Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
7fl~8
This invention relate~ to a pre-fabricated
house con~truction and more particularly a
modular-sk0leton structure building construction that
can be quickly assembled from a relatively small number
of pre-fabricated compc~nents with a minimurn input of
unskilled labour.
E~ACK~ROUND OF TtlE INVENTION
.
There is a strong need in the building
construction industry, and particularly the private home
construction industry, for a simple, high quality,
rigid, ~tahle, ~torm and earthquake-proof building
construction sy~tem that utilizes relatively few long
lastirlg components and permit~ rapid building erection
time involvi~g basically unskilled labour. Existing
building con~truction systems in the industrialized
world are expensive, complicated, labour intensive and
time consurJIing to erect.
SUMMARY OE Ttl INVI~ TIOW
~rh~ applicant' fi modular-ske1etvn structure
20 buil~ing construc~ion ~y~teM co~npriaes a skeleton
construction combined wi ~h grid elements . The materials
o~ con~truc~ion are mainly long lasti ng and s~urdy non-
corrodable metals, plastic~ and naturally occuring and
~ynthetic material~. The ~ystem is ver~atile in that
the rnodular-type components permit a wide range of
individual cu~tom de~igns to be constructed. The
materials uaed to con~truct the building are relatively
few in nurnber and type (compared to conventional houses)
and enable ailnple and rapid construction becau~e the
comporlent~ are standardized and pre-fabricated.
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~ ~7~42B
The applicant' 8 con~truction sy~tem i~
particularly suitable for priv~te homes (re~idential
blocks, bungalows and detached house~ and for
indu~trial sh~ds and camps.
The 3ystem i~ believed to be superior to known
construction ~ystems because of the short construction
tims involved and the quality of building that is
erected. Th~ sy~tem is de~igned for easy self-assembly
by basically un~killed labour, including the owner,
~ince all easy-to-follow as~embly plans and drawing~ are
supplied. The systeln perlllit~ flexible d~si~ns and
individual housing developmentR to be custom built to
suit terr~in and individu~l tastes of con~uJIlers.
The structures erected are basically
earthquake-proof, since the colnponencs are somewhat
elastic in nature and neither wood nor stone is used for
load-carrying elemell~s. Th~ system u~es a grid design
comprising a skeleton-type structure constructed of
pre-fabricated elements which can be asselnbled basically
by hand. ~he grid element con~truction ~y~tenl doe~ not
require the use of heavy lift equipment or a crane at
the site.
The grid-type con~truction system can be
disa~embled in whole ~r in par~ thereby perrnitting
exten~ione or modiEications o th0 bu1lding to be made
ea~ily.
Th~ ~y~tem inclu~e~ a baselllent Inade of
alurninwn elements conYtructed accordiny to the ~alne
systelrl a~ the ~uper structure which Ineans ~hat all
component~ r~quired to construct ~n-l colnplete building
-- 2 --
~.~7a~8
including the ba~ement, can be ~upplied by one firm. No
separate bas ment contractor is required. The basement
elements, by utilizing ttle same ba~ic materials, perlnit
short cons~ruction time and dry constfuction
corlditions. The basement includes pre-fabricated
window~ and window-wells.
The basement con~truction i~ of elastic de~ign
and a~ 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 i~ basically unskilled.
All al~ninwn po~ts and all basement w211 elements are of
very stur~y design and feature anticapillary
connections. All window~ and doors of the system have
triple glazing thereby en~uring favourable K-values with
minilnulll thermal conductivi~y. Windows, doors dlld
shutter~ for the ;nain floor are pre-fabricated.
The con~truction system is fully suitable for
coln~lete erection by the buyer. The colll~lete home,
including ba~ement, living level and roof structure, can
be a&selnbled in only ~ few days by ba~ically unskilLed
labour following the as~embly plans, drawiny~ and simple
con~ruction ord~r.
The r~y~tem i8 light-weight, very stable and of
dry and hygienic d9sign. Excellent pfoperties are
o~fered for countrie~ where earthquaXes are a ri~k. The
~keleton-type ~trùcture make~ substantial u0e of
aluminum panel~ in a grid-type 3tructure, and i~
resistant to termite~, timber worms and decay.
r~e sy~teln can be qupplied with different
~ 3
2~
aca~e opt.ionsl eor exalnple:
~a) Pla~tic cement pla~ter fini~h
(b) Buikling paneli in diff~rent colours and
shapes
(c~ Conve~tional tiln~er panels in different
forms
td) Alwninwn panels forming a vapour
barrier,
~e3 Ready-l~ixe~ external pldster with glass
fibre rein~orcement in all colours; and
~) Tile panelLing to form d curtain wall for
decoration. This latter option is not
earthquake-proof.
The grid-type con~tructiorl ~y:iteln i9
particularly well suited for the in~tallation or
a~elnbly of standard ~rid mea~ure doors arld win~ow~
including shutters which do not require modifications.
The construction system includes a
stairlless-steel hot-air heating ~ystem which can be
20 fired with wood. This heatiny systeln i8 ~uitable for
tiled s~ove and fireplace heating underfloor and
radiator heating. The system can include a
reflector-ba~ed solar-collector heating sy~teln.
The construction sy~tem ~ermits ~very type of
home ~orln and layout. All type~ of roof covers can be
u~ed. The type to be u~ed i~ generally dependent on the
built-up enviro~nent. Roof coverirlys con~isting of clay
tiles, Pla~tic tile~ or concrete tiles can be u~ed. A
corrugated-aluminum roof can be ~uppl ied for
earthquake-prone regions. The house system can be
~ ~74~2~
~upplied with different roof options, e.g. flat roof,
flat-~addle roof, s~ddle roo, sutldeck roof, hipped
roo~, hil~p~d saddle roof.
The elelnent~ for the ~ystem can be supplied on
a turnkey basis, including sanitary fittings and
equip-nent, lavatory and bathrooms, completely equipped
kitchens, wall paper~, timber ceilings, floor carpet~,
optional ceramic-tile or wood parquetr-y floors, and
including the complete heating system.
The house component~ are easily transported
from one location to another becau~e parts of the
construction element~ can be used to crate and
containexize other elelnents of the construction. This
significantly reduces packaging cost4, which can be a
najor expenqe item in conventional syste~
STATEMENT OF T~E INv~NlrIoN
. _ __ __ _ _ _ __
The house con~truction of the inventiorl
elnuloyq a skeleton-type structure which ~onsists of
vertical metal profile postq which extell~ froln the
oun~ation oE the house to hori~ontal roof girders in a
single unit of uniform cross-section. The roof girders
are attached to the vertical metal profile post~ by
means of slotted tension bolts. Tha one-piece v~rtical
profile po~t~ have a cross-~ection which is e~sentially
the combination of a T-~ection and a U-~ec~ion. In the
lower uart of the building, ba~emerlt wall elelnent4
axtend into the vertical profile pos~s with angl~d leg~
on the in~ide o the buildiny. In this position, they
are secured by a bracing tube.
~lou~e construction u~iny a ~keleton-type
2~
structure with po~t~ and horizontal girde.r~,
charactaris~d in tha~ the post~ are made of lne~al an~
are single-unit vertical profile po~t~, ~upported on a
foundation whose unifor~n cro~4-~ection extends fran the
foundation to the hori~ontal roof girder~, the vertical
profiled posts and the hori~ontal roof girder~ being
interconnected by tension bolts.
A hou~e construction aB de~cribed wherein each
ten~ion bolt penetrates the re~pective horizontal roof
yirder and engages in a central section of the vertical
profile post with it~ lower end which is split and the
nut of the bolt engage~ in an opening in the central
section.
A hou~e con~truction a~ described wherein
heat~ ulating arld stabilizing ~im~er core~ are
inserted in the upper part of the vertical profile po~t~
on the inner side of the posts.
A house constru~tion ai des~ribed wherein
disa~embleable vertically arranged bdselnellt wall
elelnent~ having approxilllately a U-shape hori~ontaL
cros~-section, with two ley~ extending froln the base
engaging in a rece~s in the vertical profile post.
A house construction a~ de~cribed wherein the
ends of the l~g~ of the basemen~ wall element~ have a
U-shape bend which opens to the outside, with the legs
of the neighbouring ba~ement wall element~ forming a
wedge-~hape recess opening to the in~ide and the leg
end~ engaging in vertical groove~ oE the vertical
profile poets, being ~ecured in that position by a catch
in~erted in the recess of the vertical profile po~t.
4~2~
A house con~t;ruction as descfibed wherein the
basement wall element accomodate~ a pl.ate-type
protec-tive element between its legs.
A house construction a~ de~cribed wherein a
plur~lity of vertical profile post~ a:re perletrated at
leas~ at their upper end~ by horizontal steel cable~
that brace each of the po~t~.
A hou~e con6truction a~ de~cribed wherein the
horizontal floor girders re~t on the upper sides of
basement wall elements and are connected with the
vertical profile post~ by tension element~.
A house construction a~ described wher~in the
vertical profile posts support a wall combination
con~isting of one or Illore wall element.s, colnprising 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
foull~ation, charact0rise~ in that the centr~1 web~ of
the vertical profil~ pos~ 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
i~ pa~sed through lower-lying holding device~, the
holding devices being Eixed in said foundation, and
ten~ioning devices are provided by means of which the
wire cable can be ten3ioned in a downwardly-direct0d
manner whereby pres~ure downwardly on the fourldation i~
~xerted on the vertical profile po8t8.
A building ~tructure of the ~keleton ~tructure
type with vertical profile po~t~ ~pacially oriented
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f~
around the walls, including the corner~, characteri~ed
in that at lea~t the corner vertical profile posts re~t
on and are guyed onto a horizontal girder, in the
vicinity of ~he base of the posts by a longitu~inally
slit tensioning bolt which hold~ the web of the
vertical profile po~t.
A building structure as described wherein the
vertical profile posts are constructed with an I shaped
girder crois-section with bent out flanyes by which two
of said vertical profile po~ts ~re engagable with each
other wh~n juxtapo~itioned with one another in a corner
location.
A building structure as described wherein the
vertical profile posts have therein substantially
ll-chaped hole~ spaced at interva:ls over more than hal~
the length of their web.
A building structure as de~cribed wherein the
lenyth of the web~i~ at least one and one third tilnes
the width of th~ parallel legs.
A building ~tructure as described wherein on
both sides of the space in which the wire cable is
located, wall element~ made of therlnally insulating
material are placed, the outer wall elelnent being
additiolldlly covexetl by a facade eleinent.
A buildin~ structure, chardcteriset1 in that
bas~ en~ wall elem~n~ wi~h an approxilnately ll-shaped
hori~rltal cro~s-sectiorl ar~ providel1 wllerl wdll eletnents
dre j~xtapositioned to one another, the bent-out legs on
the adjacent ba~ement waLl element~ defirlirl~J a V-shap~-l
space, thc legs each containing a bowetl-out section for
- 8 -
~79~8
a terlsioniny bolt to pa~ therethrough, and the baseJnent
wall elements each having a hole therein for
accolno~ating a nut or a bolt-head connected to the
tensioning bolt.
A building structure a~ described whereirl
re~ting on the end face of two adjacent bas~lnent wall
~lements there i9 a nori~ontal floor girder through
which a tensioning bolt passes, the bolt having therein
a longitudinal slit at the ~op in which the central web
of a vertical profile post engages.
A building structure with a roof ridge,
characterised in that par~ of the building is
con tructed a~ a transportation container for the
remaining part~ of the building Rtructure, the
transportation container being slmaller colnpared to the
fini~hed building ~tructure with regard to i~s extent in
the longitudinaL directiorl of the roof ridge.
A building structure as ~escribed wherein the
b~se~ nt wdll elelnent~ r~t dt the ha~e on th~
oundatiorl~, the V-~haped space~ in the e]ements are
o~en toward~ th~ out~ide of the building, an~ the
baRement wall elements are anchored by means of oblique
guying elements.
A building structure a~ de~cribed wherein a
transverse bolt passe~ throu-~h the bent-out le~s of
adjacellt ba~elnent wall ele)nents and the guying element
i8 a wire cable which project~ into the V-Ahape~ ~pace
and i~ connected to the tran~ver~e bolt.
A building ~tructure as ~escribed wherein the
V-Ahaped ~pace which is open towards the out~ide of the
~ ~74~2~3
buildin~ by the bent-out legs o~ the baseln~llt wall
elements is covered and maintained by a vertical rail.
DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 represents a perspective vi~w of part
of the ~keleton structure of the building;
FIGURE 2 repre~ents a vertical section through
one execution varian~ with interior elements;
FIGURE 3 r~presents a hofizontal section
throuyh a vertical profile po~t with basemerlt wall
elements attached to it;
F~GURE 4 represents a hori~ontal 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;
E'IGURE G repr~sents a side e1evation view of a
joint variation used to attach a floor b.~n to a
vertical profile post;
FIGURE 7 r~presents a plan elevation view of a
v~riant of a basement floor be~n attached to a vertical
profil~ post, a~ il1u~trated in FIGUR~ 6;
FICURE 8 represents a detaiL o~ the
ten~ion-bolt connection;
FIGUI~ 9 r~presents a cross-section sid~
e1evatiorl view of a hou~e con~truction;
FIGU~E 10 repr~sents a detailed vertical
cro~s-section view of a basement cei1in~ con~truction;
FIGURE 11 repr~ ents a detailed vertical
cross-~ection view of an upper leveL bearn ~upport;
FIGURE 12 represents a detailed vertical
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;~7~
cross-section view of a variation of upper level bealn
support;
FIGURE 13 represents a detailed vertical
cross-section view of an upper level beaZn support with a
wall attac~nent;
FIGURE 14 represents a horizontal
cross-section view of an exterior wall construction
including a corner;
FIGUR~ 15 representri a detailed horizon~al
cross-sectiorl 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;
F'IGURE 17 represents a perspective view of a
sk~leton ~tructure with v~rtical profile posts w~lich are
guyed down to the foundations by means of a wire cable;
FIGURE 1~ represel~ts a perspective
illustration of an elnbodiment in which -the vertical
l~rofile po ts a~e guy~ onto a fr~n~e con~istiny of
profile rails;
FIGUR~ 19 represents a vertical section
throu~3h a ba~e section with a floor ~irder screwed to a
vertical profile post;
FIGURE 20 represents a horizontal section
through a double-walled embodilnent;
FIGURE 21 repre~ents a perspective
illustratiorl of the bolt connection of a ba~elllent wall
part to ceilin~ bea~ns and vertical profile posts:
l~IGURE 22 represents a perspective
illustratiorl in wtlich d base~ment walL ele~ rlt re~t~ ~t
the base of a concrete forlnulation;
FIGURE 2~ represents a schelndtic perspective
illu~tration of a buildirly s~ructure wher~: a
transpor~ation eontainer ir- be i ng used to accolnodate the
relnainder of the house.
Dl','l'AIhl'D D~CRIPTION OF ~MBODIM~NTS OE' '11111. lLiV~NTION
The house construction usiny the ~keleton-type
de~ign according to tlle invention, as tnay be ~een in
~ICUR~ 1, includes a plurality of vertical profile
posts 2 arranged in parallel grid form. These extend
respectively from a foundation 3, whieh i~ preferably
eonstructed of ma60nry work, to corre~ponding horizontal
roof girder~ 4~ The vertieal profile posts 2 have a
uniform eros~-seetion throughout, and are construc~ed of
a single pieee of metal, preferably alwninurn.
The eross-seetion eonstruetion of vertical
profile post 2 is shown in detail in ~IGUK~ 3. It
eon~ists of an outer trallsver~e web 5, a eentre web 7,
an inner tr~n~ver~e w~b 6 and paralLel l~-J~ ~ ~xtending
froln the latt~r. Legq ~ have on~ U-~hape transv~r~e
web 10 each at their free ends forlnill~ one vertical,
longi~udinal ~roove 15 eaeh. The tWO paraLlel leg~ 8
limit a reee~s 9 whieh opens to the inside of the
hous e .
The eonneetion o~ eaeh horizontal roof
girder 4 with a related vertical profile po~t 2, a~ ean
be jeen in E'IGURE 2, i9 Inade by rneans of a tension
bolt 14, whieh penetrates the horizontal roof girder 4
in one ~ore. In the centre web 7 of edch vertieal
profile post 2, clo~e to it~ upper end, there is
- 12 -
positioned one opening 16 to take up the nut 11. The
lower end of the shank of ten~ion bolt 14 ha~ a
longitudinal groove which engages in the centre web 7 of
the vertical profile po~t 2. The nu~ 11 is placed on
the yrooved end of tension bolt 14, enyaging in
opening 16. By clamping it, a force is exerted which
contracts the two element~, a~ shown in detail in
~IGUR~ 6.
Rafters 18, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, are
placed on the upper side of the horizontal roof
gixders 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 provide a support for the vertical
profile posts 2. Other steel cableR 20 are also located
in the hori~ontal roof girders 4. The vertical profile
posts 2 ar~ spaced alld braced from edch o~her pref~rably
by horizorltal tension bol~.
lrl tt~ wr~ r~lly irl
l~IGURE ~ arl~ in d~tail itl l~'LCUI~ 3, there are verticcllly
placed baselnent wall element~ 24 along the inside of the
house. These coslsist preferably of alu~ or other
suitable materials an~i include a flat lLate section 26
and two legs 28 sloping downward at the ends and forming
an essentially U-shape cross-section ~w}-len seen in a
horizontal plane as in ~IGUR~ 3). The two legs 28 are
tapered toward each other ~o that a w~-lge-shape
opening 31 forms between two neighbouring basernent wall
element~ 24 ~see E'IGURE 3). The individual baselnent
wall elements 24 r~t against each other and their width
- 13 -
~ ll7~L4 Z8
is sized such that any two such basement wall
elements 24 side by side car1 be arranged between two
vertical profile postA 2. The ends 29 of the leys 28 o
the basement wall elements 24 are bent to fo~m a U shape
and engage between the two parallel legs 8 on a related
vertical profile post 2, in which they are securecl by a
vertical braciny tube l9. In the braced conditioll, the
bent ends 29 engage in vertical grooves lS of the
vertical profile posts 2, for1lle(1 by transverse tabs lO
at the ends of parallel legs 8. The bracillg tube 19 is
only inserted from above ater the basement wall
elements 24 have b~en installed and ensures that the
basement wall element~ 24 are secured in their
respective positions.
Parallel to the plate element 2G of the
basement wall ele1nents 24, protective boards 34 are
inserted, and these may, for example, be made of
expanded plastic or impregnated corruyated cardboard.
Panel element~ 32 are installed between the
inner and outer transver4e webs 5 and 6 of the vertical
proile po6ts 2 and are adapted in heiyht to correspond
with the terrain. Panel ele1nents 32 may be cc~nstructecl
of a core of cork particles sandwiche~1 between particle
board outer panel~ utilizing adhesive and considerable
heat and ~ressure. ~anel elements 32 n1ay also be
expand~d pol~tyrene beads sandwiche~ between illner,
layer~ of pdrticle board an~ outer layer~ of aluminwn
~heetir1g utilizincJ ad11esive, hedt ar1d ~-re~ure.
In the part of the vertical proile posts 2
~xtending above basement level, timber cores 36 are used
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~'7~
in a dual manner as a reinforcement of the vertical
profile posts 2 for heat insulation and fire protection.
The hori~ontal flooc girders 38 are supported by the
upper edge of the basement wall elelnents 24 and
preferably contain one shoulder each. E'louring is laid
on floor yirders 38.
FIGU~ 4 ~hows the fa~terlincJ of one floor
girder 38 to one vertical profile po~t 2. An angular
tab 44 is attached to both sides of the floor girder 3
by mean~ of bolts 46 and screws 480 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
~upported by the transverse tabA 10 at the end of the
parallel legs 8, when nuts 43 have beerl Lightened.
E'ICUR~S 2 and 5 (the latter in detdi1) show a
varidnt ~uitabl~ for ~uildiny~ with int~rior Eitting~.
I~ o~ n~k~ ~2, ~ u~l~wl~ lt~ aul~' 4, ~lu~
are a pair of nearly Z-shape attachlnent elemerlts 56,
which grip behlnd the tran~verse web~ 6 of the vertical
profile post 2. Tab~ 58 are attached to the respective
elements 56 by means of bolts 60, allowin~ the floor
girders 38 to be ~ecured against the transverse tabs 10
of the vertical profile post 2. A vertical tension bolt
G2 penetrates floor girder 38 and a rec~angular binding
rafter 63, horizontally installed, on the underside of
the joist. ~upporting wall element~ 64 are ~rovide~ o
the inside of the building on which the floor elelnent~
~ 15 -
Z~
are placed.
On the outsi-le of the building (a3 6hown in
FIGURE 5), the outer transverse webs 5 of the post 2 are
surrounded by an insulation layer 54 to enhance hea~
in~ulation properties. Extt3rnal acadl3 elements 50 are
fastened to the separating walls 32 b~ mean~ of
~pacers 52. The panel-type separating walls 32 are
inserted between the outer tran~vers~ webs 5 and the
inner transver~e webs 6 of the vertical ~rofile 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 po~t 2 ia 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
t~sioning ~vice. This ten~ioniny device contain~ a
cone which engag~ri on one side in an opening or a
longitudinal hole by mealls of a nut which re~ts in floor
gird~r 38 ~siulilar to ~crew-type connection 46 shown in
FICURE 4) to pull the face 39 of the floor yirdt3r 38
against the transve~se tabs 10 of the vertical profile
post 2.
Another variant is characterised by extended
tension bolt~ 14, whicll penetrate th0 ra~ters L8 as well
as the hori~ontal roof girder 14 and draw these again6t
the horizontal roof girder 14.
FICURE 7 illustrates a plan sectiorlal view of
a method of ~ecuring a floor yirder 3~ to a vertical
- 16 -
2~3
profiLe poat 2, which In~thod ~ alterrlative ~o tho~
illustrated and di~cussed above in associ~tion with
FIGUxES 4 ~nd 5. A po~t connector 65 i~ secured to
floor gir~er 38 by a bolt 66. Wherl the girder 38 is
being installed, connector 65 i~ tippe~ upwardly about
bolt 66, the girder i~ slid down the post 2 from the
top, and then, when in place, connector ~5 i5 tilted
hori~ontally and ~napped in place about post 2.
Connector 65 may then be nailed to girder 38 Por
strength. A vertical wood core piece 67 is positioned
within po~t 2 as ~hown.
A ~ide elevation vi~w of conslector 65,
bolt 66, floor girder 38, and post 2, as in~talled, is
illustrated in FIGURE 6. A stiffener 68 i~ located
below girder 38 where it joins post 2.
Referring to E'IGURE 9, which represents a side
eleva~ion ~ro ~-~ection view of a colllpl~t~l hoU9&
cvn~truction partly excavated into the si(ie of a hill,
it may be seen that, except for the part that is
un~er~round, which preferably i~ of alu~ ulll, th~ ~a~ic
frame-work for the exterior walls consists of vertical
profile po~t 2, external facade elements 50, insulating
panel~ 32, interior panel~ 34, and internal faca~e
sheet~ 24, connected and fitte~ together as shown. The
roof, includiny exterior ~hingles 70 or the like, and
underlying sheetiny 72, and braciny 74, are ~noun-ted on
rat~r~ 18, which are secured together by ~teel
c~bles 20, and ~ecure~ to the vertical profile posts 2
by mean~ o ten~ion bolt~ 14 and po~t opening~
'l'he basement floor is normally pour
- 17 -
~L7~
concrete, with a floor fini~h o~ some conventional type
above it. The basement wall that is against the
excavated earth can be con~tructed of some suitable
ear~h contacting ulaterid1. Preferably, al~nill~n inner
panels 80 and 82 with expanded poly~tyrerle foarn cores
and aluminum exterior ~heet~ for corro~ion ~,rotection
against ground fl~id~ are u~ed. The vertical profile
po~ts 2 on that 3ide of the building are secured on the
foundation by bolts 84. An outer wall base plate 76
made of an inert material seals the outer walls ~ith the
surrounding ground. The interior surface can be a
bas~nent wall element 24 to corform with the opposite
and a~jacent wall~ of the ba~ement. Reinforcing
laterally extending steel cabl~l or rods 84 can be
~ecured in the basement walls.
The rnain floor of the buildiny i~ 6upported by
laterally exterlding floor girders 38. Ttlese are each
conn~cted at the end~ to re~pective posts 2 by
connecting mean~ such as that di~closed and ~iscussed
above in r~lation to FIGURES 4 and 5, including bolt~ 42
or 46, or by the mean~ discus~ed previously in relation
to FIGURES 6 and 7. The floor girders 3~ support cross
beaJns 86, 100r ~h~eting 88, and overlying carpet or
other floor material.
The ba~ernent ceiling i8 formed by panel~ 90,
held in pl~ce between the parallel floor girder~ 38.
The main floor ceiling i~ constructe(l in a manner
somewhat analo~3o~s to the floor betwe~en the baselnent and
the Illa.~n floor, althouyh the main floor ceiling doe~ not
have to be able to ~u~port a traffic load and hence can
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~7~
be of somewhat lighter construction. RooE girder~ 4 are
po itioned betweerl an~ connected to r~spective pO~ff 2
and rafter~ 18. Panel~ 92 are positioned betwe~n the
roof girders 4 to o~n the main floor ceiling.
FIGURE 10 illu~trate~ a typical cross-section
floor con~truction including a floor yird~r 38, ceiling
panels 90 on eact~ side and floor sheeting ~8 (all shown
in section).
FIGURE 11 illus~rates a typical crc~ss-section
of floor con~truction taken at a point where a baqement
wall is in place. The wall panel 94 is connected to
ceiling panel~ 90 by means of a cross brace 96. A pair
of co~ds 98 i~ positioned between wall panels 94 an~
ceiling panel~ 90 to provi~e a t:ight joint.
FIGURE 12 illu~trates a typical cros~-section
of an alternative floor con~truction showing floor
girder 38 and panels 90 in section. This cross-section
~hows a dacorative bealrl 100 which is suitable in areas
where there i~ no wall.
FIGURE 13 illustrate~ a typical cross-section
of an alternative floor construction sl~owiny floor
gircler 38 and panels 90 in 6ection and a ~all panel 94
also in ~ection. The wall panel i~ secure~ irl place
with nail~ 102 betweerl parallel runners 104.
As ffhown in F~GURE 14, which illustrates a top
~ectional view of a typical wall confftruction, th~ walls
can be constructed o~ three basic layerff of ma~erial~,
i r~quired, for maxilnum hea~ insula~iorl benefits, both
to keep heat in the building in cold climates or keep
heat out of the building in hc)t climates. One or two of
-- 19 --
these wall3 can be omitted, if required.
The vertical profile po~t~ 2 are ~ecured
spacially by steal rod~ 20. Panels 32 are po~itione~
between each of the posts 2. A vertical timber core 36
i~ po~ition~d within each po~t 2. Insulation 106 iA
installed between the panels 32 and the outer wall 50.
Inller walls constructed of panels 34 are secured -to the
inner sides o postq 2. ~IGURE 14 also shows sections
of wall detail made up of support pos-ts 110, wall
sandwich panels 113, door frames 125, and corner support
posts 126.
FIGURES 15 and 16 illu6trate plan section
views of wall sectionq useful respectively for a cold
weather country and a hot weather country. The wall
construction ~hown in FI~URE 15 ha~ insulation 69 in the
wall cavity. The wall con~truction shown in
FIGURE 16 ha~ only air in the cavity. Cool air ~roln the
b~ tl~, or ~ tl~r~t~ y ~ ir ~s~ ioll~r ~ y
circulated through this cavity to help keep the wallq
cool.
The panels 32 positioned between the vertical
profile postq 2, and elsewhere in the building are known
and can be constructed in a number of alternative
conv~ntional ways.
FIGURE 17 qhows a skeleton structure in which
firstly the vertical profile posts 2 ar~ erected. They
rest on foundations 3 which are preerably made of solid
building materials. The lower ends of the vertical
profile po~ts 2 are ~et down freely on these
foundation~; however, it would also be conceivable ~or a
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~7~
short section to be built in. On -their central web, the
vertical profile po~t~ 2 are provided with ~-shaped
cut-out~ 16 which are spaced at intervals and extend
ov~r the whole height. In the lowe~t zone of each of
the~e vertical proile postu 2, and at a defined
distance froln their lower end face, a bore i~ proYided,
through which a wire cable 22 i9 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 BO that when the wire cable 22 is tensiorled with
a tensioning device a downwards traction effect on the
foun~ations 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 nu~ 11 by medns of which
the t~nsioning force can be produced. The luy 23 ~nay
dlso ~e con~tructed as a hook, ring or tubuLar part, arld
p~r~l~it~ relative di~place~ nt therethrouyll of the wire
cable 22 in its longitudinal direction. In this way,
the ~tability of the building structure is greatly
increased in the event Or earthquakes or 4torms.
FIGURE 18 ~hows a generally similar
construction to that in FIGURE 17, ex~ep~ that, instead
of foundation~ made of building material~, floor
rails 25 made of metal are provided. These are
connected ~ogether at the corners to form a frame.
Again, the vertical profile posts 2 rest freely on these
ba~e rail B 29 and are urged downwardly by the wire
cable 22. An upwardly extending flange 27 on the inner
face of the base rail 25 act3 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 ten~ioned at it~ re&pective end, can be
u~ad, or only one sinyle wir~ cable 22 Inay be u~ed,
extending over all four side~ of the building.
FIGURE 19 represents an embodiment of a
buildi~g structure which does not have a basement. The
floor joi6ts 38 each rest on ~upporting ~locks 37 which
are rnade, for exa~ple, from aeroconcrete and rest
direc-tly on the ground. The vertical p~ofile posts 2 in
this instance are tensioned on floor joists 38 made of
wood by means of a ten~ioning bolt 14 which iR slit
lonyitudinally through it~ upper section and engages
with the central web 7 of the vertical profile post 2.
The nut 11 i~ located in the hole 16 through the
vertic~l profile post 2 and thus holds the two ~lit
part~ o~ the terl~ionirl~ screw 14 together and make~ it
po~sible to s~t the vertical profile posts 2 firmly
on the floor joiste 38. A fralnework 53 of lathes i~
built on the floor jois~ 38, and the floor panels 51 or
the like are laid on thi~ framework.
~ IGURE 20 ~how~ a horiYon~al section through a
building struct~re in w~ich a double-wall type of
construction is u~ed. In this ~ructure, the H-~haped
vertical profile post~ 2 are di~po~ec~ so that the
central web 7 extend~ at right-angle~ to the respective
side of the building. In the corrlers, the~e vertical
profile po~t~ 2 engage with each other and th~reby
- 22 -
z~
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 engaye in the
vertical pxofile posts 23. ~etween these outer and
inner wall panel~ 32, 33, there i~ a space 35 in which
the lower par~ of the wire cable 22 with the tensioning
devices 11, 5S i~ located. Facade elemen~s 50 made, for
example, out of concrete, are fi~ed on the outer wall
panel 32. This double-walled method of construciton
provides an additional insulatin~ and ventilation
effect, u~eful in both cold and hot regions. In hot
regions, the air itl the space 35 may be cooled, which
provides an air-conditioning efect.
FIGURE 21 shows a perspective illu~tration 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
hori~ontal ~ection and are made, for example, from
aluminwn, have a flat vertical plate element 2~ and a
bsnS-out leg 28 on both ~ides. Wherl two of such
ba~elnent wall alement~ 24 are juxtapositioned together,
a V-~haped ~pace 31 i~ produced between the respective
leg~ 28. A bowe~-out ~ection 49 for the passaye
therethrough of a tensioning bolt 14 i8 provided towards
the top of the legs in the central reyion. At a certain
distance from the upper edges of these basement wall
elements 24, rectangular holes 41 are provided in the
legs 2R, and a nut 11, or a bolt-head, is located in
these holes. The nut 11 lies again~t a washer 45
adapted to the hole 41 and provided with bent-up tabs to
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~ ~,i
~:~L7~2~
hold it in position.
The horizontal floor joist 38 is ~upported on
the upper edge of the basement wall elements 24. A
piece of sheet metal 47, serving to distribute the
pre~ure, is di~posed b~tween the floor joiit 38 and the
ver~ical profile post 2 placed thereon. A nut 11 is
located in the cut-out 16 in the central web 7 of ~hi~
vertical profile post 2, being screwed onto the
longitudinally slit tensioning bolt 14. The central
web 7 of the vertical profile post Z project~ into this
longitudinal slit in the tensioning bolt 14, 80 that a
secure connection iB obtained when the nut 11 is ~crewed
down tightly. The central web 7 and the longitudinal
c~ntral axis of the floor joist 38 are located at least
approximately in the same vertical plane. The distance
"a" of this central web 7 ~hould ~nount to at least on~
and one third tilneR the width "b", and preferably to
approxilllately one alld ~even-eighths time~ this width.
The end~ of the parallel leg~ 8 are provided with
transverse tabs 10 which extend parallel ~o the cen~ral
web 7. ~he end~ of th~ tabs 10 are ben~ inwards to forln
vertical grooves lS.
In FIGURE 22, an embodiment is shown in which
the basement wall element~ 24 rest at the base on the
concrete foundations 3. The V-shaped space 3l forloed by
two adjacent bcnt-out les 28 is open towar~s the out~ide
of the building and is covered on the outside by a
vertical rail 77. This ha~ a substantially U-shaped
cro~s-section and each end engages behind the reRpective
channels 83 at the ends of the legs 28 by inwardly-
- 24 -
projecting rail sections 81. In order to enable the
~ertical rail~ 77 to be inser~ed 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 i~ the foundations 3 or has been harn~ered into
the ground. The wire cable 73 i8 formed into a loop 89
in the vicinity o the picket B7. It i~ also possible
to e~fect adju table tensioning of ~he wire cable 73 by
using a tensioning bolt. This oblique tensioning is
carried out mainly on 910ping sites, or when the
building is provided with a basernent on one sille, 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 ba~elnent wall element~ 24.
~IGURE 23 shows schema-tically how part of the
builiding ~tructure carl serve as a transportation
container in which the remaining ~tructural eleluents of
the building which is to be erected ax~ corltained. Two
floor joi~ts 38 can be used as ~kid~. In this way, the
container 59 can be transported with the aid of a
traction vehicle in ~now in an upright position, in the
direction of the arrow T, the lang~h of the building
being governed by the length of the floor joists 38, and
the width correspondirlg approxirnately to the distance
between the two floor jois-t~ 38. The dimensions of the
~ 25 ~
~74~8
trarls~or~d~ion contain~r 59 in the longitudinal
direction of the roof ridge 57 i~ le~s than that of the
finished erected ~uilding. In ~his way, addi~ional
packiny cost~ are avoided an~ it is possible to deliver
to site even larye-roomed buildinys wi~h d SlilalL
transportation volume.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the
art in the light of the foregoing disclo~ure, many
alterations and modifications are possible in the
practice of this invention without departing from the
spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scop~ of ~he
invention i~ to be construed in accordance with the
substance of the following claims.
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