Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: "METHODS OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
THIS INVENTION relates to improved methods of
building construction.
(2) Prior Art
Many methods of modular building construction
have been proposed. While many of these have certain
advantages (eg. they are less expensive and allow the use
of semi-skilled labour) over conventional building
techniques, they generally have inherent problems which
limit their flexibility in floor plan and ease of
erection.
SUMMA~Y OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there
is provided a building structure including a floor
assembly supported on a plurality of stumps or piles; a
plurality of wall panels secured to the floor assembly; a
plurality of roof truss frames supported on, and secured
to, the wall panels: first bracket means securing the
wall panels to the floor assembly; and second bracket
means securing the roof truss frames to the wall panel,
each of said first and second bracket means being
received between adjacent wall panels; wherein said wall
panels are arranged such that any loads between the floor
assembly and the roof truss frames are transferred
through the wall panels, and each wall panel has a
peripheral metal frame to which is bonded or fixed a pair
of cladding sheets and the cavity therein is filled with
insulating foam.
According to a further aspect of the invention,
there is provided a building structure including a floor
assembly supported on a plurality of stumps or piles; a
plurality of wall panels secured to the floor assembly; a
plurality of roof truss frames supported on, and secured
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to, the wall panels; first bracket means securing the
wall panels to the floor assembly; and second bracket
means securing the roof truss frame to the wall panel,
each of said first and second bracket means being
received between adjacent wall panels; wherein said wall
panels are arranged such that any loads between the floor
assembly and the roof truss frames are transferred
th~rough the wall panels; and said floor assembly
comprises a floor assembly frame and said wall panels
comprise peripheral frames having stiles, each of said
first bracket means to secure the wall panels to the
floor assembly is of substantially L-shape in side view
and has a foot section arranged to be bolted to the floor
assembly frame and a leg section to be received between,
and bolted to, the stiles in the peripheral frames of the
adjacent wall panels.
According to yet a further aspect of the
invention, there is provided a building structure
including a floor assembly supported on a plurality of
piles or stumps; a plurality of wall panels secured to
the floor assembly: a plurality of roof truss frames
supported on, and secured to, the wall panels; first
bracket means securing the wall panels to the floor
assembly; and second bracket means securing the roof
truss frame to the wall panel means, each bracket means
being received between adjacent wall panels; wherein the
floor assembly includes a peripheral frame having
longitudinal bearers comprising a plurality of assembled
I-beams, each I-beam being assembled from a pair of
substantially identical C-section beams, whexein each
C-section beam has a web member interconnecting a pair
of substantially identical C-section beams, wherein each
C-section beam has a web member interconnecting a pair of
substantially parallel side flange members directed to
one side of the web member, the C-section beams being
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arranged with their web members back-to-back and
interconnected by aligned tab members and slots in the
web members; at least one lateral beam or joist is
connected thereto, each lateral beam or joist having a
web between a pair of parallel side flanges, the lateral
beam or joist being received between a pair of the side
flange members of the longitudinal bearers; first
fastener means engaged in respective aligned holes in the
lower of the side flanges in the lateral beam or joist
and the lower of the side flange members of the
longitudinal bearer to secure the peripheral frame to the
stumps or piles; and second fastener means engaged in
respective aligned holes in the upper of the side flanges
of the lateral beam or joist, the upper of the side
flange members of the longitudinal bearer and the first
bracket means to secure the wall panels to the floor
assembly; so arranged that any loads between the floor
assembly and the roof truss frame are transferred through
the wall panels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Specific embodiments of the invention will now
be described, by way of example only, with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG 1 shows a schematic layout of the method of
building construction;
FIG 2 is a perspective view of an I-beam, used
in the floor structure before assembly;
FIG 3 is a perspective view of a 3-way beam
: 30
~ 35
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connection in the floor assembly;
FIGS. 4 to 7 are plan views of a beam corner,
beam joint, 3-way beam connection and a 4-way beam
connection respectively in the floor assembly; and
FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of a portion
of the floor assembly.
FIG. 9 is a front view of a "Warren" truss
frame which may be used in the roof assembly;
FIG. 10 is a front view of a "Fink" truss-
frame which may be used in the roof assembly;
FIG. 11 is a front view of the apex of the
truss frame;
FIG. 12 is an isometric view showing how the
top chords are notched at the apex;
FIG. 13 is a front view of the junction of two
struts with the bottom chord;
FIGS. 14(a) and (b) show how the alternative
struts are notched;
FIG. 15 is a side view of the junction of a
top and bottom chord;
FIG. 16 is an isometric view showing how the
top chords are notched at the junction with the bottom
chord;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a ceiling
2S batten connecting a pair of the roof trusses;
FIG. 18 is an underside isometric view of one
of the ceiling battenj
FIG. 19 is an isometric view of a plurality of
diminishing roof trusses fixed to standard roof trusses
at the junction of two sections of a building;
FIG. 20 is an end view corresponding to FIG.
11;
FIG. 21 is a front view of a "Fink" type
diminishing truss frame;
FIG. 22 is a front view of a "Warren" type
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dlminishing tr~ss frame;
FIG. 23 is a sect1onal end ~iew of a ~ottom
chord of a dimlni~hing tru68 taken on l~ne 23-23 on F'G.
11;
S F~G. 24 19 a sectional end vlew o~ a valley
gutter for use ~ith the dimlni~hing roof tx~sse~;
FIG. 25 is a per3pective view ~howing the
layout grld ~or the lnternal walls;
FiGS. 26 to 29 ~how alter~ktive positlon~ for
the wall ~racket to recei~e the wall panels o~ and off
the ~r~d lines;
FIG. 30 is a pl~n vle~ of t~e wall pane~ to
roof truss loo~tion p~ate~ and
F}GS. 31 an~ 32 ~re plan view~ of alternate
interaectlon~ of two w~ll panel~.
D~TAIL~D DESCRSPTIO~ OF _ TH~ EF~RED
EM~OD~MENTS
Refsrring to FIG. 1 a floor ~ssem~ly 10 ha~
longltud~nal bea~er~ 11, of ~ubstantially I-sectlon
forme~ of C---ctlon beam~ 12 bac~-to-~ack,
lnter~onnected by tran~vers- jol~ts 13 of oub~tantl~ly
Z-section. Th~ C-~ection beam-, and th- bearer~ ant
~oi~t~, are ~ecured togot~e~ by t~b-~n-slot ~a6te~ng
mean~ to be doscrlbod ln mor- detall with re'erencc to
2~ FIGS. 2 to 8. The floor assem~ly 10 16 su?ported on a
plurality o stumpE having a~u~ta~le ~t~p ca~ 14
~rranged to receivc four ~tuds 15 whlch 9ecure the
bearer~ 11 of the th- floor a~se~bly 10 to the ~tump~
1~ .
~ floor panel 16 18 l~id over the floo~
~embly 10,
She exterio~ wa~ 7 are ~ormed of composlte
~anel~ 18 ~e.g. of ~h-et mctal 191poly~tyrene fo-~ 201
flbrouc cement ~heet 21 l~m1natod construct~on) wh~ch
hae a ~orlpheral fr~me with me~al ~t~le~ 22 (and top an~
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bottom rails) o~ Aubstantlally C-6ection. ~he panels 18
are arranged wlth thelr ad~acent metal stiles 22 face-
to-face, separated by ~n insulati~/weather proofing
s~rip 23.
The sheet metal out~r skln and ~ibrou6 cement
6heet inner skln are bonded to the peripheral metal
frame before the polystyrene insul~tinq foam i9 foamed
ln the cavlty of the wall psnel. The resultant panels
form a structur~l member whlch can di~trlbute a load
applie~ to
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e.g. one corner of the panel throughout the p~nel.
Internal wall panels are of generally the . same
construction, with the sheet metal skin being replaced
by plasterboard or other suitable sheet material.
The bases of the wall panels 18 are secured to
the floor assembly 10 by L-shaped brackets 24. Each
brac~et has a foot 25 with two holes which receive studs
26 which pass through the floor panel 16 and are
received in holes 27 in the upper flanges 28 of the
bearers 11. ~As shown, a further two studs 29, secures
the floor panel 16 to the bearers at the junction of the
bearer members over a stump 14.) Each bracket 24 has a
vertical leg 30 which is received between the adjacent
stiles 22 of two wall panels 18 and the leg is secured
thereto by a single bolt 31 which passes through aligned
holes 32 in the stiles 22 and the hole 33 in the leg 30.
The roof assembly 34 (to be described in more
detail with reference to FIGS. 9 to 24) is supported on
a plurality of roof truss frames 35, whére the top and
bottom chords 36, 37 are formed of "top-hat" roll~formed
; metal sections which, at the junction 38 thereof, are
nested together and fixed by "Tek-screws" 39. (The
interior wall panels (not shown) can be bolted to the
bottom chord 37 via holes 40 therein.~
To secure the roof truss frames 35 to the
exterior wall panels 18, a bracket 41 has a plate 42
received between the adjacent stiles 22 of two panels 18
and is secured thereto by a bolt 43 passing through
aligned holes 44, 45 in the plate 42 and stiles 22. A
threaded stud 46 extends upwardly from the plate 42 and
passes through aligned holes 47 in the top and bottom
chords 36, 37 and receives a nut 48.
The brackets 24, 41 enable the wall panels 18
to be secured together and ties the wall panels 18 to
the floor assembly 10 and the roof assembly 34 and also
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a
enables loads on the building structure ~o be
distributed between the floor, walls and roof.- In
addition the brackets enable the components to be
quickly and accurately connected together.
The general floor assembly lO, and the method
by which the longitudinal bearers are produced from the
C-section beams will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 2 to 8.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the assembled I-
beam 110 comprises a pair of roll-formed C-section metal
beams 111, 112 arranged with their respective webs 113
back-to-back and their upper and lower side flanges 114,
115 directed outwardly.
A plurality of tabs 116 are punched or
otherwise formed out of the webs 113 of the C-section
beams, only one tab per beam being shown. Each tab 116
has a leg 116A extending substantially perpendicular to
the web 113 and a toe 116B substantially parallel to,
but spaced from, the web 113. A respective slot 117 for
each tab 116 remains in the web 113. As shown, the tabs
116 of the beams 111, 112 are oppositely directed to
each other so that the tabs 116 of beam 111 enter the
corresponding aligned slots 117 of beam 112 and vice
versa.
When the beams 111, 112 are brought together,
with the tabs 116 through the aligned slots 117, the
tabs 116 of each beam are deformed, e.g. with a hammer,
to cause the legs 116A and toes 116B to engage the web
of the other beam to so secure the C-section beams 111,
112 together with a single assembled I-section beam 110,
suitable for structural purposes.
Holes 118, 119 of different diameters, are
provided in the side flanges 114, 115 respectively
adjacent their ends, and in pairs at modular lengths
along the flanges, to enable two or more of the I-
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section beams 110 to be secured together.
As shown in FIG. 3, the holes 118, 119 are
spaced so that when two or more I-beams 110 are
connected together, the ends of their webs 113 are
slightly spaced, with their side flanges 114, 115
overlapped.
FIGS. 4 to 7 show how the assembled I-beams
110 may be connected together at a joint e.g. over a
supporting stump or pier, where bolts passing through
1~ the holes 118, 119 connect the beams 110 to structural
fixing brackets or stump head ~lates (provided with
aligned holes) not shown.
FIG. 8 illustrates how the I-beams 10 are
used as part of a floor assembly for a building, the
beams also enabling a wall structure to be attached to
the supporting stumps or piers.
The floor assembly 120 is supported on a
plurality of building stumps 121. Each stump 121 has a
rectangular cap 122 with four holes to receive holts
123. The floor assembly 120 has a peripheral frame and
cross-members formed of the assembled I-beams 110
interconnected by joists 124. Each joist 124 is of
modified Z-section roll-formed steel, with top and
bottom flanges 2S connected by a web 126.
2S A slot 127 is formed centrally in the web 126
adjacent each end and is engaged by one of the tabs 116
of the adjacent I-beam 110 to secure joist 124 to the I-
beam ilO (the side flanges 125 of the joist being
closely interfitted with the side flanges 114, 115 of
the I-beam 110).
As shown, the hole 127 is spaced from the end
of the joist 124 a distance substantially equal to the
height of the leg 116A of the tab 116 and the toe 116B
is received in the hole 127 and then deformed (e.g. with
a hammer) to form a hook to secure the joist 124 and I-
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beam 110 together.
Bolts 123 through aligned holes (not shown) inthe lower side flanges 125 of the joist 124, the I-beam
110 (i.e. holes 119) and the cap 122 of the stump 121
enable the floor assembly 120 to be secured to the stump
121. A floor panel 128 is laid over the floor assembly
120 and is clamped to the I-beams 110 by bolts 129
passing through the holes 118 in the I-beams, the floor
panel 128 and angled fixing ~rackets 130 for wall panels
131. The floor panel 128 is fixed to the joists 124 by
suitable screws, studs or adhesives.
A cover sheeting 132 is provided around the
floor structure 120, to enclose the I-beam 110 of the
peripheral frame, and weather-proofing is provided
between the wall panels 131 and the cover sheeting 132
by suitable flashing 133.
If, at any time, the building is to be
extended, the cover sheeting 132 and ~lashing 133 may be
removed and joists 124 may be connected to the I-beams
110 i.e. to extend to the right in FIG. 8. (The new
joist 124 would be connected to the I-beam 110 by the
free tabs 116 and the bolts 123, 129.)
The general roof assembly 34 will now be
described in more detail with reference to FIGS . 9 to
24.
Referring to FIG. 9, the truss frame 210 is a
"Warren" type truss frame which has a pair of top chords
211, 212 and a bottom chord 213 of "top-hat" cross-
section roll-formed metal (see FIG. 14(b)) and diagonal
struts 214 of "C" section rolled-formed metal (see FIG.
14(a)). FIG. 10 shows a "Fink" type truss frame 220
where the top chords 221, 222 and bottom chord 223 are
of the "top-hat" section, the inner struts 224 are of
the "top-hat" section and the outer strut 225 are of the
"C" section.
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11
Re~erring to FIG. 14(a), the "C" section
components 230 have downwardly divergent side walls 231,
232 interconnected by a base web 233. The "top-hat"
section components 240 (see FIG. 14(b)) have side walls
241, 242 and a base web 243 configured as for the "C"
section components 230, with the addition of laterally
extending side flanges 244, 24S which are co-planar. As
the side walls 231, 232 and 241, 242 are divergent, the
components 230 and 240 can be nested together to enable
adjacent side walls to be fixed together by studs or
bolts, rivets or self-piercing fasteners (e.g. of the
type known as "Tek-screws").
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the top chords
211, 212 and 221, 222 are notched as shown in FIG. 12,
where the side flanges 244, 245 are terminated a
preselected distance "d" from the inner ends of the
chords and an inclined cut forms a relieved portion 246
in the upper portion of the inner ends of the chords.
When the two top chords 211, 212 and 221, 222
are brought together, one is nested within the other and
their adjacent side walls are fixed with "Tek-screws"
25', thereby avoiding the need for connector plates or
brackets.
The upper ends of the struts 214, 224, 225 are
received within the top chords 211, 212 and 221, 222 and
their adjacent side walls are fixed using "Tek-screws".
At the lower ends of the struts 214 and 224,
225, the ends are relieved, as shown in FIGS. 14(a) and
141b) at 247 and 248 respectively. As shown in FIG. 13,
the ends of the struts 211, and 224, 225 are placed
over, and nestably receive, the bottom chords 213, 223.
The adjacent side walls are then secured together with
"Tek-screws" 251 at the junction 252, 253. Referring to
FIGS. 15 and 16, the junctions 254 between the top
chords 211, 212 and 221, 222 and the bottom chords 213,
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12
223 are similar to the junctions 252, 253 in that the
bottom chords are nested within, and fixed to, the top
chords, the latter being notched on each side at 255 as
shown in FIG. 16.
The overlapping junctions between the top and
bottom chords, the top chords at the apex 250 and the
chords and struts at junctions 252, 253, 254 results in
truss frames with very high strength-to-weight ratios.
It is possible to partially assemble the truss
frames, fold the frames down f or transport and to
complete assembly on site. Only a pair of fasteners are
provided to connect the outer ends of the top chords to
the bottom chords, the top chords not being connected at
the apex, and only one pair of fasteners connects one
end of each strut to either the top or bottom chord.
This enables the semi-assembled truss frame to be folded
down, with the chords and struts nested together, f or
transport. On site, the truss frame is opened out to
the desired configuration and the assembly is completed.
With this arrangement, transport costs are reduced while
allowing more accurate final assembly on site than if
the erectors were supplied only with the individual
components.
Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, when
erected, adjacent roof truss frames 210, 220 are
interconnected by parallel, spaced ceiling battens 260
of substantially channel section (see FIG. 18). A tab
261 is punched out of the central web 262 of the batten
adjacent each end and is arranged to frictionally engage
the adjacent side flanges 244, 245 of the adjacent
bottom chord 213, 223.
The ceiling battens 26~ are aligned with the
side flanges 244, 245 and then rotated to cause the side
flanges to be frictionally engaged between the tabs 261
and the central web 262.
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13
When all the ceiling battens have been
installed, the ceiling panels Inot shown) are fixed to
the ceiling battens 260 using fasteners ~e g. "Tek-
screws"). By the provision of the tabs 261 at each end
of the ceiling battens, and the frictional engagement
between the ceiling battens and the bottom chords 213,
223 of the roof truss frames 210, 220, the necessity for
separate fasteners is avoided.
Referring now to FIGS. 19 to 22, these show
~0 "diminishing" roof trusses which are employed at the
junction of two wings of a building, where the gables on
each are brought to a single point.
The trusses 220 of the main wing are of the
"Fink" type shown in FIG. 10. The diminishing trusses
1~ 270 of the side wing are also of the "Fink" type ~see
FIG. 21) but may be of the `'Warren" type (see trusses
272 of FIG. 22) if preferred. As shown in both FIGS. 19
and 20, the diminishing trusses 270 are of reducing
width and height as they are provided up the trusses 220
of the main wing. Generally the main trusses 27i of the
side wing will be the same as the trusses 220 of the
main wing.
The construction of the diminishing trusses
270 will be generally as for the main trusses 210, 220
(see FIGS. 9 to 16~, with two major differences.
Firstly, as shown in FIGS. 19, 21 and 22, the bottom
chords 273, 274 extend pass the junctions with the top
chords 275, 276. This enables the trusses to span, and
be fixed to, the main trusses 220 of the main wing to
either side of the side wing - see FIG. 1~. Secondly,
the bottom chcrds 273, 274 have the "modified top-hat"
profile shown in FIG. 23 where the side flanges 277, 278
are co-planar but inclined relative to the vertical
plane through the section. The angle of inclination of
the flanges corresponds to the inclination of the top
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14
( see ~GS. 9 to 16), with two ma~or differences.
Firstly, as shown in FIGS. 19, 21 and 22, the bottom
chord~ 273, 274 extend pass the junction~ wlth the top
c~ord ~75, 276. This enable~ the trus~es to span, and
5 be fixed to, the main trusses 220 o~ the main wing to
either ~ide o~ the ~ide wing - ~ee ~IG. 19. S~condly,
the bottom chord~ 273, 27~ have the "modified top-~at"
proflle shown in FIG. 23 where the side flanges 277, 278
are co-planar but inclined relatlve to the vertical
10 plane through the section. The angle of inclinaelon of
the f lar.~es correspond~ to the inclinatiorl of the top
chord~ 222 of the main trus~e3 220 and the ~lange~ 277,
27B ~re flxed to the ba5e webs 243 of the to~ chord~ by
"T~k-screws" or other sultable fa~tener3. Thi5 ena~les
15 the "dlm~n1shing" tru~ses 270, 272 to ~e easlly flxe~ to
the main trusses 210, 220.
~ eferring now to FIG. 24, thls ~hows an end
view of a valley gutter 2ao to be use~ with the
d1mlnishing trusse6 270, 272. A~ the gutter 2~0 runs
diagon*lly to ~oth the main trus~e~ 210, 220 and t~e
dimlnlshing tru~es 270, 272, lt ha~ u~war~ly lncllned
side flanges 291, 282 to be flxod to roof purlln~
supported by the top chords 212, 222 and 275, 276
thereof lby e.g. "Te~-sc~ews") as ~t ~g laid down the
valley prior to the roof 3heetln~ being lnstalled. The
~-~haped floor 283 enable6 the gutter 280 ~o nest on the
extension at the ends o~ the ~ottom chords 273, 274 of
the ~lminishlng t~ugse3.
once th~ roo~ trusses have been positloned
ana fixet, the intern~l wall pan~ls may ~e poslt~onsd.
Referr~ng to F~G. 25, the ba~i3 of the
location of the lnternal wall ~y~tem la a grid 300 ~e.g.
at ~45 mm centres) w~th a 4 holo x (e.g. 38 mm) sguare
patte~n 301 layout at each lnter~-ctlon 302 throuqh
3~ wh~ch the panel ~racket~ 303 (see r~Gs~ 26 to 29) may ~e
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fixet. (The panel ~rackets 303 al an alternatlve
embodiment to the wall ~anel brackets 25 shown ln FIG.
1.)
Each wall bracket 303 ha~ four holes 304, 30~
in its hor~20ntal foot 306 and a slo~ted hole 307 ln lts
vertlcal leg 303. The holo~ 304 are ~paced a dlstance d
from he centre line of the vertical ~eg 308 wh1ch ls
one half of the distance D ~etween the holes 301 at the
lnter~ectlon 302 (and whlch 18 al80 the distanoe of
holes 30S from the vertlcal leg 30a o~ the ~ra~ket and
the thlcknee~ o~ the wall panel~).
For wall p~nel~ which have their centre linc
located on a grld llne and whose end~ 8 ) start a~dJor
f~nlsh a~ the intersection 302 (e.~. 93~ m~ panel3 on a
945 mm grid), the bracket 303 sho~ld be fixed with lts
vertical le~ 3~a dlrectly ov~r the in~rsectlon 302 of
the grld llne~ ~ 8ee FIG. 26). In thl3 posl~ion, the
hole~ 304 wlll be aligned with the hole~ 27 ln the floor
(~e~
However, the 8ygtom allow~ the wall pa~els to
be offset relativ- to the ~rld 300. For example, with
~he wall panels havlng thelr centre lines locate~ on the
grld 300 but their end~ step~e~ off the grld (e.g. a 900
mm p~nel), thc bracXet 303 1~ rotated throu~h 180 (see
FIG. 27) ~o that the centre line o~ the ver~1cal leg 1
the dl6tance ~ from the lntersectlo~ 302. Similarly,
the brack2t 303 may be posl~lonet to fix the wall panel
with ~t~ cen~re ll~e of the grid 300 but lts end on the
grld (FIG. 28) or wit~ both the pane~ cen~re line and
panel end o~f the grld (FIG. 29). It will be noted th~t
~n the arrangements o FIGS. 28 ~nd 29, only one of the
hole~ 304 i~ u~ed to flx the wall bracket 303 to the
~loor. lWhere the wall panel does not s~an a gr~d e.g.
whore the panel lncorporates a doorway, the bracket 303
iJ fixod to the floor uslng two ~o~-~orewsl~ through
16 131~06~
hole~ 3 o 5 ),
Where tho walls use p~nels of tw~ di~ferent
lengths e.g. 938 mm $or the extexior panels and some
lnterior panels and e.~. 900 mm for some lnterios
panels, the distance D ~ equal to the dlfference in t~e
panel length~ ~e.g. D = 938 -900 = 38 mm).
The top~ of ~he panel- are anchored to the
roo~ trus~e~ 34 ~ee FIG. 1) uslnq brackets 41. A9 the
wall panel~ can be of f -~et relat1 ve to the roof tru8~es
34, a flxing plate 310 19 fixed to t~e under~lde of the
bottom chord 37 (8hown in pl~n vlew ln dashed lines).
Where the wall panel~ are on ~he grid lines 300 and
thelr end~ are at the lntersection 302 ~a~ ln FIG. 26),
the threa~ed ~tud 46 on the bracXet pas~es t~r~ugh tho
central hole 311 in the plate and central hole 40 ln the
~ottom chord 37 to f~x the panel and plate to the chord.
~owever, lf the panelQ are on the grid lines 300 but
t~ L ~fL~ 6 ib F~G. 27), ~ bslt
paoses thr~ugh central hole 311 to fix the pla~e 310 to
2~ the bott~m chord and the threaded ~tud 46 on the bra~ket
p~s~e~ through one of tho allgned hole~ 312 in the plate
310, two of the hole~ b~lng al~gned with the ~l~e hsles
40 in the bottom chord. Sf the panel~ are off th- srid,
then the plat- 310 i8 ~oltod to the chord 37 and the
th~ated ~tud 46 wlll be secured in one of tho cor~er
hol-~ 313 ln the plate 313 in the ~late 310 (which will
nece~ ate drl~ling a correspondlng hole in the bottom
chor~ 37).
Referring now to FIGS. 31 and 32, these s~own
ln plan v~ew, the internal wall panel~ 320 can be flxed
with thelr ends allgned (FIG. 31) or overlapping (FIG~
32), when the bolt~ 321 engage ~he respective studs 322
o the p~nel- to en~ure ef~ective tran~fer of ~ny loads
therebetween. A ~pacex washer 323 1B provlded between
the nd o~ one pane~ and the ~kin of the second panel at
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- 131~06~
17
tha corner. . .
Because the internal wall panels can be
~tep~ed off the grid line~, it allowa simpler fix~ng of
the panels e.g. where windows and doors occur and the
S offse~, being half the thickncs~ of the pa~el, and
allow~ the faces of panel~ to ~e posltioned on the ~rtd
line~ ~e.g. see Fl~. 31).
~ t will ~e readlly appar~nt to the ~Xilled
addr~ssee that the present invention provldes a ~imple,
~tron and easy-to-aroct method of modular building
~on$t~uction.
Varlous Changes and modlf~cat~on~ may ~e made
to ~he embodlments de~cribe~ wlthout departing from the
~cope o~ the pre89nt lnventlon defi~ad in the a~pended
claims.
