MODULAR CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A modular building system including: assembled modules, where the modules provide framing for a structure; panels, where the panels are implemented within the modules to create a building structure; fixed hinges, where the fixed hinges are attached along the edges of the modules; and a series of hinge connectors throughout the structure, where the series of hinge connectors provide a mechanism for attachment of the modules to each other. The framework may include metal channels to adjoin the components of the framework. Each module may include a frame, an inner surface, an outer surface, insulation within the frame and a spacer between the inner surface and the outer surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a modular construction system that includes modular assemblies consisting of a frame, panels, insulation, spacers, and other varying attachments. These modular assemblies are then joined together by a fixed hinge system which allows for the quick and easy construction of buildings.

2. Description of Related Art

Building construction, as is well known, may be a costly and expensive endeavor. Many techniques have been developed to streamline the construction process. Building construction is an endeavor that requires extensive planning and design prior to actual construction. Most buildings are manufactured out of steel or wooden framing with walls and floors created within the framing to create the standing building. Further aspects of building construction involve installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and plumbing for the building. In addition to these components electrical systems must also be installed in most buildings to provide electricity for items within the building.

Some buildings utilize modular techniques for construction. Typically modular homes involve prefabrication of the building into sections that are created at a manufacturing facility. The sections are then joined together at the final site of construction. The modular homes are a quick efficient means to create residential homes. A typical modular home is transported to a construction site and then the modules are assembled onto a building foundation. The modular aspects of the building are prefabricated and therefore create an easy means for installation at the construction site. Many modular components are constructed indoors in an assembly line manner and then transported by truck to the home site. It would be advantageous to have a modular system for on-site construction that provided a means to create buildings that could be easily resized and even expanded in a simple manner using the techniques associated with the modular system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular building system comprising: a framework, where the framework provides framing for the module; panels, where the panels are attached to the framework in creating the module; fixed hinges, where the fixed hinges are attached along edges of the modules in a series of hinge connections throughout the structure, to provide a mechanism for attachment of modules to each other. The framework may include metal channels to adjoin the components of the framework. Each module assembly may include a frame, an inner surface, an outer surface, insulation within the frame and a spacer between the inner surface and the outer surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a modular frame in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an interior surface of a home portion of the modular frame according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 provides a rendition of a modular building constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 provides a prospective view of the rendition of the modular building in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts two triangular modular assemblies connected with the fixed hinges.

FIG. 6 depicts an exploded view of a triangular modular assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a fixed hinge that is used in conjunction with the present invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a 90 degree dome quadrant consisting of 3 edges in a 90 degree arc, with the 3 edges being equal in length.

FIG. 9 depicts a 90 degree dome quadrant consisting of 6 edges in a 90 degree arc, with the 6 edges being equal in length.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a modular building system that provides a system for simplified construction, expansion and renovation of buildings. The modular system of the present invention creates a system that easily provides a framework for building construction. The modular system according to the present invention includes components that are manufactured and then erected at the construction site in an efficient manner. The modular system according to the present invention includes two basic components: 1) modular assemblies (modules), and 2) fixed hinges that connect the modules together, forming an entire structure. This modular system allows for a predictable, efficient, and simple method of quickly erecting structures, both for exterior and interior walls.

With respect to FIG. 1, a modular structure 100 is depicted in accordance with the present invention. The modular structure 100 includes a wall framing 155 shown below a dome support framing 150. The wall framing 155 connects a series of modular assemblies that creates the support system for the dome support framing 150. The internal framing of the modules may be manufactured of either wood or sheet metal and the framing assembly includes metal channels 620, shown in FIG. 600, that assist in the connection of the framing members during manufacturing.

FIG. 2 provides a view of another internal surface of a modular configuration assembly. A dome frame interior 252 includes a series of hinge connectors 230 over the interior surface of a dome 250. The hinge connectors 230 provide an attachment means for the connection of the modular assemblies throughout the structure in accordance with the present invention. Inserting solid panels is one method of providing the surface of the building however modified glass panels may be installed through use of the same hinge connectors 230 provided on the inner surface of the frame interior 252.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict a modular rendition of a building system using the components according to the present invention. A modular rendition 300 is shown in FIG. 3, and a top prospective view of a modular rendition 400 is shown in FIG. 4. This rendition provides an example of the use of the framing depicted in FIG. 1, along with other various modules that are described below.

FIG. 5 depicts the adjoining of two triangular modules 535 used in conjunction with the present invention. Each triangular module 535 includes the use of a series of fixed hinges 532 on the edges of the modules 535. The fixed hinges 532 connect modules together during construction of the modular building system. Each module has an outer surface 524 and a frame 522. A small gap 525 is shown that is filled after installation of all modules for additional structural support and insulation properties, with an appropriate material.

In reference to FIG. 6, an exploded view of a module used in conjunction with the present invention is depicted. This module shows a series of fixed hinges 632 along an outer perimeter of an inner surface 629 of the module. The inner surface 629 adjoins to a frame 623 shown in FIG. 600. An outer surface 621 is adjoined to the frame 623, which includes an insulation component 627 within the frame 623. At the center of the insulation 627 a spacer 633 is provided. These components are adjoined and fixed together to create a modular assembly that is used in conjunction with the framing system depicted in FIG. 1. These triangular modules may be used together in any array of modules, for expanding a given structure. Further, this modular system is not limited to domes only. It can be used to form almost any imaginable shape. The triangular exploded module as shown in FIG. 6 adjoins to other modules by using the hinge connectors depicted in FIG. 7.

The fixed hinge 632 that allows the means for connecting the modules together is shown in FIG. 7. The fixed hinge 732 includes square openings 734a used to control the bend line. Along the top edge of the hinge 732 are a series of holes 738 and reciprocally at the bottom are bottom holes 731. Each corner 735 is chamfered as shown in FIG. 7. The hinge length can vary as necessary for various applications. The fixed hinge 732, in FIG. 7, is used in conjunction to create modular building systems that are utilized at a building site. The modular system provided in the present invention shows exemplary techniques that may be used to create various building systems. Although dome ceilings and roofs are depicted, other components and shapes may be readily created using the modular system as described above, including window and door modules, and interior wall partitions.

The present modular construction system includes two exemplary designed dome shapes. (4) quadrants comprise a domed hemisphere. The first quadrant shape consists of (3) equal edges in a 90 degree arc. The second quadrant shape consists of (6) equal edges in a 90 degree arc. As a dome radius can vary, the edge lengths, called chords, will also vary. The constant of in the formula is called the chord factor. These chord factors multiplied by the desired dome radius gives the chord lengths of a given quadrant. The advantages of these specifically designed dome shapes, are equal perimeter edges, and 90 degree quadrants allowing for a compatible interface with existing conventional construction methods. Quadrant 3 has (3) various chord lengths, and (3) different triangular modules. Quadrant 6 has (9) various chord lengths, E & J being equal, and (9) different triangular modules (some of these are mirrored). FIG. 8 depicts Quadrant 3 configuration 860 in accordance with the present invention. The chord lengths are depicted by a letter, the modules are depicted by a number. Although this dome radius can vary, the radius for the basic quadrant 3 of the modular construction system is 85.0015. Additionally, the radius for the domes for this system can be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled and still be compatible with the modular construction system. The following chart shows these relationships and formulas for quadrant 3.

Letter Quadrant 3	Dome Radius 3	Chord Factors 3	Chord Lengths 3
A	85.0015	0.51764	44.000
B	85.0015	0.70711	60.105
C	85.0015	0.65012	55.261
Chord Length = Dome Radius * Chord Factor

FIG. 8 shows triangular modules 861, 862 and 863, and chord factors A, B and C. Note the equal perimeter edge lengths of chord A.

FIG. 9 depicts Quadrant 6 configuration in accordance with the present invention. The chord lengths are depicted by a letter, the modules are depicted by a number. Although this dome radius can vary, the radius for the basic quadrant 6 of the modular construction system is 168.5485. Additionally the radius for the domes for this system can be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled and still be compatible with the modular construction system.

The following chart shows these relationships and formulas for quadrant 6.

Letter Quadrant 6	Dome Radius 6	Chord Factors 6	Chord Lengths 6
A	168.5485	.26105	44.000
B	168.5485	.36603	61.693
C	168.5485	.29973	50.519
D	168.5485	.36138	60.910
E	168.5485	.32988	55.601
F	168.5485	.30025	50.606
G	168.5485	.35024	59.033
H	168.5485	.34945	58.899
I	168.5485	.30067	50.677
J	168.5485	.32988	55.601
Chord Length = Dome Radius * Chord Factor

FIG. 9 shows triangular modules 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987988, 989, and chord factors A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J. Note the equal perimeter edge lengths of chord A

This instance of the invention has been shown and described in what it considers to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A modular building system comprising: a. a framework, where the framework provides framing for a structure and said framework includes a series of modular assemblies containing modules;b. panels, where the panels are implemented within the modules to create a building structure;c. at least one a dome, where the at least one dome includes modular assemblies, and wherein the framework supports the at least one dome and where each dome includes four quadrants creating a domed hemisphere, wherein each quadrant shape consists of at least three equal edges in a 90 degree arc;d. chords, where the chords are edge lengths that determine a radius of each dome and said edge length equals a chord factor multiplied by a desired dome radius; ande. fixed hinges, where the fixed hinges are attached along edges of the modules and the fixed hinges enable the connection of the modular assemblies, further where each of fixed hinge includes square openings positioned in the center of each fixed hinge.

2. The modular building system according to claim 1, where the framework includes metal channels used to adjoin members of the frame.

3. The modular building system according to claim 2, each of the modules includes an inner surface, an outer surface, insulation within the framework and a spacer between the inner surface and the outer surface.

4. The modular building system according to claim 1, where each of the fixed hinge includes a series of holes along a top edge and a series of holes along a bottom edge.

5. The modular building system according to claim 5, where each corner of each of the fixed hinge is chamfered.

6. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein the modular building system includes two specifically designed dome shapes.

7. The modular building system according to claim 1, wherein the panels are glass.

8. The modular building system according to claim 1, where each quadrant has three various chords and three triangular modules.

9. The modular building system according to claim 1, where each quadrant has nine various chords and nine triangular modules.