[0001] Building and prefabricated parts such as structural elements and sheet profiles for
use therein.
[0002] The invention relates to a building and has for its object to provide a building
which can be erected by unskilled labour.
[0003] For this purpose the building is characterized by panels comprising each a metal
frame and a plurality of relatively crossing stay wires arranged in said frame. The
panels can each be formed by a prefabricated structural element comprising a metal
frame and a plurality of relatively crossing stay wires fastened in said frame. In
this case the builders only need dispose the panels and, as the case may be, plaster
them.
[0004] Transport to the building site and the erection are facilitated by constructing-light-weight
elements. In the panel embodying the invention the elements thereof co-operate in
accordance with a composition material effect to form a solid unit. The buckling lengths
of the profiles of the frame and the buckling lengths of the stay wires are small.
The elements hold one another in the predetermined, relative positions. This composition
material effect is further enhanced when the panels have a stiffening layer, for example,
a plaster attaching mat on at least one side, but preferably on both sides.
[0005] The transport may be simplified by conveying the panel in separate, fitting components
such as sheet profiles, rafters and mats, which are subsequently assembled on the
building site.
[0006] When the rims of the panel frames are each formed by a U-section profile, the web
of which has an inverted
U-shaped groove, two neighbouring panels can be connected with one another by means
of a spring, the panels can be firmly secured by their grooves on annular protuberances
of floor profiles and the panels can be readily interconnected at the top by I-, T-section,
corner or cross pieces.
[0007] The building, though having a light weight owing to the small quantity of material
required, can be firmly anchored to the ground by means of ground anchors having at
least one helical anchor to be screwed into the ground.
[0008] The aforesaid and further features of the invention will become apparent from the
following description with reference to the drawing. The drawing schematically shows
in:
Fig. 1 a fragmentary, perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a building in
accordance with the invention,
Fig. 2 a perspective view of a floor frame for a building as shown in ?ig. 1,
Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale detail III of Fig. 2,
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 enlarged sectional views taken on the lines IV-IV, V-V and VI-VI
respectively in Fig. 1,
Figs. 7, 9 and 10 an enlarged, perspective view of details VII, IX and X respectively
of Fig. 1,
Fig. 8 an exploded, perspective, partial view of detail VII of Fig. 1,
Figs. 11 to 14 cross-sectional views of a sheet profile used in the building of Fig.
1,
Figs. 15 to 18 perspective plan views of connection details,
Fig. 19 a variant of detail XIX of Fig. 4,
Fig. 20 on an enlarged scale a detail at the location of detail XX of Fig. 2 in a
later building stage,
Fig. 21 on an enlarged scale a profile piece of detail XX of Fig. 2,
Fig. 22 on an enlarged scale a profile piece of detail XXII in Fig. 1 and
Fig. 23 on an enlarged scale a variant of detail XXIII in Fig. 2.
[0009] The building 1 of Fig. 1 comprises a floor frame 2 shown in Fig. 2 which is assembled
from sheet profiles 3 shown in Fig. 11, which are located at the areas where outer
walls have to be erected. The profile 3 has a substantially U-shaped profile formed
by a folded sheet of preferably 1,5 mms wall thickness, having an upwardly bulging
web 4 and a rectangular, trapezoidal section with a basis width a. At the corners
of the floor frame 2 a recess 5 is cut out of the web 4 of the adjoining profiles
3 so that after being slightly bent out the profiles 3 can be slipped one into the
other and subsequently firmly fastened to one another by means of pop rivets 7 inserted
into previously bored holes (see Fig. 3). As an alternative of the connection shown
in Fig. 3 the ends of the profiles 3 can be interconnected by means of a
U-shaped profile 64 bent over at right angles, the profiles 3 being spot-welded to
the U-shaped profile 64 (see Fig. 23).
[0010] To the profiles 3 are welded at intervals wire anchors 11 formed by transverse plates.
Reinforcing rods 12 can, therefore, be passed through. On the site where the building
1 has to be erected it is only necessary to fasten the profiles 3 of the floor frame
2 to one another by means of the pop rivets 7. The floor frame 2 is anchored to the
ground 13 by means of a plurality of ground anchors 14, each having a shank 15 with
an anchor member 16 to be screwed into the ground 13, said member being formed by
a screw blade welded to the shank 15. At the top end each ground anchor 14 has a shoulder
17 and above the latter a screwthreaded piece 18 with a nut 19 by which clamping plates
20 engaging the sheet profile 3 are retained. By means of the ground resistance the
required resistance against tornados or flushing away due to tropical rains can be
obtained.
[0011] After the required reinforcing rods 12 and 21 are arranged in place the floor frame
2 is filled with concrete and/or filling material.
[0012] In order to form the walls of the building preferably prefabricated structural elements
22, 23 and 24 as shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 10 respectively are disposed to form panels
52, 53, 54. Each structural element 22, 23, 24 has a metal frame 25 assembled from
four sheet profiles 26 each mainly formed by a U-section profile, the web of which
has a U-shaped groove 27. (Fig. 12). The lower girder 28 of the frame 25 engages by
its groove 27 the bulging web 4 of the sheet profile 3 and is riveted thereto.
[0013] At the area of door thresholds 8 a U-shaped profile 68 is placed on the profile 26
and fastened thereto by means of screws 70.
[0014] The neighbouring structural elements 22, 23 and 24 are interconnected by means of
springs 6 (Fig. 16) extending in the grooves 27. The orthogonally disposed structural
elements 22, 23 and 24 are interconnected by means of angle-, I-, cross-, or T-section
coupling pieces 29, 30, 31 and 32 respectively shown in Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively,
engaging grooves 27 of the upper girders 33. In this manner the required resistance
to wind is ensured. The intermediate walls 71 are fastened as is shown in Fig. 20
to the floor slabs 73 by means of inverted U-shaped profiles 74, which are anchored
to the floor 73 by means of key bolts 75. The lower girders of the panels 83 of the
intermediate walls 71 are positioned in the U-shaped profiles 74 and fastened thereto
by screws 82. Afterwards the floor is completed by a coating 76.
[0015] In the variant of Fig. 19 the panels 52, 53, 54 are fastened to a concrete floor
slab without floor frame 2 by means of dogs 77 and key bolts 75.
[0016] As is shown in Fig. 8 each structural element 22, 24 is formed by a monolithic profiled
piece 34 of folded sheet material having the profile of the sheet profiles 26 of Fig.
12. Four frame rims 35 adapted to be relatively bent over at right angles are marked
by three V-shaped notches 36 in each flange so that, as the case may be, the profiled
piece 34 can be transported in a straight state to the building site, where it can
be bent into the rectangular shape. At the corners the flangers can be welded to one
another. Preferably the flanges are connected with one another by corner plates 37
and/or angle-section pieces 38 and pop rivets.
[0017] Each structural element 22, 23 and 24 derives its firmness also from stay wires 39
and 40 in coplanar distribution. Each stay 39, 40 has a zigzag wire 41 and straight
wires 42 welded to the tops of the former. The standing stay wires 39 are stronger
than the lying stay wires 40. Each stay 39 has a zigzag wire 41 arranged between every
pair of wires 42, whereas each stay 40 has its zigzag wire 41 located in the same
plane as the two straight wires 42. The stay 40 is slightly narrower than the stay
39 and extends through each of the latter. The ends of the stays 39 and 40 may be
welded to the inner side of the sheet profiles 26. They are, moreover, welded together
at their crossings. This can be simply carried out by spot-welding.
[0018] On both sides of the rigid frame 25 thus formed a fixing mat 43 for a plaster layer
44 is fastened to both sides of the sheet profiles 26, for example, again by spot-welding.
The fixing mat 43 is preferably formed by a plate of expanded metal.
[0019] The sheet profiles 26 and 60 preferably have flanges with series of holes 78, 79,
through which can be passed twisting wires 69 to fasten the stay wires 39, 40 and/or
the fixing mat 43 to the profiles 26, 60 to replace the welding operations.
[0020] The fixing mat 43 may extend, as the case may be, along two or more structural elements
22, 23, 24 and thus interconnect said structural elements. If desired, as is shown
in Fig. 16, narrow mat strips 45 may be applied to the fixing mats 43 already arranged
in place in overlap at the joints 49 between two neighbouring structural elements
22, 23, 24.
[0021] It is important, in particular, to arrange fixing mat strips 45 at the orthogonal
corners (see Fig. 15, 17, 18).
[0022] The building 1 of Fig. 1 comprises transverse girders 46 supported by two opposite
outer walls and formed by Z-section profiles (see Fig. 22). These transverse girders
46 support roof plates 51 via rafters 47 lying on the transverse girders 46. Each
rafter 47 comprises a frame 48 of profiles 50 stiffened by stay wires 62. The lower
rims 63 of the roof plates 51 bear on the structural elements 23, 24 through wooden
blocks 55, which are previously fixed to profiles 56 of
Fig. 14, which fit in the grooves 27 of the sheet profiles 26 (see Fig. 4).
[0023] A fixing mat 57 is fastened, for example, by spot-welding or preferably by means
of twisting wires 69 to flange holes 80 of the transverse girders 46 and to the profiles
26 in order to ensure that the plaster layer 58 of the walls is satisfactorily united
at the corner rims to the plaster layer 59 of the ceiling.
[0024] Fresh air can freely penetrate into the space 81 between the roof plates 51 and the
ceiling 72 formed by the transverse girders 46 with the plaster layer 59.
[0025] Figs. 1, 4 and 9 show that the structure element 23 has a window frame 60 formed
by a fillet of sheet profiles 61 as shown in Fig. 13. Each sheet profile 61 mainly
comprises a U-section profile having stepped flanges 65. The door frames 66 are likewise
formed by sheet profiles 61.
[0026] Fig. 6 shows that the fixing mats 43 can be prolonged at a corner 67 of the building
1 via a rounded part. They may be spot-welded to sheet profiles and/or fastened by
twisting wires 69 or round clamping rivets to stay wires 39, 40. Therefore, the plaster
layer 44 can be continuous also at the corners 67.
[0027] In the structural elements 22 to 24 may be arranged heat insulating materials (not
shown).
[0028] The structural elements 22, 23, 24 with the stay wires 39, 40 are robust and have,
nevertheless, a light weight so that they can be manually transported. This results
from the perfect stiffening and supporting co-operation (composition material effect)
between profiles and stay wires 39, 40 and from the fixing mats 43 rendered resistant
to deformation by the plaster. The profiles and also the stay wires 39, 40 per se
would be much too light to fulfil a supporting function.
[0029] The fixing mat 43 has two functions i.e. stiffening the panels and carrying the plaster
coating. By using light-weight, interconnected metal structural elements earthquake-
safe building structures can be obtained. Owing to the exclusive use of metal components
for the wall panels they are fully inert to vermin infestation. The structural elments
22, 23, 24, which constitute infrastructural components, are made to module length
so that a high diversity of wall sizes is available. The depth of the sheet profiles
26 and the stay wires 39, 40 will be a function of the height of the wall and the
resultant transverse force to be met. At any place of the building 1 the same sheet
profiles 26 are employed for the structural elements 22, 23, 24. The variability of
the dimensions and the possibility of using locally different plastering methods provide
great planning freedom and enable maximum architectural integration in the local building
style. The metal used is preferably galvanized metal, for example, zinc-plated metal.
[0030] According to the invention a building 1 can be transported in transportable units
of a construction box of prefabricated parts from the metal works to the building
site. The extent of premounting depends on the transport costs and on the degree of
skill of the local builders.
[0031] It should be noted that the building described and illustrated is only an example
for clarifying the invention and that within the scope of the invention many kinds
and types of buildings can be designed.
[0032] For example, buildings with flat roofs can be er- rected, in which for example, the
outer walls directly support the roof slabs. These roof slabs may or may not be provided
with a plaster fixing mat. It is the very advantage of the invention that by using
a uniform module, that is to say, uniform standard width of the panels 52, 53, 54
different buildings of different widths and lengths and different layouts may be built.
[0033] It is feasable to inject an insulating layer into the panels and to apply a cover
plate, for example, an insulating plate to the panels rather than a plaster layer.
This more expensive solution may be useful for cold-stores.
1. A building (1) characterized by panels 52, 53, i4) each having a metal frame (25)
and a plurality of relatively crossing stay wires (39, 40) arranged in said frame
(25).
2. A building (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said panels (52, 53,
54) have a stiffening layer on at least one side, but preferably on both sides.
3. A building (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the stiffening laver
comprises a fixing mat (43) and a plaster layer fixed thereto.
4. A building (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing mat
(43) is formed by a piece of expanded metal sheet.
5. A building (1) comprising a floor frame (2) of profiles (3), each having an upwardly
bulging ridge (4) at the area of walls, said floor frame (2) being filled out with
a filler, for example, concrete or reinforced concrete.
6. A building (1) comprising transverse girders (46) supported by two opposite outer
walls, characterized in that roof plates (51) are supported by the transverse girders
(46) via at least one rafter (47) supported by the transverse girders (46) and formed
by a frame (48) of profiles (50), stiffened by means of stay wires (49).
7. A building (1) comprising transverse girders (46) supported by two opposite outer walls, characterized in that to the underside of
the transverse girders (46) is fastened a fixing mat (57), to which is fixed a plaster
layer (59).
8. A building (1) as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized by ground
anchors (14) each having at least one anchor member (16) to be screwed into the ground
(13).
9. A building element (22, 23, 24) for a building as claimed in anyone of claims 1
to 4, characterized in that the element comprises a metal frame (25) and a plurality
of relatively crossing stay wires (39, 40) arranged in said frame (25).
10. A building element (22, 23, 24) as claimed in claim 9, characterized by a stiffening
layer attached to at least one side of the frame (25).
11. A building element (22, 23, 24) as claimed in anyone of claims 8 to 11, characterized
in that the ends of each stay wire (39, 40) are welded to flanges of sheet profiles
(26) of the metal frame (25).
12. A building element (22, 23, 24) as claimed in anyone of claims 9 to 11, characterized
in that at least the lower girder (28), but preferably each rim of the frame (25)
has a substantially U-shaped profile, the web of which has an inverted U-shaped groove
(27) for engaging a bulging ridge (4) of the sheet profile (3).
13. A sheet profile (26) for a building element (22, 23, 24) as claimed in claim 12,
characterized in that it is mainly formed by a U-shaped profile, the web of which
has an inverted U-shaped groove (27).
14. A sheet profile (3) for a floor of the building (1) claimed in claim 5, characterized
in that it is mainly formed by a U-shaped profile the upper flange of which has an
upwardly bulging ridge (4), which can engage the inverted U-shaped groove (27) of
the sheet profile (3) of claim 13.