[0001] This invention refers to a light and insulating small vault used in the construction
industry, made up of a body of expanded polystyrene, concrete and iron, thanks to
which important improvements are achieved with regard to the small vaults produced
until now, whose improvements affect its construction and increase its strength and
the chances for using it.
ANTECEDENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The traditional small vaults made up of vibrated concrete or clay, whose function
is to fill the space between one small girder and the other for being able later to
extend a layer of concrete over the whole structure with the intention of making the
roof or the support are well known. The problems regarding the small vaults made of
vibrated concrete are originated mainly because of its own weight which affects, firstly,
its construction, which is very slow and tiring and, secondly, they confer a great
weight to the whole roof with the consequent necessity of strengthening the structure
of the building with numerous concrete pillars for supporting that weight. The problems
regarding the small vaults made of clay are caused because of its fragility, given
that at the moment of its construction, the workers have to walk on top of the vault
that they are building and, when a small vault breaks, they may fall causing severe
accidents in the workplace. To avoid these problems, the holder of this invention
built a new structure whose fundamental characteristics are the object of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The small vault is composed of various polystyrene bodies whose section has a rectangular
shape. Its thickness may be different depending on the thickness of the roof which
is to be built and its width is variable depending on the necessities of each project.
The length may change, so it can be adjusted in each case to the lights which must
be covered. Along the length of one of the larger sides of this rectangular expanded
polystyrene structure, three grooves are located, inside of which three irons of variable
section depending of what is needed are found, sticking out at the ends so they can
be welded with the rest of the irons of the structure of the building. The irons that
constitute the small girder are included among the polystyrene bodies. This way the
joints between the small vaults and the small girders are eliminated giving the structure
more strength. The polystyrene body and the irons are joined together by a vibrated
concrete layer obtaining multiples of small vaults and small girders. Thanks to this
process, a prefabricated is obtained for building, with a lightness that allows reducing
the compressive weight of the roof in comparison to traditional roofs, with the consequent
reduction of the adjustment rate of the whole building and the reduction of cracks
in roofs and walls. Moreover, the small vault confers an acoustic and thermal insulation,
which is characteristic of the polystyrene and a good resistance to breaks, which
is conferred by the reinforced concrete and the irons, reducing the chances of accidents
in the workplace, something which is also related to its easy construction because
it is built in different lengths so it can cover the space between loading walls or
between a bearing wall and a bearing girder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] For a better understanding of what is explained in this report, drawings of the small
vaults are attached. In figure number 1 we can see the three materials from which
this small vault is built, indicated with (1) the part which is made of concrete,
(2) the polystyrene and (3) the irons which are related to the main patent.
In figure number 2 we can see how we add the irons which constitute the small girder
(4) to the structure in figure number 1, obtaining a structure of small girders and
small vaults, with the concrete (1), the polystyrene (2) and the strengthening irons
(3).
DESCRIPTION OF THE FAVOURITE CARRYING OUT
[0005] The small vault is made up of a structure of expanded polystyrene (2) of rectangular
section, with the characteristic that it has three longitudinal and parallel grooves
in one of its four sides. This element is put in moulds, created to be joined to vibrating
benches, and the strengthening irons (3) and the irons for the small girders are put
in the grooves. Afterwards, the moulds are filled with concrete, vibrating the whole
to obtain a solid and compact structure. The materials used in the building of the
small vault are independent of the object of the invention: the concrete may be constituted
by dry goods of any kind, the number and size of the irons that are used (like for
example electrically welded net). Any alterations in shape and size of the elements
which make up the invention are independent of the object, as long as it does not
concern its essentiality.
1. Light and insulating small vault of different widths and lengths, with the characteristic
that it is composed of a thick layer of polystyrene (2), joined to a lower reinforced
concrete layer (1) which includes the irons (4) which constitute the small girders
that are incorporated this way to the small vault and strengthened by the irons (3),
offering a good adherence for the following whitewashing operation or completion.
