Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MOMENT-RESISTANT BUILDING FRAME STRUCTURE
COMPONENTRY AND METHOD
Background and Summary of the Invention
This 'invention (structure and method) relates to building structure, and in
particular to a novel column/beam/collar-interconnect structural organization
(and
related methodology) which functions to create an improved and very capable
moment-resistant frame for a building. Featured in the practice of the
invention is a
unique, bearing-face collar-interconnect structure which joins adjacent
columns and
beams at nodes of intersection between them.
In the ongoing effort to improve building frame structure, and particularly to
improve such structure so that it can better handle severe lateral loads, such
as
earthquake loads, much attention has been focused on the manner in which
upright
columns and horizontal beams are connected. The present invention especially
addresses this issue, and in so doing, offers a number of unique and important
advantages in building-frame construction, and in ultimate building-frame
performance.
According to a preferred embodiment of, and manner of practicing, the present
invention, the invention proposes a column-beam interconnect structural system
and
methodology wherein the ends of beams are joined to columns at nodes of
intersection
through unique collar structures that effectively circumsurround the sides and
the long
axes of columns to deliver, through confronting bearing faces, compressive
loads
which are derived from moment loads experience by the beams. In particular,
the
delivery through compression of moment loads carried from beams to columns
involve the development in the columns of vertically offset reverse-direction
compression loads which create related moments in the colunms. With respect to
each
and every lateral load that is experienced by a building frame constructed in
accordance with the invention, all lateral loads are essentially equally
shared by all of
the columns, and a consequence of this is that, in comparison to building
frame
structures built conventionally, a building frame structure constructed in
accordance
with this invention prevents any single column from carrying any more load
than is
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carried by any other column. As will become apparent, this important feature
of the
invention, as it performs, enables a building to be constructed in such a way
as to
exceed minimum building code requirements in many instances, and thus open the
opportunity for using a building frame in accordance with this invention in
settings
where conventional frame structure would not meet code requirements.
The nodal connections which result from practice of the present invention
function to create what is referred to as three-dimensional, multi-axial,
moment-
coupling, load transfer interconnection and interaction between beams and
columns.
Focusing on the specific load-delivery interaction which occurs between a
given single column and a connected single beam that bears a moment load, this
load
is coupled compressively into the colunm by the associated, single, nodal
collar
structure at plural bearing-face regions which are angularly spaced about the
column's
long axis. Compressive load-transfer coupling is not constrained to just one
plane of
action, or to just one localized region of load delivery. Compression couplets
are
created to take fuller advantage of columns' load-handling capabilities.
The proposed nodal collar structures include inner components which are
anchored, as by welding, to the outside surfaces of columns, and an outer
collar which
is made up of components that are suitably anchored, also as by welding, to
the
opposite ends of beams. The inner and outer collar components are preferably
and
desirably formed by precision casting and/or machining, and are also
preferably pre-
joined to columns and beams in an automated, factory-type setting, rather than
out on
the construction job site. Accordingly, the invented collar components lend
themselves to economical, high-precision manufacture and assembly with columns
and beams, which can then be delivered to a job site ready for accurate
assembly.
As will become apparent from an understanding of the respective geometries
proposed by the present invention for the collar components, these components
play a
significant role during early building-frame assembly, as well as later in the
ultimate
performance of a building.
At the regions of connection between beams and columns, and with respect to
pairs of adjacent columns standing upright approximately correctly
(vertically) in
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space on a job site, as beams are lowered into horizontal positions, the outer
collar
components that they carry at their opposite ends seat under the influence of
gravity
through special, angular, bearing-face geometry provided in them and in the
confronting inner colunm components. This bearing-face geometry effectively
guides
and collects a lowered beam, and the associated two columns, into stabilized,
gravity-
locked conditions, with these now-associated beam and column elements then
essentially correctly aligned and positioned in space relative to one
another..
Male/female cleat/socket configurations formed in and adjacent the confronting
bearing-face portions of the inner and outer collar components function under
the
influence of gravity, during such preliminary building construction, not only
to enable
such gravity locking and positioning of the associated frame components, but
also to
establish immediate, substantial stability and moment resistance to lateral
loads, even
without further assembly taking place at the nodal locations of column-beam
intersections.
Following preliminary frame assembly, appropriate tension bolts are preferably
introduced into the collar structures, and specifically into the components of
the outer
collar structures, effectively to lock the inner and outer collar structures
in place
against separation, and to introduce available tension load-bearing
constituents into
the outer collar structures. Such tension load bearing plays an important role
in the
way that the structure of the present invention gathers and couples beam
moment
loads multidirectionally into columns.
Confronting faces between the inner and outer collar components function as
bearing faces to deliver, or transfer, moment loads (carried in beams)
directly as
compression loads into the columns. In particular, these bearing faces deliver
such
compression loads to the columns at plural locations which are angularly
displaced
about the long axes of the columns (because of the axial encircling natures of
the
collars). Such load distribution takes substantially full advantage of the
load-carrying
capabilities of the columns with respect to reacting to beam moment loads.
Accordingly, a building frame structure assembled in accordance with this
invention results in a remarkably stable and capable frame, wherein all
lateral loads
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transfer via compression multiaxially, and at distributed
nodes, into the columns, and are born in a substantially
relatively evenly and uniformly distributed fashion
throughout the entire frame structure. Such a frame
structure requires no bracing or shear walls, and readily
accommodates the later incorporation (into an emerging
building) of both outer surface skin structure, and internal
floor structure.
The nodal interconnections which exist between
beams and columns according to this invention at least from
one set of points of view, can be visualized as
discontinuous floating connections -- discontinuous in the
sense that there is no uninterrupted (homogenous) metal or
other material path which flows structurally from beams to
columns and floating in the sense that beams and columns
could, if so desired, be nondestructively disconnected for
any particular purpose. Thinking about the latter
consideration from yet another point of view, the connective
interface that exists between a beam and a column according
to this invention includes a portion which experiences no
deformation during load handling, such portion being
resident at the discontinuity which exists between beams and
columns at the nodal interfaces.
According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a self-stabilizing, moment-
resistant, collar-form, elongate-column/elongate-beam
interconnect structure for use in a building comprising: a
collar-form column-attachable (CA) member including plural,
laterally outwardly facing, sloping, interconnection bearing
faces, and a collar-form beam-end-attachable (BA) member
including plural, laterally inwardly facing, sloping,
interconnection bearing faces which substantially parallel
said outwardly facing bearing faces, said CA and BA members
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being constructed for seated interconnection in a manner
whereby gravity causes their respective bearing faces to
seat self-seekingly and complementarily relative to one
another in confronting, bearing-face opposition, thereby to
establish nominal, three-dimensional, lateral positional and
moment-resistant stability between the two members without
the requirement for any other interconnecting structure.
According to still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided moment-resistant, spatial-
position-determining and stabilizing interconnect structure
for interconnecting, during the preliminary construction of
a building, the end of an elongate, generally horizontal
beam to an elongate, generally upright column, said
interconnect structure, in operative condition, comprising:
a first, inner, interconnect collar structure anchored to
such a column circumsurroundingly relative to the column's
long axis, and including first, gravity-utilizing, outwardly
facing, sloping, bearing-face substructure including
outwardly facing bearing faces, and second, outer,
interconnect collar structure anchored adjacent the end of
such a beam, and including second, gravity-utilizing,
inwardly facing, sloping, bearing-face substructure
including inwardly facing bearing faces which substantially
parallel said outwardly facing bearing faces, said second,
bearing-face substructure being seatingly mateable, under
the influence of gravity, on and with respect to said first
bearing-face substructure during preliminary building
construction to establish a gravity-locked and stabilized,
moment-resistant interconnection between the associated
column and beam, which interconnection tends to create,
independently, the correct spatial disposition of the column
and the beam in the building.
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According to yet another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided gravity-lock, self-positioning
and stabilizing, moment-frame building structure comprising:
plural elongate columns each equipped, at one or more
locations along their respective lengths, with axially
circumsurrounding inner collar structure which includes
first-gender, gravity-effective cleat structure including
laterally outwardly facing sloping face structure including
outwardly facing faces, and plural elongate beams each
attached, adjacent opposite ends, to outer collar structure
which includes second-gender, gravity-effective cleat
structure that is mateable, under the influence of gravity,
complementarily with said first-gender cleat structure, said
second-mentioned cleat structure including laterally
inwardly facing, sloping face structure which is
complementarily contractible with said first-mentioned
sloping face structure, and which includes inwardly facing
faces that substantially parallel said outwardly facing
faces, gravity-mating of said first-gender and second-gender
cleat and sloping face structures creating therebetween, and
thus between the associated column and beam, a gravity-
locked, stabilized, correctly relatively positioned, moment-
resistant interconnection between that column and beam.
According to a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a self-stabilizing, moment-
resistant, collar-form, elongate-column/elongate-beam
interconnect structure for use in a building comprising: a
collar-form beam-end-attachable (BA) member including
plural, operatively associated, bolt-interconnected
components possessing plural interconnection bearing faces;
and a collar-form column-attachable (CA) member including
plural, operatively associated components having plural
bolt-clearance passages and possessing plural
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interconnection bearing faces; said BA and CA members being
constructed for seated interconnection in a manner whereby
gravity causes their respective components' bearing faces to
seat self-seekingly and complementarily relative to one
another in confronting, bearing-face opposition, thereby to
establish nominal, three-dimensional, positional and moment-
resistant stability between the two members without the
requirement for any other interconnecting structure, said
BA and CA members, when so seated relative to one another,
and with respect to bolts which include shanks
interconnecting said BA members, being positionally related
in a manner whereby the shanks in said bolts extend within
said clearance passages to impeded unseating of the
BA and CA members.
According to yet a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a self-stabilizing, moment-
resistant, collar-form, elongate-column/elongate-beam
interconnect structure for use in a building comprising: a
collar-form column-attachable (CA) member including plural
interconnection bearing faces; and a collar-form beam-end-
attachable (BA) member including plural interconnection
bearing faces; said CA and BA members being constructed for
seated interconnection in a manner whereby gravity causes
their respective bearing faces, which faces each lies in a
plane which slopes downwardly and away from a column long
axis, to seat self-seekingly and complementarily relative to
one another in confronting, bearing-face opposition, thereby
to establish nominal, three-dimensional, positional and
moment-resistant stability between the two members without
the requirement for any other interconnecting structure.
These, and various other, features and advantages
which are offered by this invention will become more fully
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apparent as the description that now follows is read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, isometric view
illustrating a building frame structure which has been
constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown
in a stage of assembly supported on top of an underlying,
pre-constructed, lower building structure, referred to
herein as a podium structure.
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, isolated, isometric view
illustrating collar structure employed at one nodal location
in the building frame structure of Fig. 1 in accordance with
the present invention.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary, cross-sectional
views taken generally along the lines 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5,
respectively, in Fig. 2.
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Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, angularly exploded, isometric view illustrating the
structures of, and the operational relationship between, a pair of inner and
outer collar
components constructed and functioning in accordance with the present
invention.
Figs. 7 and 8 are two different views stylized to illustrate a feature of the
5 present invention involving how gravity lowering of a horizontal beam into
place
between pairs of adjacent columns functions to create, immediately, a moment-
resistant, properly spatially organized, overall building frame structure.
Figs. 9 and 10 are employed herein to illustrate generally how collar
components built in accordance with the present invention function to handle
and
distribute beam moment loads into columns.
Detailed Description of and
Manner of Practicing the Invention
Turning attention now to the drawings, and referring first of all to Fig. 1,
pictured generally at 20 is a building frame structure which has been
constructed in
accordance with the present invention. This structure is also referred to
herein as
building structure, and as a structural system. As will be appreciated by
those skilled
in the art, frame structure 20 might be constructed on, and rise from, any
suitable,
underlying support structure, such as the ground, but in the particular
setting
illustrated in Fig. 1, structure 20 is shown supported on, and rising from,
the top of a
pre-constructed, underlying "podium" building structure 22, such as a parking
garage.
One reason for illustrating structure 20 herein in the context of being on top
of podium
structure 22 is to point out an important feature offered by the present
invention, and
which will be discussed more fully shortly. One should note at this point, in
relation to
what is shown in Fig. 1, that podium structure 22 includes, among other
structural
elements, a distributed row-and-column array of columns, such as those shown
at 22a.
In the context of describing shortly the just-suggested feature and advantage
of the
structure of the present invention, reference will be made to the fact that
the
horizontally distributed row-and-column positions of columns 22a is different
from
that of the columns, now to be more fully discussed, which are present in
frame
structure 20.
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Accordingly, included in frame structure 20, and arranged therein in what has
been referred to as a row-and-column array, are plural, upright, elongate
columns,
such as those shown at 24, 26, 28. The long axes of columns 24, 26, 28, are
shown at
24a, 26a, 28a, respectively. At one elevation in frame structure 20, connected
to
columns 24, 26, 28, through collar structures, or collars (also referred to as
collar-form
interconnect structures), 30, 32, 34, respectively, are elongate horizontal
beams 36, 38,
40, 42, 44, 46, 48. Collars 30, 32, 34, as is true for (and with respect to)
all of the other
collars employed in frame structure 20, are substantially alike in
construction. Collar
30 accommodates the attachment to column 24 of beams 36, 38. Collar 32
accommodates the attachment to column 26 of beams 38, 40, 42. Collar 34
accommodates the attachment to column 28 of beams 42, 44, 46, 48.
It should thus be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention
now being described offers a system for connecting, at a single node of
connection
with a column, up to a total of four beams. As the description of this
invention
progresses herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications
of the
invention can be introduced and employed easily enough to accommodate an even
greater number of connections, at a particular "node of connection".
The specific embodiment and methodology of the invention presented herein,
is(are) shown and described with respect to a building frame structure wherein
the
columns are hollow in nature, are formed of steel, and possess a generally
square
cross-section, with four orthogonally associated, outwardly facing sides, or
faces.
Also, the invention is described herein in connection with employing
conventional I-
beam-configuration beams.
These choices for column and beam cross-sectional configurations should be
considered to be illustrative and not limiting with respect to the scope of
utility, to
advantages offered by, and to characteristics of, the present invention. Put
another
way the structure and methodology of the present invention accommodate wide
ranges
of beam and column configurations and materials.
Continuing now with Fig. 1, one should note therein that the row-and-column
array of columns in frame structure 20 is such that the long axes of the
associated
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columns are not aligned on a one-to-one basis with the long axes of previously
mentioned columns 22a in podium structure 22. It should further be noted that
the
bases of the columns in structure 20 may be anchored in place near the top of
the
podium structure in any suitable manner, the details of which are neither
specifically
illustrated nor discussed herein, inasmuch as these anchor connections form no
part of
the present invention.
Directing attention now to Figs. 1-6, inclusive, the interconnection, or
interface, region between a colunm and a beam according to the present
invention is
specifically discussed with respect to the region where column 28 connects
with the
adjacent ends of beams 42, 44, 46, 48. This region of connection, a nodal
region (or
node), is one which employs previously mentioned collar 34. The description
which
now follows for collar 34 per se should be understood to be essentially a
detailed
description of all of the other collars employed in frame structure 20. With
respect to
this description, four orthogonally associated, outwardly facing, planar faces
28b, 28c,
28d, 28e in column 28 are involved.
As an earlier note here, in Fig. 2, shown in dashed lines at 46a is a
representation of an optional conventional beam "fuse" which may be used in
the
beams in structure 20, if so desired. The functionality of such a fuse, as a
plastic yield
protector is well understood. Representative fuse 46a appears only in Fig. 2.
Collar 34 includes an inner collar structure (or column-attachable member) 50,
and an outer collar structure 52. These inner and outer collar structures are
also
referred to herein as gravity-utilizing, bearing-face structures, or
substructures. The
inner collar structure is made up of four components shown at 54, 56, 58, 60.
The
outer collar structure is made up of four components (or beam-end attachable
members) 62, 64, 66, 68. Each of these components in the inner and outer
collar
structures is preferably made off the job site by precision casting and/or
machining,
with each such component preferably being pre-assembled appropriately with a
column or a beam, also at a off-site location. Inner collar components 54, 56,
58, 60
are suitably welded to faces 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e, respectively, in column 28.
Outer
collar components 62, 64, 66, 68 are suitably welded to those ends of beams
42, 44,
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46, 48, respectively, which are near column 28 as such is pictured in Figs. 2-
6,
inclusive. Such precision manufacture, and pre-assembly with columns and
beams,
results in what will be recognized to be a very high-precision interconnect
system
between beams and columns in frame 20.
Each of the four components just mentioned above (54, 56, 58, 60) which make
up inner collar structure 50 is essentially identical to the other such
components, and
accordingly, only component 58 is now described in detail. Component 58
includes a
somewhat planar, plate-like body 56a, with an inner, planar face 58b which
lies flush
with column face 28d. Body 56a also includes a planar, outer face 58c which
lies in a
plane that slopes downwardly and slightly outwardly away from the long axis
28a of
column 28 (see particularly Figs. 3 and 5). Face 58c is referred to herein as
a bearing
face.
Projecting as an island outwardly from face 58c as illustrated is an upwardly
tapered, wedge-shaped cleat 58d which extends, with generally uniform
thickness,
from slightly above the vertical midline of component 58 substantially to the
bottom
thereof. The laterally and upwardly facing edges of cleat 58d are underbeveled
for a
reason which will become apparent shortly. This underbeveling is best seen in
Figs. 3,
4 and 6. Cleat 58d is referred to herein also as cleat structure, and as
gravity-effective,
first-gender structure.
In building structure 20, inner collar component 58 connects, in a
complementary manner which will now be described, with outer collar component
66
in outer collar structure 52. The somewhat planar body of component 66 has an
outer
face 66a which is welded to beam 46, and which is vertical in disposition in
structure
20. Component 66 also has a broad, inner face 66b which lies in a plane that
substantially parallels the plane of previously mentioned component face 58c
in inner
collar component 58. Face 66b is also referred to herein as a bearing face.
Appropriately formed within the body of component 66, and extending into this
body from face 66b, is an angular, wedge-shaped socket 66c which is sized to
receive,
snuggly and complementarily, previously mentioned cleat 58d. Cleat 58d and
socket
66c are referred to herein collectively as gravity-mating cleat and socket
structure.
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The three lateral walls of socket 66c are appropriately angled to engage
(fittingly)
three of the underbeveled edges in cleat 58d. Socket 66c is also referred to
herein as
gravity-effective, second-gender structure.
Looking now at both of components 58, 66, and completing descriptions of
their respective constructions, formed at the two lateral sides of component
66 are
four, counter-sunk, bolt-receiving bore holes, such as those shown at 66d,
66e, 66f,
66g. Formed in the lateral edges of component body 58a are three related
notches,
such as those shown at 58e, 58f, 58g. Notches 58e, 58f, 58g align with bore
holes
66e, 66f, 66g, respectively, when components 58, 66 are properly seated
relative to
one another as pictured in Figs. 1-5, inclusive. Appropriate dash-dot lines
and cross
marks in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the central axes of these (and other non-
membered)
boreholes, and how these axes (certain ones of them) align with the mentioned
and
illustrated notches. The notches herein are also referred to as bolt clearance
passages.
Returning now to a "larger" point of view regarding the nodal connection
established at collar 34, one can see that the four beams which here connect
with
column 28 do so through the components of the collar's inner and outer collar
structures, both of which make up the entirety of collar 34. In particular,
one should
note that collar 34 essentially circumsurrounds or encircles the outside of
column 28,
as such is viewed along its long axis 28a. Outer collar structure 52 seats
floatingly and
discontinuously (as previously discussed) on inner collar structure 50.
Completing a description of what is shown in Figs. 1-6, inclusive, sets of
appropriate tension bolts and nuts are employed to lock together the
components that
make up the outer collar structures. With reference to the connections
established
through collar 34, four sets of four nut and bolt assemblies join the sides of
outer
collar structure components 62, 64, 66, 68, extending at angles as shown
across the
corners of the resulting outer collar structure. Four such assemblies are
shown
generally at 70, 72, 74, 76 in Fig. 2. Assembly 74, as seen in Fig. 4,
includes a bolt
74a with an elongate shank 74b that extends, inter alia, in the bolt-clearance
passage
created by notch 58f and by the counterpart notch present in adjacent
component 56.
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These nut and bolt assemblies effectively lock the outer collar structure
around
the inner collar structure, and impede vertical movement of the outer collar
structure
relative to the inner collar stnicture. The bolt and nut assemblies also
perform as
tension-transmitting elements between adjacent outer collar components with
respect
5 to moment loads that are carried in the beams which connect through collar
structure
34 to colunm 28. The bolt and nut assemblies assure a performance whereby each
moment load in each beam is delivered by collar 34 in a circumsurrounding
fashion to
colunrn 28.
Switching att.ention now to Figs. 7-10, inclusive, these four arawing .figures
10 (hereiit new and different reference numerals are employed) help to
illustrate certain
assembly and operational features and advantages that are offered by -~he
present
inventi.on. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate stabilizing, positioning, and alignitsg
_ictivities tiI.::i
take place during early building-franie assembly during lowering of b:.arns
:nto place
for connection through the collars to the colunms. Figs. 9 and 10 ill_:strate
generally
how the apparatus of the present inverition fi,tnctions uniquely to
handlemoment loads
that become developed in the beams, and sp:.cifically how these loads are
handled by
delivery through bearing face compression to and around the long axis of a
column.
As will become apparent, some of the moment-handling perfornnancF which is
pictured in Figs. 9 and 10 also takes place during the events pictured in
iFigs, 7 an3 S.
Beginning the discussion of what is showti in Fig. 7, here thc,f: arc i'ausu-
atEd,
fragmentarily and in solid lines (moved positions), two upright coluinn.s 100,
102, aud
a not-yet-in-place, genFrally liorizontal beam 104. Colunm 100 is
appropriately
eqaipped, at a desired e?evation, with an. inner collar structure 106, aitd
colunui 102
with a similar inner collar structure 108. For the puipose of explanation
herein
regarding what is shown in Fig. 7, two particular portions only iniier collar
structures
106, 108 are relevant. These include, in collar 106, an inclined heariug face
106a and
an associated cleat 106b, and in collar 108, an inclined bearing face 108a
atid a
projecting cleat 108b.
Welded, as previously described, to the opposite ends of beai-ii 1.04 ar: two
outer collar structure components .1.10, 112. As was true with regard to the
just-
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mentioned inner collar structure components which are welded to columns 100,
102,
with regard to components 110, 112, there are only two relevant structural
features
that should be identified and addressed specifically. These include an
inclined bearing
face I l0a and a socket 110b in component 110, and an inclined bearing face
112a and
a socket 112b in component 112.
In solid lines, columns 100, 102 are shown inclined away from one another as
pictured in the plane of Fig. 7, and specifically with their respective long
axes, 100a,
102a, occupying outwardly displaced angles al and a2, respectively, relative
to the
vertical. Reference to these angular displacements being outward is made in
relation
to the vertical centerline of Fig. 7. It should also be noted that the angular
vertical
misalignment pictured in columns 100, 102 has been exaggerated for the purpose
of
exposition and illustration herein.
Generally speaking, while there may often (or always) be some lack of true
verticality in columns that have not yet been connected in accordance with the
invention, the out-of-verticality condition (as a practical reality) will
typically be
modest enough so, that upon lowering of a beam into position for attachment,
such as
lowering of beam 110 for attachment (through collar components 106, 108, 110,
112)
to columns 100, 102, the confronting bearing faces and cleat and socket
structure
present in the opposite ends of the beam will be close enough to one another
to cause
the components to engage without special effort required to cause this to
happen.
Upon lowering of beam 104 as indicated by arrow 113, and assuming that the
angular misalignment condition which is exaggerated in Fig. 7 is not quite so
great,
components 106, 110 begin to contact one another, as do also components 108,
112.
Very specifically, with progressive lowering of the beam, the respective
confronting
(and now engaging) cleats and sockets begin to nest complementarily. The
underbeveled edges of the lateral sides of the cleats, in cooperation with the
matching
complementary lateral surfaces in the gathering sockets, to draw the two
columns
toward one another. In particular, the two columns are shifted angularly
toward one
another (see arrows 115, 117) into conditions of correct relative spacing,
alignment
and relative angular positioning, with beam 110 ending up in a true horizontal
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disposition. Such a true horizontal condition for beam 104 depends, of course,
upon
the columns having the correct relative vertical dispositions. Lowering of the
beam,
and urging of the columns into the positions just mentioned, effectively comes
to a
conclusion with gravity causing the beam to "lock" into a condition between
the
columns, with the cleats and receiving sockets fully and intimately engaged,
and with
the major bearing surfaces, 106a, 110a and 108a, 112a, confronting and in
contact
with one another.
It should thus be apparent that the act of lowering the beam into place,
causes
gravity effectively to create a stabilized and positionally locked
relationship between a
pair of columns and a beam. In addition to this action, creates a situation
wherein the
bearing surfaces that confront one another near the opposite ends of the beam,
and
between the relevant inner and outer collar structure components, immediately
self-
position themselves (as influenced by gravity) to deal with certain moment
loads that
may be experienced by the beams immediately thereafter and during ongoing
fabrication of the overall building frame structure.
It should be apparent that, while Figure 7 has been employed to illustrate a
specific condition in a single plane where two columns are effectively splayed
outwardly away from one another, the columns might be in a host of different
relative
angular dispositions in relation to the vertical. For example, they could both
effectively be leaning in the same direction as pictured in Fig. 7, or they
could be
leaning toward one another. Further, they could be leaning in either or all of
those
different kinds of conditions, and also leaning into and/or out of the plane
of Fig. 7.
Fig. 8 pictures schematically this more general, probable scene of column non-
verticality. It does so in a somewhat three-dimensional manner. Here, single
elongate
lines are pictured to illustrate obvious representations of an array of
columns (vertical
lines) and a layer of beams (angled lines) interconnected to the columns
through
collars which are represented by ovate shapes that surround regions of
intersection of
the beams and columns. Black ovate dots, which are presented on certain
regions of
the lines representing beams, along with single-line dark arrows, suggest, in
the case
of the black dots, former non-vertical, angular positions for the upper
regions of the
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13
adjacent columns, with the arrows indicating directions of adjustments that
occur as
various ones of the different beams are lowered into positions between the
columns.
This arrangement of black dots and dark arrows in Fig. 8 clearly illustrates a
very
typical situation where, until a layer, so-to-speak, of beams is set into
place (by
gravity) at a particular elevation in a frame structure, the columns may have
different
conditions and angles of nonverticality.
Still looking at Fig. 8, the black dot and the dark arrow which appear at the
extreme left side of this figure, along with an open, small, ovate dot and an
open
stubby arrow somewhat below and to the right of the left side of Fig. 8,
generally
picture the situation which was described with reference to Fig. 7 above.
Turning attention now to Figs. 9 and 10, and beginning with Fig. 9, here there
is shown a column 120 having an elongate axis 120a coupled through a collar
122 to
four beams, only three of which are shown in Fig. 9 -- these being illustrated
at 124,
126, 128. Digressing for just a moment to Fig. 10 which shows the same beam
and
column arrangement, here, the fourth beam 130 can be seen.
In Fig. 9, beams 124, 128 are shown loaded with moments, such being
represented by arrows 132, 134, respectively. Focusing on just one of these
moments,
and specifically, moment 132, this moment is coupled by bearing-face
compression
through the inner and outer components of collar 122, as indicated by arrow
136. It is
thus through compression that the moment load experienced (as illustrated in
Fig. 9)
by beam 124 is communicated, at least partially, by collar 122 to column 120.
Continuing because of the unique construction of collar 122 in accordance with
the
invention, and because of the presence of tension-transmitting nut and bolt
assemblies
in collar 122, the outer collar structure within collar 122 also delivers
compression
through bearing faces that are present on the right side of collar 122 in Fig.
9. Such
compression delivery is illustrated by arrow 138 in Fig. 9.
It is thus the case that moment 132 is delivered through bearing-face
compression to angularly spaced locations that are distributed around (at
different
angular locations relative to) the long axis 120a of colunin 120. As a
consequence,
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14
major load handling capability of column 120 is called upon and used
immediately to
deal with moment 132.
Moment 134 which has the direction indicated in Fig. 9 creates a similar kind
of reaction in the manner of being delivered by way of compression through
bearing
faces distributed at angularly-spaced locations around the axis of column 120.
It should thus be seen how, because of the unique structure of the nodal
interconnections which exist in the relationship between a beam, a column and
a collar
structure according to the invention, moment loads are offered substantially
the full-
load handling resources of columns. And because of the fact that an overall
frame
structure which is constructed in accordance with the present invention is
made up of
an interconnected network of collar-form nodes, constructed and operating as
described herein, essentially every lateral load delivered into such a
building frame
structure is distributed completely throughout the structure, and handled
quite
uniformly throughout, and by all of, the involved and associated columns.
Fig. 10 illustrates how lateral loads may come into existence in the beams so
as
to create, in a particular plane of beams, horizontal moment loads such as
those
illustrated by arrows 140, 142, 144, 146. If such moment loads come into
existence,
each one of them is effectively delivered as bearing-face compression through
collar
structure to plural, angularly distributed sides of columns, such as column
120. Such
plural-location compression delivery of moment loads 140, 142, 144, 146 is
represented by arrows 148, 150, 152, 154.
Because of the manner just generally described in which the structure of the
present invention performs to handle moment loads in beams, a frame
constructed
according to the invention can be employed as pictured in Fig. 1 --, i.e., on
top of a
podium structure, with respect to which columns in the super structure do not
align
axially with the columns in the podium structure. An important reason for this
advantage is that the structure of the present invention distributes loads in
such a
fashion that all columns in the row and coluinn array of columns,
interconnected
through collar form nodes constructed according to the invention, share
relatively
equally in bearing lateral loads delivered to the superstructure frame.
Specifically all
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of the columns share loads in such a fashion that they can be employed without
requiring that they be aligned with underlying structure columns, at least up
to certain
superstructure building dimensions which are larger than any which would be
typically permitted today under currently applicable building codes.
5 Another important feature of the invention which has already been suggested
earlier is that the components of the collar structures lend themselves to
precise pre-
manufacture in a factory-like setting, and even under automated control, all
with the
result that a building frame can be constructed with a high degree of on the
job
simplicity and accuracy. Not only that, but the particular configurations
proposed for
10 the inner and outer collar components that interconnect beams and columns
cause a
frame, during assembly, and just under the influence of gravity, to lock in a
stabilized
and quite capable moment-load carrying condition, even before tension-carrying
bolt
assemblies are introduced to lock outer collar structures into rigidity
relative to their
various internal components, and to impede separation of inner and outer
collar
15 components.
A further obvious advantage of the invention is that the components proposed
by it are extremely simple in construction can be manufactured economically.
The existence, according to the invention, of nodal interconnections which
have the floating and discontinuous natures mentioned earlier herein results
in a frame
structure wherein, after a severe lateral load event, essentially "resettles"
to its pre-
load condition.
Accordingly, while a preferred embodiment of the invention, and a manner of
practicing it, have been illustrated and described herein, it is understood
that variations
and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
