable metals, plastics and naturally occuring and
synthetic materials. The system is versatile in that
the modular-type components permit a wide range of
individual custom designs to be constructed. The
materials used to construct the building are relatively
few in number and type (compared to conventional houses)
and enable simple and rapid construction because the
components are standardized and pre-fabricated.
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~15Z280
The applicant's construction system is
particularly suitable for private homes (residential
blocks, bungalows and detached houses~ and for
industrial sheds and camps.
The system is believed to be superior to known
construction systems because of the short construction
time involved and the quality of building that is
erected. The system is designed for easy self-assembly
by basically unskilled labour, including the owner,
since all easy-to-follow assembly plans and drawings are
supplied. The system permits flexible designs and
individual housing developments to be custom built to
suit terrain and individual tastes of consumers.
The structures erected are basically
earthquake-proof, since the components are somewhat
elastic in nature and neither wood nor stone is used for
load-carrying elements. The sy~tem uses a grid design
comprising a skeleton-type structure constructed of
pre-fabricated elements which can be assembled basically
by hand. The grid element construction system does not
require the use of heavy lift equipment or a crane at
the site.
The grid-type construction system can be
disassembled in whole or in part thereby permitting
extensions or modifications of the building to be made
easily.
The system includes a basement made of
aluminum elements constructed according to the same
system as the super structure which means that all
components required to construct and complete building
l~SZ~
including the basement, can be supplied by one firm. No
separate basement contractor is required. The basement
elements, by utilizing the same basic materials, permit
short construction time and dry construction
conditions. The basement includes pre-fabricated
windows and window-wells.
The basement construction is of elastic design
and as with other components of the building is
earthquake-proof. Both basement and living level,
including the roof, can be erected cost-effectively and
without mortar by labour that is basically unskilled.
All aluminum posts and all basement wall elements are of
very sturdy design and feature anticapillary
connections. All windows and doors of the system have
triple glazing thereby ensuring favourable K-values with
minimum thermal conductivity. Windows, doors and
shutters for the main floor are pre-fabricated.
The construction 9ystem is fully suitable for
complete erection by the buyer. The complete home,
including basement, living level and roof structure, can
be assembled in only a ew days by baslcally unskilled
labour following the assembly plans, drawings and simple
construction order.
The system is light-weight, very stable and of
dry and hygienic design. Excellent properties are
offered for countries where earthquakes are a risk. The
skeleton-type structure makes substantial use of
aluminum panels in a grid-type structure, and is
resistant to termites, timber worms and decay.
The system can be supplied with different
llSZ280
facade options, for example:
(a) Plastic cement plaster finish,
(b) Building panels in different colours and
shapes,
(c) Conventional timber panels in different
forms,
(d) Aluminum panels forming a vapour
barrier,
(e) Ready-mixed external plaster with glass
fibre reinforcement in all colours; and
(f) Tile panelling to form a curtain wall for
decoration. This latter option is not
earthquake-proof.
The grid-type construction system is
particularly well suited for the installation or
assembly of standard grid measure doors and windows,
including shutters, which do not require modifications.
The construction system includes a
stainless-steel hot-air heating system which can be
fired with wood. This heating system is suitable for
tiled stove and fireplace heating, under~loor and
radiator heating. The sy~tem can inc~ude a
reflector-based solar-collector heating svstem.
The construction system permits every type of
home form and layout. All types of roof covers can be
used. The type to be used is generally dependent on the
built-up environment. Roof coverings consisting of clay
tiles, Plas,tic tiles or concrete tiles can be used. A
corrugated-aluminum roof can be supplied for
earthquake-prone regions. The house system can be
llSZ280
supplied with different roof options, e.g. flat roof,
flat-saddle roof, saddle roof, sundeck roof, hipped
roof, hipped saddle roof.
The elements for the system can be supplied on
a turnkey basis, including sanitary fittings and
equipment, lavatory and bathrooms, completely equipped
kitchens, wall papers, timber ceilings, floor carpets,
optional ceramic-tile or wood parquetry floors, and
including the complete heating system.
The house components are easily transported
from one location to another because parts of the
construction elements can be used to crate and
containerize other elements of the construction. This
significantly reduces packaging costs, which can be a
major expense item in conventional systems.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
The house construction of the invention
employs a skeleton-type structure which consists of
vertical metal profile posts which extend from the
foundation of the house to horizontal roof girders in a
single unit of uniforrn cross-section. The roof girders
are attached to the vertical metal profile posts by
means of slotted tension bolts. The one-piece vertical
profile posts have a cross-section which is essentially
the combination of a T-section and a U-section. In the
lower part of the building, basement wall elemen-ts
extend into the vertical profile posts with angled legs
on the inside of the building. In this position, they
are secured by a bracing tube.
House construction using a skeleton-type
1:~522~30
structure with posts and horizontal girders,
characterised in that the posts are made of metal and
are single-unit vertical profile posts, supported on a
foundation whose uniform cross-section extends from the
foundation to the horizontal roof girders, the vertical
profiled posts and the horizontal roof girders being
interconnected by tension bolts.
A house construction as described wherein each
tension bolt penetrates the respective horizontal roof
girder and engages in a central section of the vertical
profile post with its lower end which is split and the
nut of the bolt engages in an opening in the central
section.
A house construction as described wherein
heat-insulating and stabilizing timber cores are
inserted in the upper part of the vertical profile posts
on the inner side of the posts.
A house construction as described wherein
disassembleable vertically arranged basement wall
elements having approximately a U-shape horizontal
cross-section, with two legs extending from the base
engaging in a recess in the vertical proile post.
A house construction as described wherein the
ends of the legs of the basement wall elements have a
U-shape bend which opens to the outside, with the legs
of the neighbouring basement wall elements forming a
wedge-shape recess opening to the inside and the leg
ends engaging in vertical grooves of the vertical
profile posts, being secured in that position by a catch
inserted in the recess of the vertical profile post.
llS~28o
A house construction as described wherein the
basement wall element accomodates a plate-type
protective element between its legs.
A house construction as described wherein a
plurality of vertical profile posts are penetrated at
least at their upper ends by horizontal steel cables
that brace each of the posts.
A house construction as described wherein the
horizontal floor girders rest on the upper sides of
basement wall elements and are connected with the
vertical profile posts by tension elements.
A house construction as described wherein the
vertical profile posts support a wall combination
consisting of one or more wall elements, comprisiny a
facade element separating wall and an interior wall
element.
A building structure of the skeleton structure
type with vertical profile posts resting on a
foundation, characterised in that the central webs of
the vertical profile posts are pierced in the vicinity
of the base by at least one wire cable which extends
parallel to the external walls of the building and which
is passed through lower~lying holding devices, the
holding devices being ixed in said foundation, and
tensioning devices are provided by means of which the
wire cable can be tensioned in a downwardly-directed
manner whereby pressure downwardly on the foundation is
exerted on the vertical profile posts.
A building structure of the skeleton structure
type with vertical profile posts spacially oriented
llSZZ~
around the walls, including the corners, characterised
in that at least the corner vertical profile posts rest
on and are guyed onto a horizontal girder, in the
vicinity of the base of the posts by a longitudinally
slit tensioning bolt which holds the web of the
vertical profile post.
A building structure as described wherein the
vertical profile posts are constructed with an I-shaped
girder cross-section with bent out flanges by which two
of said vertical profile posts are engagable with each
other when juxtapositioned with one another in a corner
location.
A building structure as described wherein the
vertical profile posts have therein substantially
H-shaped holes spaced at intervals over more than half
the length of their web.
A building structure as described wherein the
length of the web is at least one and one third times
the width of the parallel legs.
A building structure as described wherein on
both sides of the space in which the wire cable i9
located, wall elements made of thermally insulating
material are placed, the outer wall element being
additionally covered by a facade element.
A building structure, characterised in that
basement wall elements with an approximately U-shaped
horizontal cross-section are provided when wall elements
are juxtapositioned to one another, the bent-out legs on
the adjacent basement wall elements defining a V-shaped
space, the legs each containing a bowed-out section for
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a tensioning bolt to pass therethrough, and the basement
wall elements each having a hole therein for
accomodating a nut or a bolt-head connected to the
tensioning bolt.
A building structure as described wherein
resting on the end face of two adjacent basement wall
elements there is a horizontal floor girder through
which a tensioning bolt passes, the bolt having therein
a longitudinal slit at the top in which the central web
of a vertical profile post engages.
A building structure with a roof ridge,
characterised in that part of the building is
constructed as a transportation container for the
remaining parts of the building structure, the
transportation container being smaller compared to the
finished building structure with regard to its extent in
the longitudinal direction of the roof ridge.
A building structure as described wherein the
basement wall elements rest at the base on the
foundations, the V-shaped spaces in the elements are
open towards the outside of the building, and the
basement wall elements are anchored by means oE oblique
guying elements.
A building structure as described wherein a
transverse bolt passes through the bent-out legs of
adjacent basement wall elements and the guying element
is a wire cable which projects into the V-shaped space
and is connected to the transverse bolt.
A building structure as described wherein the
V-shaped space which is open towards ~he outside of the
~15Z2~
building by the bent-out legs of the basement wall
elements is covered and maintained by a vertical rail.
DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 represents a perspective view of part
of the skeleton structure of the building;
FIGURE 2 represents a vertical section through
one execution variant with interior elements;
FIGURE 3 represents a horizontal section
through a vertical profile post with basement wall
elements attached to it;
FIGURE 4 represents a horizontal section
through one floor girder, mounted to one vertical
profile post;
FIGURE 5 represents a horizontal section taken
along the line V-V in FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 6 represents a side elevation view of a
joint variation used to attach a floor beam to a
vertical profile post;
FIGURE 7 represents a plan elevation view of a
variant of a basement floor beam attached to a vertical
profile post, as illustrated in FIGURE 6;
FIGURE 8 represents a detail of the
tension-bolt connection;
FIGURE 9 represents a cross-section side
elevation view of a house construction;
FIGURE 10 represents a detai.led vertical
cross-section view of a basement ceiling construction;
FIGURE 11 represents a detailed vertical
cross-section view of an upper level beam support;
FIGURE 12 represents a detailed vertical
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1~5228~1
cross-section view of a variation of upper level beam
support;
FIGURE 13 represents a detailed vertical
cross-section view of an upper level beam support with a
wall attachment;
FIGURE 14 represents a horizontal
cross-section view of an exterior wall construction
including a corner;
FIGURE 15 represents a detailed horizontal
cross-section view of an exterior wall construction,
with insulation in the wall cavity;
FIGURE 16 represents a detailed horizontal
cross-section view of an exterior wall construction;
FIGURE 17 represents a perspective view of a
skeleton structure with vertical profile posts which are
guyed down to the foundations by means of a wire cable;
FIGURE 18 represents a perspective
illustration of an embodiment in which the vertical
profile posts are guyed onto a frame consisting of
profile rails;
FIGURE 19 represents a vertical section
through a base section ~ith a floor girder screwed to a
vertical profile post;
FIGURE 20 represents a horizontal section
through a double-walled embodiment;
FIGURE 21 represents a perspective
illustration of the bold connection of a basement wall
part to ceiling beams and vertical profile posts;
FIGURE 22 represents a perspective
illustration in which a basement wall element rests at
1152~80
the base of a concrete formulation;
FIGURE 23 represents a schematic perspective
illustration of a building structure where a
transportation container is being used to accomodate the
remainder of the house.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS _F THE INVENTION
The house construction using the skeleton-type
design according to the invention, as may be seen in
FIGUR~ l, includes a plurality of vertical profile
posts 2 arranged in parallel grid form. These extend
respectively from a foundation 3, which is preferably
constructed of masonry work, to corresponding horizontal
roof girders 4. The vertical profile posts 2 have a
uniform cross-section throughout, and are constructed of
a single piece of metal, preferably aluminum.
The cross-section construction of vertical
profile post 2 is shown in detail in FIGURE 3. It
consists of an outer transverse web 5, a centre web 7,
an inner transverse web 6 and parallel legs 8 extending
from the latter. Legs 8 have one U-shape transverse
web 10 each at their free ends forming one vertical,
longitudinal groove 15 each. The two parallel legs 8
limit a recess 9 which opens to the inside of the
house.
The connection of each horizontal roof
girder 4 with a related vertical profile post 2, as can
be seen in FIGURE 2, is made by means of a tension
bolt 14, which penetrates the horizontal roof girder 4
in one bore. In the centre web 7 of each vertical
profile post 2, close to its upper end, there is
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~15Z2~0
positioned one opening 16 to take up the nut 11. The
lower end of the shank of tension bolt 14 has a
longitudinal groove which engages in the centre web 7 of
the vertical profile post 2. The nut 11 is placed on
the grooved end of tension bolt 14, engaging in
opening 16. By clamping it, a force is exerted which
contracts the two elements, as shown in detail in
FIGURE 6.
Rafters 18, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, are
placed on the upper side of the horizontal roof
girders 4. In addition, there are steel cables 20 which
horizontally penetrate the top of the centre webs 7 of
the vertical profile posts 2 and are braced on the
outside in order to prov.ide a support for the vertical
profile posts 2. Other steel cables 20 are also located
in the horizontal roof girders 4. The vertical profile
posts 2 are spaced and braced from each other preferably
by horizontal tension bolts.
In the basement, as shown generally in
FIGURE 1 and in detail in FIGURE 3, there are vertically
placed basement wall elements 24 along the inside of the
house. These consist preferably of a].uminum or other
suitable materials and include a flat plate section 26
and two legs 28 slopiny downward at the ends and forming
an essentially U-shape cross-section (when seen in a
horizontal plane as in FIGURE 3). The two legs 28 are
tapered toward each other so that a wedge-shape
opening 31 forms between two neighbouring basement wall
elements 24 (see FIGURE 3). The individual basement
wall elements 24 rest against each other and their width
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~52;280
is sized such that any two such basement wall
elements 24 side by side can be arranged between two
vertical profile posts 2. The ends 29 of the legs 28 of
the basement wall elements 24 are bent to form a U shape
and engage between the two parallel legs 8 on a related
vertical profile post 2, in which they are secured by a
vertical bracing tube 19. In the braced condition, the
bent ends 29 engage in vertical grooves 15 of the
vertical profile posts 2, formed by transverse tabs 10
at the ends of parallel legs 8. The bracing tube 19 is
only inserted from above after the basement wall
elements 24 have been installed and ensures that the
basement wall elements 24 are secured in their
respective positions.
Parallel to the plate element 26 of the
basement wall elements 24, protective boards 34 are
inserted, and these may, for example, be made of
expanded plastic or impregnated corrugated cardboard.
Panel elements 32 are installed between the
inner and out~r transverse webs 5 and 6 of the vertical
profile posts 2 and are adapted in height to correspond
with the terrain. Panel elements 32 may be con~tructed
of a core of cork particles sandwiched between particle
board outer panels utilizing adhesive and considerable
heat and pressure. Panel elemènts 32 may also be
expanded polystyrene beads sandwiched between inner
layers of particle board and outer layers of aluminum
sheeting utilizing adhesive, heat and pressure.
In the part of the vertical profile posts 2
extending above basement level, timber cores 36 are used
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i~S2281~
in a dual manner as a reinforcement of the vertical
profile posts 2 for heat insulation and fire protection.
The horizontal floor girders 38 are supported by the
upper edge of the basement wall elements 24 and
preferably contain one shoulder each. Flooring is laid
on floor girders 38.
FIGURE 4 shows the fastening of one floor
girder 38 to one vertical profile post 2. An angular
tab 44 is attached to both sides of the floor girder 38
by means of bolts 46 and screws 48. A U-shape
bracket 42 engages in the tab 44 and is secured by
nuts 43 at the ends. The bracket 42 penetrates a bore
in the vertical profile post 2 in such a way that the
bracket 42 is held both by the parallel legs 8 and by
the centre web 7. The face 39 of the floor girder 38 is
supported by the transverse tabs 10 at the end of the
parallel legs 8, when nuts 43 have been tightened.
FIGURES 2 and 5 (the latter in detail) show a
variant suitable for buildings with interior fittings.
In place of a bracket 42, as shown in FIGURE 4, there
are a pair of nearly Z-shape attachment elements 56,
which grip behind the transverse webs 6 of the vertical
profile post 2. Tabs 58 are attached to the respective
elements 56 by means of bolts 60, allowing the floor
girders 38 to be secured against the transverse tabs 10
of the vertical profile post 2. A vertical tension bolt
62 penetrates floor girder 38 and a rectangular binding
rafter 63, horizontally installed, on the underside of
the joist. Supporting wall elements 64 are provided on
the inside of the building on which the floor elements
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are placed.
On the outside of the building (as shown in
FIGURE 5), the outer transverse webs 5 of the post 2 are
surrounded by an insulation layer 54 to enhance heat
insulation properties. External facade elements 50 are
fastened to the separating walls 32 by means of
spacers 52. The panel-type separating walls 32 are
inserted between the outer transverse webs 5 and the
inner transverse webs 6 of the vertical profile posts 2.
In this way, the vertical profile posts 2 carry a
stable, insulation efficient three-wall structure, i.e.
facade elements 50, separating walls 32, and interior
wall elements 64.
A variant for fastening the floor girder 38 to
the vertical profile post 2 is to provide the retaining
tab 58, which engages in an outer vertical groove formed
by the parallel legs 8 and the transverse tab 10, with a
tensioning device. This tensioning device contains a
cone which engages on one side in an opening or a
longitudinal hole by means of a nut which rests in floor
girder 38 (similar to screw-type connection 46 shown in
FIGURE 4) to pull the face 39 of the 100r girder 38
against the transverse tabs 10 of the vertical profile
post 2.
Another variant is characterised by extended
tension bolts 14, which penetrate the rafters 18 as well
as the horizontal roof girder 14 and draw these against
the horizontal roof girder 14.
FIGURE 7 illustrates a plan sectional view of
a method of securing a floor girder 38 to a vertical
~SZ2~0
profile post 2, which method is alternative to those
illustrated and discussed above in association with
FIGURES 4 and 5. A post connector 65 is secured to
floor girder 38 by a bolt 66. When the girder 38 is
being installed, connector 65 is tipped upwardly about
bolt 66, the girder is slid down the post 2 from the
top, and then, when in place, connector 65 is tilted
horizontally and snapped in place about post 2.
Connector 65 may then be nailed to girder 38 for
strength. A vertical wood core piece 67 is positioned
within post 2 as shown.
A side elevation view of connector 65,
bolt 66, floor girder 38, and post 2, as installed, is
illustrated in FIGURE 6. A stiffener 68 is located
below girder 38 where it joins post 2.
Referring to FIGURE 9, which represents a side
elevation cross-section view of a completed house
construction partly excavated into the side of a hill,
it may be seen that, except for the part that is
underground, which preferably is of aluminum, the basic
frame-work for the exterior walls consists of vertical
profile posts 2, exterllal facade elements 50, insulating
panels 32, interior panels 34, and internal facade
sheets 24, connected and fitted together as shown. The
roof, including exterior shingles 70 or the like, and
underlying sheeting 72, and bracing 74, are mounted on
rafters 18, which are secured together by steel
cables 20, and secured to the vertical profile posts 2
by means of tension bolts 14 and post openings 16.
The basement floor is normally poured
~:~L52~80
concrete, with a floor finish of some conventional type
above it. The basement wall that is against the
excavated earth can be constructed of some suitable
earth contacting material. Preferably, aluminum inner
panels 80 and 82 with expanded polystyrene foam cores
and aluminum exterior sheets for corrosion protection
against ground fluids are used. The vertical profile
posts 2 on that side of the building are secured on the
foundation by bolts 84. An outer wall base plate 76
made of an inert material sealæ the outer walls with the
surrounding ground. The interior surface can be a
basement wall element 24 to conform with the opposite
and adjacent walls of the basement. Reinforcing
laterally extending steel cables or rods 84 can be
secured in the basement walls.
The main floor of the building is supported by
laterally extending floor girders 38. These are each
connected at the ends to respective posts 2 by
connecting means such as that disclosed and discussed
above in relation to FIGURES 4 and 5, including bolts 42
or 46, or by the means discussed previously ln rela~ion
to FIGURES 6 and 7. The floor girders 38 support cross
bearns 86, floor sheeting 88, and overlying carpet or
other floor material.
The basement ceiling is formed by panels 90,
held in place between the parallel floor girders 38.
The main floor ceiling is constructed in a manner
somewhat analogous to the floor between the basement and
the main floor, although the main floor ceiling does not
have to be able to support a traffic load and hence can
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11522~30
be of somewhat lighter construction. Roof girders 4 are
positioned between and connected to respective posts 2
and rafters 18. Panels 92 are positioned between the
roof girders 4 to form the main floor ceiling.
FIGURE 10 illustrates a typical cross-section
floor construction including a floor girder 38, ceiling
panels 90 on each side and floor sheeting 88 (all shown
in section).
FIGURE 11 illustrates a typical cross-section
of floor construction taken at a point where a basement
wall is in place. The wall panel 94 is connected to
ceiling panels 90 by means of a cross brace 96. A pair
of cords 98 is positioned between wall panels 94 and
ceiling panels 90 to provide a tight joint.
FIGURE 12 illustrates a typical cross-section
of an alternative floor construction showing floor
girder 38 and panels 90 in section. This cross-section
shows a decorative beam 100 which is suitable in areas
where there is no wall.
FIGURE 13 illustrates a typical cross-section
of an alternative floor construction showing floor
girder 3~ and panels 90 in section and a wall panel 94
also in section. The wall panel is secured in place
with nails 102 between parallel runners 104.
As shown in FIGURE 14, which illustrates a top
sectional view of a typical wall construction, the walls
can be constructed of three basic layers of materials,
if required, for maximum heat insulation benefits, both
to keep heat in the building in cold climates or keep
heat out of the building in hot climates. One or two of
115Z2~30
these walls can be omitted, if required.
The vertical profile posts 2 are secured
spacially by steel rods 20. Panels 32 are positioned
between each of the posts 2~ A vertical timber core 36
is positioned within each post 2. Insulation 106 is
installed between the panels 32 and the outer wall 50.
Inner walls constructed of panels 34 are secured to the
inner sides of posts 2. FIGURE 14 also shows sections
of wall detail made up of support posts 110, wall
sandwich panels 113, door frames 125, and corner support
posts 126.
FIGURES 15 and 16 illustrate plan section
views of wall sections useful respectively for a cold
weather country and a hot weather country. The wall
construction shown in FIGURE 15 has insulation 69 in the
wall cavity. The wall construction shown in
FIGURE 16 has only air in the cavity. Cool air from the
basement, or as generated by an air conditioner may be
circulated through this cavity to help keep the walls
cool.
The panels 32 positioned between the vertical
profile posts 2, and elsewhere in the building are known
and can be constructed in a number of alternative
conventional ways.
FIGURE 17 shows a skeleton structure in which
firstly the vertical profile posts 2 are erected. They
rest on foundations 3 which are preferably made of solid
building materials. The lower ends of the vertical
profile posts 2 are set down freely on these
foundations; however, it would also be conceivable for a
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1~5Z281~
short section to be built in. On their central web, the
vertical profile posts 2 are provided with H-shaped
cut-outs 1~ which are spaced at intervals and extend
over the whole height. In the lowest zone of each of
these vertical profile posts 2, and at a defined
distance from their lower end face, a bore is provided,
through which a wire cable 22 is drawn. Between
adjacent vertical profile posts 2, there is at least one
lug 23 or other holding device for the wire cable 22,
anchored in the foundations 3. The bore in the vertical
profile posts 2 for the wire cable is located above the
lugs 23 so that when the wire cable 22 is tensioned with
a tensioning device a downwards traction effect on the
foundations 3 is exerted by the vertical profile
posts 2. The tensioning device is constructed in such a
way that the wire cable 22 is connected to a threaded
bolt 55 on which is screwed a nut 11 by means of which
the tensioning force can be produced. The lug 23 may
also be constructed as a hook, ring or tubular part, and
permits relative displacement therethrough of the wire
cable 22 in its longitudinal direction. In this way,
the stability of the building structure is greatly
increased in the event of earth~uakes or storms.
FIGURE 18 shows a generally similar
construction to that in FIGURE 17, except that, instead
of foundations made of building materials, floor
rails 25 made of metal are provided. These are
connected together at the corners to form a frame.
Again, the vertical profile posts 2 rest freely on these
base rails 29 and are urged downwardly by the wire
- 21 -
~S22BO
cable 22. An upwardly extending flange 27 on the inner
face of the base rail 25 acts as a stop for the vertical
profile posts. The plurality of wire cables 22, each
extending over only one longitudinal face of the
building and tensioned at its respective end, can be
used, or only one single wire cable 22 may be used,
extending over all four sides of the building.
FIGURE 19 represents an embodiment of a
building structure which does not have a basement. The
floor joists 38 each rest on supporting blocks 37 which
are made, for example, from aeroconcrete and rest
directly on the ground. The vertical profile posts 2 in
this instance are tensioned on floor joists 38 made of
wood by means of a tensioning bolt 14 which is slit
longitudinally through its upper section and engages
with the central web 7 of the vertical profile post 2.
The nut 11 is located in the hole 16 through the
vertical profile post 2 and thus holds the two slit
parts of the tensioning screw 14 together and makes it
possible to set the vertical profile posts 2 firmly
on the floor joists 38. A framework 53 of lathes is
built on the floor joists 38, and the floor panels 51 or
the like are laid on this framework.
FIGURE 20 shows a horizontal section through a
building structure in which a double-wall type of
construction is used. In this structure, the H-shaped
vertical profile posts 2 are disposed so that the
central web 7 extends at right-angles to the respective
side of the building. In the corners, these vertical
profile posts 2 engage with each other and thereby
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~1522E~0
provide a high degree of rigidity. The outer wall
panels 32 and the inner wall panels 33 are all equipped
with projecting plate elements which engage in the
vertical profile posts 23. Between these outer and
inner wall panels 32, 33, there is a space 35 in which
the lower part of the wire cable 22 with the tensioning
devices 11, 55 is located. Facade elements 50 made, for
example, out of concrete, are fixed on the outer wall
panel 32. This double-walled method of construciton
provides an additional insulating and ventilation
effect, useful in both cold and hot regions. In hot
regions, the air in the space 35 may be cooled, which
provides an air-conditioning effect.
FIGURE 21 shows a perspective illustration of
the connection of the basement wall elements 24 to a
floor joist 38 and to a vertical profile post 2. The
basement wall elements 24, which have a U-shaped
horizontal section and are made, for example, from
aluminum, have a flat vertical plate Plement 26 and a
bent-out leg 28 on both sides. When two of such
basement wall elements 24 are juxtapositioned together,
a V-shaped space 31 is produced between the respective
legs 28. A bowed-out section 49 for the passage
therethrough of a tensioning bolt 14 is provided towards
the top of the legs in the central region. At a certain
distance from the upper edges of these basement wall
elements 24, rectangular holes 41 are provided in the
legs 28, and a nut 11, or a bolt-head, is located in
these holes. The nut 11 lies against a washer 45
adapted to the hole 41 and provided with bent-up tabs to
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11~22~0
hold it in position.
The horizontal floor joist 38 is supported on
the upper edge of the basement wall elements 24. A
piece of sheet metal 47, serving to distribute the
pressure, is disposed between the floor joist 38 and the
vertical profile post 2 placed thereon. A nut 11 is
located in the cut-out 16 in the central web 7 of this
vertical profile post 2, being screwed onto the
longitudinally slit tensioning bolt 14. The central
web 7 of the vertical profile post 2 projects into this
longitudinal slit in the tensioning bolt 14, so that a
secure connection is obtained when the nut 11 is screwed
down tightly. The central web 7 and the longitudinal
central axis of the floor joist 38 are located at least
approximately in the same vertical plane. The distance
~a~i of this central web 7 should amount to at least one
and one third times the width "b", and preferably to
approximately one and seven-eighths times this width.
The ends of the parallel legs 8 are provided with
transverse tabs 10 which extend parallel to the central
web 7. The ends of the tabs 10 are bent inward~ to form
vertical grooves 15.
In FIGURE 22, an embodiment is shown in which
the basement wall elements 24 rest at the base on the
concrete foundations 3. The V-shaped space 31 formed by
two adjacent bent-out les 28 is open towards the outside
of the building and is covered on the outside by a
vertical rail 77. This has a substantially U-shaped
cross-section and each end engages behind the respective
channels 83 at the ends of the legs 28 by inwardly-
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~522~30
projecting rail sections 81. In order to enable the
vertical rails 77 to be inserted in place, the end face
of the floor joist 38 is set back relative to the
channel 83. The legs 28 are traversed by a through-bolt
75 which holds one loop 85 of a wire cable 73 serving as
a guying element. The wire cable 73 projects into the
V-shaped space 31 between two adjacent legs 28 and
extends obliquely downwardly to a picket 87 which is
seated in the foundations 3 or has been hammered into
the ground. The wire cable 73 is formed into a loop 89
in the vicinity of the picket 87. It is also possible
to effect adjustable tensioning of the wire cable 73 by
using a tensioning bolt. This oblique tensioning is
carried out mainly on sloping sites, or when the
building is provided with a basement on one side, to
secure the basement wall elements against lateral
pressure of earth piled against the building. A ceiling
profile rail 91 with an angular cross-section is placed
on the top edge of the basement wall elements 24.
FIGURE 23 shows schematically how part of the
builiding structure can serve as a transportation
container in which the remaining structural elements of
the building which is to be erected are contained. Two
floor joists 38 can be used as skids. In this way, the
container 59 can be transported with the aid of a
traction vehicle in snow in an upright position, in the
direction of the arrow T, the length of the building
being governed by the length of the floor joists 38, and
the width corresponding approximately to the distance
between the two floor joists 38. The dimensions of the
~iSZ2~
transportation container 59 in the longitudinal
direction of the roof ridge 57 is less than that of ~he
finished erected building. In this way, additional
packing costs are avoided and it is possible to deliver
to site even large-roomed buildings with a small
transportation volume.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the
art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many
alterations and modifications are possible in the
practice of this invention without departing from the
spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is to be construed in accordance with the
substance of the following claims.
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