Device for modular building a construction with walls

Abstract

 Device (1) for modularly building a construction (39) with walls (40), characterised in that it consists of struts (2) for building up a frame work (3) and of self-supporting panels (4) consisting of a frame (5) which is built up of struts (6), and which is provided with a finishing panel (8) on at least one side (7), whereby the struts (2) of the frame work (3) and the struts (6) of the panel (4) are provided with cooperating coupling elements (35) which make it possible to mutually couple the panels (4) and/or to fix them to the frame work (3) by a mutual movement.

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns a device for modularly building a wall construction.

[0002] In particular, the present invention concerns a device for building a wall construction whereby it must be possible to carry out the construction rather quickly, such as for example temporary constructions in case of human disasters, garages, containers, chalets, but also houses, extensions to houses, floating holiday houses, caravans, offices, schools, industrial buildings, stables, chicken runs, smokers' rooms, partitioning walls, fences, makeshift buildings, cupboards, sauna's and even swimming pools and ponds.

[0003] Devices for building an above-mentioned wall construction in a short time, for example in the form of fast building packages for building prefabricated buildings, or in the form of all sorts of building components such as panels, struts, etc. are already known.

[0004] Such devices are advantageous in that they can be built up quickly on the building site, but major preparations must be made beforehand, as a result of which the total period of time required to realise such a device is still relatively long.

[0005] A disadvantage of such known devices is that they consist of many different sorts of building components, namely all sorts of panels and struts, connecting pieces, nuts, bolts, screws and the like, as a result of which a lot of preparatory planning is required to estimate among others the necessary amounts of each building component, what makes such devices unsuitable for example for building constructions in case of human disasters.

[0006] Another disadvantage is that, with such devices, it is not simple to build a wall construction, and a lot of skill is usually required.

[0007] An additional disadvantage is that the constructions are not very solid and an existing supporting structure often has to be used to carry the actual load of the construction, such as for example for the support of floors.

[0008] Another disadvantage of the known devices for modularly building a wall construction is that the provision of electricity, sanitary fittings, wall cabinets and the like, requires even more additional material, for example in the form of surface-mounted sockets and switches, cable ducts, sprung floors and false ceilings and the like.

[0009] The present invention aims to remedy one or several of the above-mentioned and other disadvantages.

[0010] To this end, the present invention concerns a device for modularly building a wall construction, whereby the device consists of struts for building up a frame work and of self-supporting panels consisting of a frame which is built up of struts and which is provided with a finishing panel on at least one side, whereby the struts of the frame work and the struts of the panel are provided with cooperating coupling elements which make it possible to mutually couple the panels and/or to fix them to the frame work by a mutual movement.

[0011] An advantage of a device for modularly building constructions according to the invention is that with only a few building components, namely the struts for the frame work and the self-supporting panels, complete constructions can be built, whereby bolts, nuts and the like are hardly used or not used at all, and whereby little or no preparatory planning is required.

[0012] An additional advantage of a device according to the invention is that a very solid construction is obtained, as the panels are self-supporting and the struts for the frame work can be made very solid, such that the same struts and panels can be used for walls and roofs, as well as for floors, whereby constructions can be made as high as at least two storeys without having to use a supporting construction to carry the actual load.

[0013] The shape and dimensions of the above-mentioned coupling elements are such that they make it possible to mutually couple the panels and/or to fix them to the frame work by a mutual movement, mainly in a direction transversal to the plane of the panels.

[0014] This is advantageous in that it is simple to build a wall construction, as the frame work can be built up in a simple manner first, after which the self-supporting panels can be coupled mutually as well as to the frame work by a simple movement transversal to the plane of the panels.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention, an axial recess is provided in a strut so as to form a cable duct.

[0016] An advantage of this embodiment of a device according to the invention is that electric cables or possibly sanitary pipes can be very easily integrated in the construction without any additional installation material, whereby the cables or the like are moreover no longer visible from the outside.

[0017] According to another preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention, a self-supporting panel is additionally provided with one or several of the following elements which are integrated in the panel:

a suspension for a suspended toilet;

a meter cupboard;

a power cable, switch or surface-mounted socket;

a point of attachment for suspending cupboards or the like.

[0018] The present embodiment offers as an additional advantage that the above-mentioned elements can be very easily installed simultaneously with the self-supporting panel, as a result of which a very nice finish is obtained and much time can be gained.

[0019] In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiments of a device according to the invention for modularly building constructions with walls are given as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figures 1 and 2 represent a device according to the invention in perspective, as disassembled and as mounted respectively;

figure 3 represents the part indicated by F3 in figure 1, but as disassembled;

figures 4 and 5 are respective sections according to the lines IV-IV and V-V in figures 1 and 3;

figures 6 and 7 are sections of the assembly of a device according to the invention;

figures 8 and 9 represent an alternative embodiment analogous to figures 3 and 4;

figure 10 represents a coupling element enabling a simple assembly of a device 1 according to the invention; and

figure 11 illustrates such an assembly.

[0020] The device 1 according to the invention for modularly building a wall construction represented in figures 1 and 2 mainly consists of struts 2 for building up a frame work 3 and of self-supporting panels 4.

[0021] The self-supporting panels 4 consist, as is represented in figure 3, of a frame 5 which is built up of struts 6 and which is provided with a finishing panel 8 on one side 7, but whereby it is not excluded to provide a finishing panel 8 on both sides 7 of the self-supporting panel 4.

[0022] In the given example of figure 3, the self-supporting panel 4 is also provided with an insulating layer 9, situated in the frame 5 behind the above-mentioned finishing panel 8 or between the finishing panels 8 on both sides 7.

[0023] Moreover, such a finishing panel 8 can be made in all sorts of shapes, materials and colours, for example with a brick wall imitation.

[0024] The width B of a self-supporting panel 4 is preferably in the order of magnitude of 61 cm, which is advantageous in that the self-supporting panel is suitable to be applied in the building industry, as 61 cm is a much used size in the building industry.

[0025] In the given example, the struts 2 and 6 are made hollow and they have a predominantly square and rectangular section respectively.

[0026] However, it is not excluded according to the invention to provide the struts 2 and 6 with another section, for example with a predominantly polygonal section in the shape of a hexagon or an octagon or the like.

[0027] The hollow design is advantageous in that the struts 2 and 6 have a light weight and in that, with a polygonal design, it is simpler to mutually couple the struts 2 and 6, for example to provide corner joints or abutting joints.

[0028] Further, in the given embodiment, the outer surface 10 of a strut 2 of the frame work 3 is formed of four lateral surfaces 11 to 14 which are each provided on the inside 15 of the strut 2 of a U-shaped duct 16 whose free ends 17 are fixed to the lateral surface 11 to 14 concerned.

[0029] These U-shaped ducts 16 are accessible from the outside via slots 18 provided centrally in the lateral surfaces 11 to 14.

[0030] Further, the U-shaped ducts 16 can be mutually connected by fixed links 19 and they can be used as cable ducts 16 or as ducts for water conduits or the like.

[0031] A rectangular strut 6 of a self-supporting panel 4 has an outer surface 20 in the given example which is mainly formed of four lateral surfaces 21 to 24.

[0032] Transversal to the widest lateral surfaces 22 and 23 are provided two partitions 25 which divide the rectangular strut 6 in three compartments 26 to 28, whereby the central compartment 27 has a width C which is larger than the width C' of the adjacent compartments 26 and 28, and which is equal or practically equal to the width C of a U-shaped duct 16 in a strut 2 of the frame work 3.

[0033] These compartments 26 to 28 in a strut 6 also form U-shaped ducts, and as such they can also serve as ducts for cables, pipes or the like.

[0034] The compartments 26 to 28 are accessible from the outside, through slots 29 to 31 respectively which are provided in one of the wider lateral surfaces 22 of the strut 6.

[0035] Further, rails 32 are provided in the compartments 26 and 28 on the inside of the lateral surface 23 opposite the slots 29 and 30, which are provided with a mainly semicircular groove 33.

[0036] In the central compartment 27 of the strut 6, transversally to the partitions 25, are further also provided guiding ribs 34.

[0037] As is clearly represented in figures 4, 5 and 6, the struts 2 of the frame work 3 and the struts 6 of a panel 4 are also provided with cooperating coupling elements 35 which make it possible to mutually couple the panels 4 or to fix them to the frame work 3 by a mutual movement according to a direction Q, represented in figure 6, transversally to the plane RR' of the panels 4.

[0038] In the given example, the coupling elements 35 on the struts 2 and 6 consist of a male coupling element in the form of a tooth 36 with a hook-shaped section and a female coupling element working in conjunction with the latter in the form of a groove 37 or slot 29, provided at a distance A from one another on and in the lateral surfaces 11 to 13 and 22 respectively of the strut 2 and 6 concerned.

[0039] On the lateral surface 14 of a strut 2 of the frame work 3 are provided no coupling elements 35, such that this lateral surface 14 can serve as a support, for example for placing a strut 2 over its length on a floor or the like.

[0040] The slots or grooves 18, 29 to 31 and 37, provided in the lateral surfaces 11 to 13 and 22 of the struts 2 and 6 concerned, are such that the remaining parts of the lateral surfaces 11 to 13 and 22 form edges 38 on the above-mentioned U-shaped ducts 16 and 26 to 28 which can serve as guides to couple the struts 6 of a panel 4 to a strut 2 of the frame work 3 or to mutually couple struts 6 of adjacent panels 4.

[0041] The use of a device 1 for modularly building a construction 39 with walls 40 according to the invention is simple and as follows.

[0042] A frame work 3 is built first by means of struts 2.

[0043] Then, this frame work 3 is filled with self-supporting panels 4 where necessary, for example in the form of a floor, wall or roof, by fixing the self-supporting panels 4 to the frame work 3 and/or by mutually coupling the self-supporting panels 4.

[0044] This can be done in a very simple manner, as the struts 2 of the frame work 3 and the struts 6 of a self-supporting panel 4 are provided with cooperating coupling elements 35.

[0045] In particular, for example a strut 2 of the frame work 3 and a strut 6 of a panel 4 can be coupled, since a tooth 36 and a groove 37 of the strut 2 of the frame work can catch in an additionally provided tooth 36 and groove 29 of the strut 6 of a panel 4.

[0046] In an analogous manner, also self-supporting panels 4 can be mutually coupled.

[0047] In order to obtain a perfect finish between panels 4 that are coupled together, the finishing panel 8 of a self-supporting panel 4 preferably continues up to the edge 41 of the frame 5 of the adjacent and self-supporting panel 4.

[0048] On the other hand, it is useful for a nice finish to have a finishing panel 8 protrude over the edge 41 of the frame 5 of a self-supporting panel 4, for example in places where a self-supporting panel 4 is connected to the frame work 3, such that the finishing panel 8 also covers the strut 2 of the frame work 3.

[0049] The thickness D of a strut 2 of the frame work 3 is preferably larger than the thickness D' of a strut 6 of a self-supporting panel 4, whereby the difference in thickness D-D' practically corresponds to the thickness D" of a finishing panel 8.

[0050] This makes it possible to finish the connection between two adjacent panels 4 standing at right angles and fixed to the frame work 3 in a nice manner by a small overlap, as is represented for example in figure 7.

[0051] The obtained construction is aligned in a very precise manner, as the connection between the tooth 36 and the slot 29 or the groove 37 hardly allows for any deviations, as the tooth 36 and the slot 29 or the groove 37 cooperate in a fitting manner.

[0052] Further, it is clear that the aimed objectives are reached with a device 1 according to the invention for modularly building a construction 39 with walls 40, namely building up a construction 39 with walls 40 in a simple manner by means of merely a few building components, which moreover is very solid.

[0053] Figures 8 and 9 represent a strut 2 of the frame work 3 and a strut 6 of a panel 4 respectively for another embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention.

[0054] In this embodiment, the coupling elements 35 are formed of teeth 36 on the one hand, provided on top of the outer surfaces 10 and 20 of the struts 2 and 6 concerned, and of teeth 42 situated within the outlines of the above-mentioned outer surfaces 10 and 20.

[0055] With struts 2 and 6 according to this embodiment, it is even easier than in the preceding embodiment to assemble a device 1 according to the invention, namely as it becomes possible to mutually couple the panels 4 and/or to fix them to the frame work 3 by carrying out a mutual movement which only takes place in a direction Q transversal to the plane RR' of the panels 4.

[0056] Further, the angular points of the struts 2 or the frame work 3 are bevelled, such that the assembly is made even easier.

[0057] Figure 10 represents a connecting piece 43 with which struts 6 can be joined so as to form a panel 4.

[0058] The connecting piece 43 is an angular strut on which are provided barbs on the inside, which can be realised for example by means of a punch.

[0059] In order to couple several struts 6 of a panel 4, as is represented in figure 11, one only has to mitre the different struts 6 first and then provide a connecting piece 43 between the guiding ribs 34 which are provided on the partitions 25 of the strut 6; this is done with both struts 6 to be coupled.

[0060] The barbs 44 prevent the connecting pieces 43 from being taken out of the struts 6, such that a frame 7 for a panel 4 can be made in a very simple manner.

[0061] Also many alternative embodiments are possible according to the invention.

[0062] Thus, it is not excluded to integrate a suspension for a suspended toilet in a self-supporting panel 4.

[0063] As an alternative, also an electric meter cupboard, switches, surface-mounted sockets or power cables or the like can be integrated in a panel 4.

[0064] It is also possible to provide a panel 4 with points of attachment for suspending cupboards or the like.

[0065] In yet another embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention, connecting elements can be provided with which different struts 2 can be connected to each other with their far ends so as to form a frame work 3, whereby these connecting elements are provided for example with gudgeons cooperating in a fitting manner with the far ends of the struts 2.

[0066] It is clear that alternative forms for the coupling elements 35 are not excluded.

[0067] Finally, a few additional characteristics of the invention follow hereafter.

[0068] The new strut which is integrated in a panel is advantageous in that one can make anything one wants (walls, floor, roof, annex and every angle) with one and the same type of panel.

[0069] The panel has a standard size of 610x2440x120 mm, only the length may differ. Two panels that are pushed against each other have a dimension of 1200x2440 mm. This is a standard size in the building industry.

[0070] The struts are telescoped from the inside to the outside, and by providing certain parts in the floor and ceiling with a thicker finishing layer, the standing panels are blocked. The 120-mm-thick EPS layer in the panel has a very high insulating value. The filling may also vary by adding for example a layer of rock wool so as to also meet the sound-insulating standards of building regulations.

[0071] Moreover, the top layer can be finished with different layers, also with a highly fire-retardant synthetic material which is fire-retardant during no less than 120 minutes. This measured value exceeds any values applied at present in traditional building constructions. The standard panels are very light. A panel having dimensions of 610x2440x120 mm with for example a Trespa finishing layer of 0.8 mm thick only weighs 13 kg, so that working with a crane is no longer necessary. Thanks to the light construction, the panel is extremely solid. The aluminium construction ducts can stand a pressure force of more than 4,000,000 kg/mm².

[0072] Thus, thanks to the composition of the EPS layer and the top layer, it becomes possible to make an extremely lightweight panel or even a stronger and better panel, comparable to the traditional building techniques.

[0073] This system is very suitable for areas where there are a lot of earthquakes. As the construction is strong and moreover extremely light, we talk of an antiseismic construction. The panel is moreover watertight and perfectly insulated. The system is also maintenance-friendly. Most materials only start to age after 50 years.

[0074] A recent development consists in making the same strut smaller, with dimensions of 600x15x2 mm, in view of building stands with it. The existing standard heavy wooden panels could thereby be replaced by lighter panels. For panels designed for the furniture industry, such as cupboards, tables, kitchens, etc..., also other dimensions could be used, for example a strut of 300x15x2 mm.

[0075] The present invention is by no means restricted to the embodiments given as an example and represented in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such a device for modularly building a wall construction can be made in all sorts of shapes and dimensions while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Device (1) for modularly building a construction (39) with walls (40), characterised in that it consists of struts (2) for building up a frame work (3) and of self-supporting panels (4) consisting of a frame (5) which is built up of struts (6) and which is provided with a finishing panel (8) on at least one side (7), whereby the struts (2) of the frame work (3) and the struts (6) of the panel (4) are provided with cooperating coupling elements (35) which make it possible to mutually couple the panels (4) and/or to fix them to the frame work (3) by a mutual movement.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the shape and dimensions of the above-mentioned coupling elements (35) are such that they make it possible to mutually couple the panels (4) and/or to fix them to the frame work (3) by a mutual movement, mainly in a direction (Q) transversally to the plane (RR') of the panels (4).

3. Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the self-supporting panels (4) are provided with finishing panels (8) on both sides (7).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the self-supporting panels (4) are provided with an insulating layer (9).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the width (B) of a self-supporting panel (4) is in the order of magnitude of 61 cm.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a finishing panel (8) continues up to the edge (41) of the frame (5) of an adjacent and connecting self-supporting panel (4).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a finishing panel (8) protrudes over the edge (41) of the frame (5) of a self-supporting panel (4) in places where a self-supporting panel (4) is connected to the frame work (3).

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the struts (2,6) are made hollow and have a predominantly polygonal section.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling elements (35) on the struts (2,6) consist of a male coupling element in the form of a tooth (36) with a hook-shaped section and a female coupling element working in conjunction with the latter in the form of a groove (37) or slot (29) in the outer surface (10,20) of the strut (2,6).

10. Device according to claims 8 and 9, characterised in that one or several planes (11-13,22) of the outer surface (10,20) of the strut (2,6) are each provided with a tooth (36) and a groove (37) or slot (29) at a distance (A) from each other.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that, in order to couple two struts (2,6), a tooth (36) and a groove (37) or slot (29) of the first strut (2, 6) can catch in an additionally provided tooth (36) and groove (37) or slot (29) of the second strut (2,6).

12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling elements (35) are formed of teeth (36) on the one hand, provided on the outer surfaces (10,20) of the struts (2) and (6) concerned and of teeth (42) on the other hand, situated within the outlines of the above-mentioned outer surfaces (10,20).

13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an axial slot (18,29-31) is provided in the strut which provides access to a U-shaped duct (16,26-28).

14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that an above-mentioned U-shaped duct (16,26-28) is provided with edges (38) which form a guide when struts (2,6) are coupled.

15. Device according to claims 13 or 14, characterised in that a strut (2) of the frame work (3) has a predominantly square section whereby each lateral surface (11-14) of the strut (2) is provided with an above-mentioned U-shaped duct (16).

16. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that the U-shaped ducts (16) are connected by means of fixed links (19).

17. Device according to claim 16, characterised in that the thickness (D) of a strut (2) of the frame work (3) is larger than the thickness (D') of a strut (6) of a panel (4), whereby the difference in thickness (D-D') practically corresponds to the thickness (D") of a finishing panel (8).

18. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a panel is provided with one or several of the following elements which are integrated in the panel:

a suspension for a suspended toilet;

a meter cupboard;

a power cable, switch or surface-mounted socket;

a point of attachment designed for suspending cupboards or the like.

19. A strut (2) to compose a frame work (3), as applied with a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

20. A strut (6) for composing a frame (5) of a self-supporting panel (4), as applied with a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Drawing