MODULAR BUILDING
United States Patent 3662508
A modular building is constructed of premanufactured panels interlocked by means of integral latching devices on a system of specially constructed columns and beams. The modular building is fireproof and rigid. A minimum number of non-integral fastening devices is needed.
US Patent References:
Metal tiling
Bretland - November 1934 - 1980906
Self-supporting building member and joint therefor
Kotrbaty - June 1935 - 2005146
Metal frames for constructing building boards
Rafter - June 1935 - 2005301
Panel fastener
Bates - January 1938 - 2104550
Building construction
Olsen - April 1943 - 2317634
Metal tiling
Bretland - November 1934 - 1980906
Self-supporting building member and joint therefor
Kotrbaty - June 1935 - 2005146
Metal frames for constructing building boards
Rafter - June 1935 - 2005301
Panel fastener
Bates - January 1938 - 2104550
Building construction
Olsen - April 1943 - 2317634
Application Number:
05/077904
Publication Date:
05/16/1972
Filing Date:
10/05/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Avco Corporation (Nashville, TN)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
52/580, 52/781
International Classes:
E04B1/24; E04B1/94; E04B2/58; E04C2/38; E04B1/54
Field of Search:
52/580,589,591,594,495,286,285,393,581
Primary Examiner:
Faw Jr., Price C.
Claims:
I claim
1. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and a seal between adjacent panels, said seal including a resilient pad.
3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient pad is mounted on a T-flange, said pad being mounted on the leg of said T-flange, said leg being positioned in the butt joint between said panels, the head of said T-flange covering said joint.
4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein first and second resilient pads are mounted on first and second T-flanges, one of said T-flanges being positioned with its head covering the inner side of said joint, the head of the other of said T-flanges covering the outer side of said joint.
5. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said columns comprises a cylindrical tube enclosed by a plurality of intermediate flat layers of rigid fireproofing material and an outer layer of rigid sheet metal, said layers providing a square outer cross section.
7. The invention as defined in claim 6 and a lower horizontal support for said wall, said support having spaced upstanding cylindrical pins, said cylindrical pins projecting into said cylindrical tubes of said columns for supporting and positioning the lower end of said column.
8. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said columns comprises a cylindrical tube enclosed by a plurality of intermediate flat layers of rigid fireproofing material and an outer layer of rigid sheet metal to provide a square outer cross section, said tabs and tab-receiving slots being located on said outer layers of respective columns.
10. The invention as defined in claim 9, the interconnection between each column and said lower support for said wall includes an upstanding cylindrical pin secured on said support, said cylindrical pin projecting into the cylindrical tube of said column, each of said pins providing a predetermined position for each of said columns on said support.
11. The combination comprising:
12. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
13. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
1. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and a seal between adjacent panels, said seal including a resilient pad.
3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient pad is mounted on a T-flange, said pad being mounted on the leg of said T-flange, said leg being positioned in the butt joint between said panels, the head of said T-flange covering said joint.
4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein first and second resilient pads are mounted on first and second T-flanges, one of said T-flanges being positioned with its head covering the inner side of said joint, the head of the other of said T-flanges covering the outer side of said joint.
5. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said columns comprises a cylindrical tube enclosed by a plurality of intermediate flat layers of rigid fireproofing material and an outer layer of rigid sheet metal, said layers providing a square outer cross section.
7. The invention as defined in claim 6 and a lower horizontal support for said wall, said support having spaced upstanding cylindrical pins, said cylindrical pins projecting into said cylindrical tubes of said columns for supporting and positioning the lower end of said column.
8. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said columns comprises a cylindrical tube enclosed by a plurality of intermediate flat layers of rigid fireproofing material and an outer layer of rigid sheet metal to provide a square outer cross section, said tabs and tab-receiving slots being located on said outer layers of respective columns.
10. The invention as defined in claim 9, the interconnection between each column and said lower support for said wall includes an upstanding cylindrical pin secured on said support, said cylindrical pin projecting into the cylindrical tube of said column, each of said pins providing a predetermined position for each of said columns on said support.
11. The combination comprising:
12. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
13. A wall for a modular building construction comprising:
Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a modular premanufactured building having a self-supporting frame structure comprised of horizontal beams and vertical columns. The frame is closed by means of wall panels inserted in the spaces between the columns and beams and secured in place by means of built-in latching devices. At the top and bottom, the panels are locked by means of pins on the beams. At the sides, the panels are locked by means of unique integral connectors which prevent both lateral and transverse motion of the panels.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a modular building comprising a self-supporting frame structure and a plurality of enclosing panels secured to the frame by means of integral locking devices.
Another object of this invention is to provide means for rigidly interlocking two or more panels.
Still another object of this invention is to provide means for rigidly securing a first member to a second member, said means including a plurality of tabs projecting from the edge of one member, each of said tabs projecting at an angle to the vertical and including a wedging surface, a circular slot in the edge of the other member, said slot having a diameter equal to the length of said tab for receiving said tab, the surface surrounding said slot being wedged by the tab, and the direction of the angle of certain of said tabs being opposite to the direction of the others.
For further objects and advantages of this invention, reference should be made to the following detailed drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a view of the overall frame structure of a modular building;
FIG. 2 is a section taken through the line 2--2 in FIG. 1 showing the details of construction of a column;
FIG. 3 is a section taken through the line 3--3 in FIG. 1 showing the detail of the connection of an I-beam to a column;
FIG. 4 is a top view showing the arrangement of panels between two columns;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing panels in place; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a panel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows the frame of a modular building constructed in accordance with this invention. A plurality of concrete pillars 10 provide the foundation for the frame which includes a plurality of horizontal I-beams 12. Upstanding pins 14, welded to the I-beams 12 at predetermined locations, serve to locate and secure vertical columns 16. The frame structure includes a plurality of horizontal lower I-beams 18 and horizontal upper I-beams 20 extending between the columns 16 and secured thereto. The roof support is provided by means of I-beams 19, provided with downwardly directed pins 21 contained within the ends of the columns 16.
The lower I-beams 18 are provided with a plurality of upwardly extending pins 22 while the upper I-beams 20 are provided with a plurality of downwardly extending pins 24. As will be seen, the pins 22 and 24 are used for securing the upper and lower edges of the wall panels in place.
The details of the columns 16 are shown in FIG. 4. Each column comprises a cylindrical steel tube 26 which provides the basic structural support of the column. The bottom end of tube 26 when in place on the I-beam 12 receives the pin 14 and is held in place thereby. The top end of tube 26 receives the pin 21 on the roof I-beam 19. The tube 26 is fireproofed by means of two overlapping layers of gypsum board 28 so that the cross section of the column is square or rectangular. The gypsum board is then enclosed by a sheet metal housing 30.
The lower I-beams 18 are secured to the I-beams 12 by means of power-driven nails, welding, rivets, or any suitable fastening means. The end of each upper I-beam 20 is secured to a tube 26 by means of a short length of a quarter round section 25 cut from a tube of the same diameter. The section 25 is secured by welding at one end 27 to the I-beam 20 and secured at the other end to the tube 26 by means of a power-driven nail 29.
Wall panels are secured to the sides 32 and 34 of the housing 30 which is provided with flanges 36, 38 to form channels for receiving the ends of the wall panels. Each side 32 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is provided with tabs 46 while circular slots 48 are provided on each side 34. As will be seen, the panels are secured to the column between the flanges by means of corresponding slots and tabs.
All the panels are identical. Each consists of a sheet metal frame 50, the inner and outer surfaces of which are covered by wall boards 52 and 54, respectively. The frame 50 consists of side members 56 and 58, a top member 60, and a bottom member 62. The top and bottom members 60 and 62 are provided with holes 64 and 66, respectively, for receiving the pins 22 and 24 in the I-beams 18 and 20.
The side member 56 is provided with tabs 68 which are identical to the tabs 46 in the column 16. The side member 58 is provided with circular slots 70 which are identical to the slots 48 in the columns 16. The length of the tabs is slightly less than the diameter of the circular slots so that when properly aligned, a tab can enter a corresponding circular slot in an adjacent column or panel.
The plane of each tab 68 and 46 is at an angle with respect to the vertical. As shown in the drawing, one tab is set with an inwardly directed angle while the next is set with an outwardly directed angle. In addition, each tab is provided with an angled undersurface 72. After a tab enters a slot, the angled undersurface 72 permits the entire panel to be lowered until it wedges the sheet metal surrounding the slot. This wedging prevents lateral movement of the panels. Moreover, since the tabs are alternately displaced inwardly and outwardly, the tabs lock the adjacent panels or columns so that transverse movement (inwardly and outwardly) is not permitted.
The cross section of a portion of a wall is shown in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 4, two panels 50 are installed between two columns 16 by locking the panels to a respective column and to one another. The connection of the two panels is waterproofed by means of a seal 74 consisting of inner and outer T-flanges 76 and 78, which together form channels for receiving the ends of the panels. The T-flanges extend from the top of the panel to the bottom and are provided with holes 80 which are aligned with the holes 70, the tabs 68 projecting through the holes 80 and 70 to latch the panels together. Waterproof resilient pads 82 are inserted between the T-flanges 76 and 78.
The advantages from the invention result from the fact that the building is almost entirely premanufactured. That is, almost all of the parts, the panels, the beams, the seals and the locking devices are capable of mass production techniques. In addition, the assembly is accomplished with locking devices that are integral with or preassembled on the panels and beams, and a minimum of fastening devices is required. The locking devices are of such a nature that reasonable manufacturing tolerances are permitted, while at the same time, a sealed, rigid structure is produced. The building can be fabricated and assembled to meet the most rigid building codes.
ALTERNATIVES
Many alternatives within the invention are available. For example, instead of securing the pins 14 to the horizontal I-beams 12, the pins could be mounted on steel strips which are then imbedded in and supported by a concrete slab or foundation. Moreover, the panels may be insulated and fireproofed, and they may be formed with windows, vents, etc.
The invention relates to a modular premanufactured building having a self-supporting frame structure comprised of horizontal beams and vertical columns. The frame is closed by means of wall panels inserted in the spaces between the columns and beams and secured in place by means of built-in latching devices. At the top and bottom, the panels are locked by means of pins on the beams. At the sides, the panels are locked by means of unique integral connectors which prevent both lateral and transverse motion of the panels.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a modular building comprising a self-supporting frame structure and a plurality of enclosing panels secured to the frame by means of integral locking devices.
Another object of this invention is to provide means for rigidly interlocking two or more panels.
Still another object of this invention is to provide means for rigidly securing a first member to a second member, said means including a plurality of tabs projecting from the edge of one member, each of said tabs projecting at an angle to the vertical and including a wedging surface, a circular slot in the edge of the other member, said slot having a diameter equal to the length of said tab for receiving said tab, the surface surrounding said slot being wedged by the tab, and the direction of the angle of certain of said tabs being opposite to the direction of the others.
For further objects and advantages of this invention, reference should be made to the following detailed drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a view of the overall frame structure of a modular building;
FIG. 2 is a section taken through the line 2--2 in FIG. 1 showing the details of construction of a column;
FIG. 3 is a section taken through the line 3--3 in FIG. 1 showing the detail of the connection of an I-beam to a column;
FIG. 4 is a top view showing the arrangement of panels between two columns;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing panels in place; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a panel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows the frame of a modular building constructed in accordance with this invention. A plurality of concrete pillars 10 provide the foundation for the frame which includes a plurality of horizontal I-beams 12. Upstanding pins 14, welded to the I-beams 12 at predetermined locations, serve to locate and secure vertical columns 16. The frame structure includes a plurality of horizontal lower I-beams 18 and horizontal upper I-beams 20 extending between the columns 16 and secured thereto. The roof support is provided by means of I-beams 19, provided with downwardly directed pins 21 contained within the ends of the columns 16.
The lower I-beams 18 are provided with a plurality of upwardly extending pins 22 while the upper I-beams 20 are provided with a plurality of downwardly extending pins 24. As will be seen, the pins 22 and 24 are used for securing the upper and lower edges of the wall panels in place.
The details of the columns 16 are shown in FIG. 4. Each column comprises a cylindrical steel tube 26 which provides the basic structural support of the column. The bottom end of tube 26 when in place on the I-beam 12 receives the pin 14 and is held in place thereby. The top end of tube 26 receives the pin 21 on the roof I-beam 19. The tube 26 is fireproofed by means of two overlapping layers of gypsum board 28 so that the cross section of the column is square or rectangular. The gypsum board is then enclosed by a sheet metal housing 30.
The lower I-beams 18 are secured to the I-beams 12 by means of power-driven nails, welding, rivets, or any suitable fastening means. The end of each upper I-beam 20 is secured to a tube 26 by means of a short length of a quarter round section 25 cut from a tube of the same diameter. The section 25 is secured by welding at one end 27 to the I-beam 20 and secured at the other end to the tube 26 by means of a power-driven nail 29.
Wall panels are secured to the sides 32 and 34 of the housing 30 which is provided with flanges 36, 38 to form channels for receiving the ends of the wall panels. Each side 32 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is provided with tabs 46 while circular slots 48 are provided on each side 34. As will be seen, the panels are secured to the column between the flanges by means of corresponding slots and tabs.
All the panels are identical. Each consists of a sheet metal frame 50, the inner and outer surfaces of which are covered by wall boards 52 and 54, respectively. The frame 50 consists of side members 56 and 58, a top member 60, and a bottom member 62. The top and bottom members 60 and 62 are provided with holes 64 and 66, respectively, for receiving the pins 22 and 24 in the I-beams 18 and 20.
The side member 56 is provided with tabs 68 which are identical to the tabs 46 in the column 16. The side member 58 is provided with circular slots 70 which are identical to the slots 48 in the columns 16. The length of the tabs is slightly less than the diameter of the circular slots so that when properly aligned, a tab can enter a corresponding circular slot in an adjacent column or panel.
The plane of each tab 68 and 46 is at an angle with respect to the vertical. As shown in the drawing, one tab is set with an inwardly directed angle while the next is set with an outwardly directed angle. In addition, each tab is provided with an angled undersurface 72. After a tab enters a slot, the angled undersurface 72 permits the entire panel to be lowered until it wedges the sheet metal surrounding the slot. This wedging prevents lateral movement of the panels. Moreover, since the tabs are alternately displaced inwardly and outwardly, the tabs lock the adjacent panels or columns so that transverse movement (inwardly and outwardly) is not permitted.
The cross section of a portion of a wall is shown in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 4, two panels 50 are installed between two columns 16 by locking the panels to a respective column and to one another. The connection of the two panels is waterproofed by means of a seal 74 consisting of inner and outer T-flanges 76 and 78, which together form channels for receiving the ends of the panels. The T-flanges extend from the top of the panel to the bottom and are provided with holes 80 which are aligned with the holes 70, the tabs 68 projecting through the holes 80 and 70 to latch the panels together. Waterproof resilient pads 82 are inserted between the T-flanges 76 and 78.
The advantages from the invention result from the fact that the building is almost entirely premanufactured. That is, almost all of the parts, the panels, the beams, the seals and the locking devices are capable of mass production techniques. In addition, the assembly is accomplished with locking devices that are integral with or preassembled on the panels and beams, and a minimum of fastening devices is required. The locking devices are of such a nature that reasonable manufacturing tolerances are permitted, while at the same time, a sealed, rigid structure is produced. The building can be fabricated and assembled to meet the most rigid building codes.
ALTERNATIVES
Many alternatives within the invention are available. For example, instead of securing the pins 14 to the horizontal I-beams 12, the pins could be mounted on steel strips which are then imbedded in and supported by a concrete slab or foundation. Moreover, the panels may be insulated and fireproofed, and they may be formed with windows, vents, etc.