Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6367215
-
Patent Number
6,367,215
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, June 7, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 9, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 052 5862
- 052 5861
- 052 5901
- 052 5902
- 052 271
- 052 284
- 052 7471
- 052 157
- 052 78317
- 052 78319
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A modular construction system utilizes building components or panels formed of high strength plasticized concrete. Panels are formed with two or more linear peripheral edges fitted with mortises. FRP pultruded tenons are used to connect aligned mortises for adjacent panels. Walls, crown beams and roof panels can be so formed and assembled. Hollow corrugated panels are suitable for forming beams and interior partitions. Beams can be rested on regularly spaced piles and then floor panels on the beams, walls on the floor panels, crown beams on the walls and roof panels on the crown beams, buildings can be erected with a minimum of tools or specialized knowledge. The resulting structure is substantially impervious to environmental hazards, particularly relevant in more primitive locations.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the modular construction of buildings and more particularly to the use of a modular system of load-bearing concrete panels and connectors to build housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to construct buildings using rigid frameworks such as wooden studs or steel girders, and providing external covering material such as wooden sheeting or concrete panels and internal coverings such as drywall.
The construction of such buildings is expensive and time consuming and requires special materials, tools and expertise. This is especially true for the construction of buildings that are fire-resistant and capable of withstanding tornadoes, earthquakes, moisture related damage and insect infestation.
It is also known to use modular systems, comprising prefabricated load-bearing panels. If created from concrete, such panels are often very heavy and have little insulating value. Insulation does not adhere well to concrete and the resulting panels are not composite in nature. Further surface finishing requires the use of craftsmen.
With an eventual shortage of natural building materials such as lumber and the lack of skilled craftsmen in many areas of the world, the current invention provides a modular, rapid, construction system that does not require conventional fasteners and is easily put together with minimal skill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A modular construction system is provided for erecting buildings with a minimum of tools or specialized knowledge. The resulting structure and its' material of manufacture ensure it is substantially impervious to environmental hazards, particularly relevant in more primitive locations.
High strength composite concrete panels utilize plasticized high strength concrete. The panels can be precision factory produced for hand assembly in the field and are provided in both corrugated and channel or ribbed forms. Panels can be pre-formed with openings such as window's and doors and have pre-finished surfaces. Light, hollow corrugated panels have a zigzag high strength concrete shape sandwiched and secured with adhesive between two flat high strength concrete panels. For panels applied to the building exterior, low-weight, ultra low tensile aerated concrete can be added between ribs as insulation and added rigidity.
The composite concrete panels integrate edge connection means which interlock to each other and to primary concrete building components such as complimentary pilings, wall footings, crown beams and roof purlin connectors. These connectors are particularly amenable for installation by hand.
As a result, structures, such as housing, can be erected on-site, with a minimum of equipment and without the requirement for craftsmen.
In one embodiment, the edge connection means comprise C-shaped FRP extrusion for forming a mortise about the periphery of the panels. For composite corrugated panels, the mortises are formed of extruded plastic, sandwiched between high strength concrete sheets. In channel panels and building components, the mortise preferably take the form of dovetail grooves formed directly in the panel's concrete. Each of the C-shaped or dovetail mortises accepts one lateral half of a pultruded epoxy, fiber-reinforced joiner or tenon insert having an X-shaped cross-section. When mortises of components and panels are facing or adjoining each other, they form a cavity into which these X-connectors can be inserted as a tenon, locking the components and panels, or panel to panel, together. Unlike concrete, the X-connector tenons are elastic and are forgiving of misalignment and movement.
Using the X-connector tenons, a floor channel panel having a downward facing groove can be locked to a piling having an upward facing and complementary groove. The bottom of a wall panel can be locked to the floor panel. A crown beam can be locked to the top of the wall panel and the bottom of a roof panel can be locked to the crown beam.
Preferably, the crown beam has a low profile by providing a greater lateral dimension than height. This unconventional orientation also aids in providing lateral strength to resist roof-spreading loads and transferring them vertically into the walls. Advantageously, the lateral extension also make it possible to secure exterior gutter and interior valences thereto, preferably using the same X-connector tenons.
Further, adjoining roof panels can be connected using purlin connectors having a deep depending rib portion for adding extra beam section and strength to the roof structure.
In the broadest form of the invention, a method of modular concrete construction comprises providing two or more lightweight composite concrete building components having one or more linear peripheral edges formed with linear dovetailed fitting mortises, providing one or more flaring tenons, aligning two adjacent building components with facing fitting mortises, and joining the aligned panels by inserting one or more of the flaring tenons along the peripheral edge and into the facing fitting mortises so that the panels cannot be separated.
Preferably this method is applied to the formation of walls panels for forming a walled structure, all of which are joined using the mortises and tenons. This method of construction can be extended to form a plurality of components for forming a wide crown beam which rests atop the walled structure and supports a plurality of roof panels resting thereon.
More preferably, additional building components such as floor panels can be similarly formed. Using the lightweight composite concrete, corrugated panels can be formed of a profiled or corrugated sheet glued sandwiched between two sheets. These corrugated panels, fitted with mortises, can be used a beams as part of a suspension system, resting on piles, or assembled as interior partitions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded cross-sectional view of one half of a modular building manufactured in accordance with a preferred form of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded view of the construction components of a building manufactured in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of a building constructed using one embodiment of the invention and illustrating the concrete culvert detail;
FIGS. 4
a
and
4
b
are side and exploded fastener views respectively of the rock pile;
FIG. 5
is a plan view of a nine-pile grid;
FIG. 6
is a partial cross-sectional detailed view of the crown beam and interlocking to the roof and wall panels;
FIG. 7
is a partial cross-sectional detailed view of the crown beam with interlocked exterior gutter and interior valance;
FIG. 8
is a partial cross-sectional plan view of a 90° corner crown beam;
FIG. 9
is a partial cross-sectional view of part of the wall panels, the crown beam and roof panels accordingly to
FIG. 1
;
FIGS. 10
a-
10
d
illustrate the nature of the interior corrugated partitions. Specifically,
FIG. 10
a
is a overall arrangement illustrating a side view of a partition butted up to and illustrating a cross-section of an exterior wall;
FIG. 10
b
is a plan cross-sectional view detail showing the strip connector between the partition and the a complementary slot at the joint between two exterior wall panels;
FIG. 10
c
is a plan cross-sectional view detail showing the interlocking of adjacent partitions;
FIG. 10
d
is a side cross-sectional view of the top and bottom partitions illustrating capping and hook and loop fastener between the partition bottom and the floor;
FIG. 11
is a partial cross-sectional view of a corrugated panel;
FIGS. 12
a
and
12
b
are an end cross-sectional view and a side view of the X-connector;
FIG. 13
is a plan cross-sectional view of a vertical tongue joint illustrating a typical serpentine external wall panel joint; and
FIGS. 14
a-
14
h
illustrate structural framing details:
a. is a plan view of the building of
FIG. 3
;
b. is a cross-sectional view according to lines A—A of
FIG. 14
a;
c. is a cross-sectional view according to lines B—B of
FIG. 14
a;
d. is a plan cross-sectional view of a wall corner of
FIG. 14
a;
e. is partial plan view of the hip and peaks of the building of
FIG. 14
a;
f. is a cross-sectional view of the hip and peak sections of
FIG. 14
e
along lines f—f;
g. is a cross-sectional view of the hip and peak sections of
FIG. 14
e
along lines g—g; and
h. is an elevation view of the hip and peak connector of
FIG. 14
e.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Overall, and shown generally in FIGS.
1
,
2
, and
3
, there is disclosed a concrete building
10
and method of construction of same which comprises a connecting a plurality of exterior walls
11
, a support or suspension system
12
, a floor
13
and a roof
14
, all of which are manufactured of composite concrete components. Individual building components
15
interlock with each other and with other building components with a consistent arrangement of dovetail-like mortises
16
and tenon connectors
17
.
It is instructive to first identify the building's major components and then describe them in greater detail thereafter.
As shown in overall
FIGS. 1
,
4
a
and
4
b,
a pile
20
comprising an epoxy-resin fiber-reinforced (FRP) auger
21
and a square milled top
22
form a suspension system
12
for use in soil footings.
Having reference also to
FIG. 5
, a rectangular suspension grid
30
is formed for a total of nine piles
20
in a 3-by-3 arrangement. A grid shaped pattern (not shown) can be employed to ensure accurate positioning of the piles
20
. Each pile
20
connects to and supports the ends of floor beams
31
spanning between piles
20
. Typically, six strong, three-ply floor beams
31
run end to end, in co-axially extending pairs, running parallel each other pair spaced by three pairs of transverse, single-ply, weaker floor beams
32
. Floor panels
13
, having a channel profile, span the entire length of the 3 piles
20
aligned perpendicular to the strong beams
31
.
Exterior walls
11
stand vertically from and interlock with the periphery of the floor panels
13
.
As shown in detailed
FIGS. 6 and 7
, a header or crown beam
40
interlocks with and extends about the top of the walls
11
. Exterior rain gutters
41
and interior valence and utility tray
42
are interlocked to and are supported from the crown beam
40
.
At wall corners, a 90° curved section
43
of crown beam
40
, seen in
FIG. 8
, is used to connect linear sections
40
. Interlocking, vertically tapered fingers
44
provide a connection to resist lateral separating forces. Internal reinforcement is provided using epoxy/fiberglass (FRP) pultruded reinforcing rods
45
.
Sectional roof panels
14
interlock with and are supported atop the crown beam
40
as seen in
FIGS. 1 and 9
. A cottage-style roof
14
is shown which extends vertically upwardly and then deviates laterally to approach the peak and a peak connector
46
at an angle. Best shown in
FIG. 9
, compound curved panels
47
provide the section of the roof
14
adjacent the crown beam
40
. Flat panels
48
constitute the balance of the roof panels
14
. Dependent upon the span of the roof
14
, flat roof panels
48
are occasionally interlocked to one another using a purlin connector
49
, providing a locally increased and strong beam section.
Interior partitions
50
shown in
FIGS. 10
a-
10
d,
interlock at interfaces
51
between adjacent wall panels
11
and are attached to the floor panels
13
.
More specifically, three basic panel types are pre-formed using high strength concrete: a corrugated structural panel
60
for forming beams
31
,
32
and interior partitions
50
; a channel form
61
for floor panels
13
; and an insulated channel
62
for forming exterior wall
11
and roof panels
14
.
Corrugated Panels—Beams and Partitions
Having reference to
FIGS. 8 and 10
a-
10
d,
panels
60
for partitions
50
and beams
31
,
32
are planer composite corrugated panels entirely constructed of a matrix of high-density, high strength, plastic and fiber-reinforced concrete (hereinafter “HS concrete”).
Concrete having strength of 5,000 psi or greater is preferred. As shown, each panel
60
can be readily factory mass-produced by forming of first and second planer sheets
70
,
70
of HS concrete with a third corrugated sheet
71
sandwiched therebetween. The corrugated sheet
71
is molded in a zigzag pattern, having alternating angular sections
71
a
and short planer sections
71
b
for spacing the planer sheets
70
,
70
apart. The first and second planer sheets
70
,
70
are secured at the third corrugated sheet's short planer sections
71
b
with an adhesive mortar. The result is a lightweight concrete panel
60
which is strong, without the requirement for reinforcing tensile bar and which is substantially invulnerable to natural degradation. Optionally, the corrugations can be filled with insulation.
Opposing linear peripheral edges
72
of each substantially rectangular corrugated panel
60
is fitted with a structural plastic C-shaped extrusion
73
. The C-shaped extrusion
73
has an open side
74
which is oriented outwardly from the panel
60
. The C-shaped extrusion
73
has inward-facing flanges
75
at the open side
74
for constricting the opening and forming a mortise
16
. It is understood that the term mortise
16
, used herein, refers to any peripheral edge connector which has a larger internal dimension that outer dimension, such as a dovetail, thus being capable of retaining a tenon
17
.
Having reference to
FIG. 12
a
and
12
b,
linear tenons
17
are formed from epoxy resin over a matrix of fiberglass strands (FRP) pultruded through X-shaped dies. As a result, tenons in the form of X-connectors are formed having an X cross-section of 4 symmetrical radially extending wings
19
. As described below, the resultant X-connector tenons
17
are used to connect adjacent and facing mortises of corrugated panels
60
, both to each other and to other building components
15
.
In the case of adjacent panels
60
,
60
, when the C-shaped mortises
16
of the peripheral edges
72
of the adjacent panels are placed facing each other, the X-connector tenons
17
can be slid along the facing mortises
16
wherein two wings
19
engage one mortise
16
while the remaining two wings
19
engage the other opposing mortise
16
. Thus, as shown in
FIG. 10
c,
the X-connector tenon joins two panels
60
,
60
together.
The constricted opening of the C-shaped mortise prevents lateral release of the two engaged wings
19
and prevents separation of the panels
60
. Accordingly, the only permitted displacement of the X-connector tenon
17
is linearly along the mortise
16
.
Walls, Floor and Roof Panels
The second type of composite panel
61
and
62
, as seen in
FIGS. 1 and 9
, is constructed of a HS concrete outer sheet
80
and has perpendicular stiffeners or flanges
81
for forming a channel section. An example of use of such a panel
61
is the floor panels
13
. Utilities and the like can be run between the flanges
81
. Mortises
16
are formed at the peripheral edges
72
, both top and bottom, for connection to walls
11
and piles
20
respectively.
An insulated panel
62
is used for prefabricated and insulating exterior panels, such as wall
11
and roof panels
14
. A low-density, ultra-low tensile strength, highly-aerated concrete filler
82
(hereinafter referred to as “aerated concrete”) is placed in between the flanges
81
of the channel section. The filler
82
acts as an insulation which also increases the panel's diagonal rigidity. Again, mortises
16
are formed at the peripheral edges
72
, on each of the two sides, top and bottom, for connection to adjacent walls
11
, crown beam
40
and floor panels
13
respectively.
Suspension—Beam and spacers
Support beams for the suspension system
12
, best seen in
FIG. 1
, can be formed using a plurality of corrugated panels
60
such as those used to form the triple-ply beam
31
.
Triple-ply strong beams
31
and single ply weaker spacer beams
32
, are supported at the piles
20
. The beams
31
,
32
can be positioned using tongue
24
and groove
25
connectors for positioning on the piles
20
using a mortise
16
and tenon
17
connection.
Suspension System—Pilings
Two types of supports are provided to accommodate local conditions; particularly to facilitate construction on either a shifting or on a more consolidated base.
Referring to
FIGS. 1
,
1
b,
4
a
and
4
b
a piling
20
is used construction on soft soil. The piling is an FPR pultruded rod with an auger tip
21
on the bottom for screwing into soil, and a square milled top
22
. The beams
31
,
32
of the suspension system
12
are supported on the milled top
22
of the piles
20
. In soft-soil conditions, this type of pile is easily relocatable should the ground shift.
In consolidated terrain, a mere pad
23
can be substituted for the piles.
Floors
Floor panels
13
are secured to the suspension system
12
, as shown in
FIGS. 1-1
c,
being anchored to the beams at the outside perimeter of the grid
30
. These panels
13
are formed first with a tongue
24
or groove
25
to mesh with a groove or tongue on the pile's milled top
22
to act as a locator and secondly with a continuous dovetail mortise
16
in the floor
13
to facilitate joining to a mortise
16
in the pile using the X-connector tenons
17
. The floor panels
13
are amenable to installation of heat transfer tubes and installation of other utilities between their flanges
81
. The panels
13
can be profiled at their ends to match the wall profile, such as if the wall was curved.
Exterior Walls
Exterior walls
11
, seen in
FIGS. 1
,
9
and
10
a,
are formed having an exterior concrete shell
80
, a foamed concrete fill
82
and a skreeded interior concrete surface (not detailed). Exterior walls
11
are joined to the floor channels by a series of continuous dovetail mortises in the top of the floor panel
13
which corresponds to dovetail mortises
16
formed on the bottom of the exterior walls
11
. Connections are secured using X-connector tenons
17
. Tongue or grooves on the tops and bottoms of the walls correspond to grooves or tongues respectively on the floor panels
13
and crown beam
40
to act as locators for positioning of walls
11
.
Exterior walls
11
are joined to one another side by side using a serpentine tongue joint
85
, as shown in
FIG. 13
, sealed with a sealant adhesive
86
which prevents air, frost and contaminants from entering the building
10
.
Positioning of the walls
11
typically begins at a designated wall corner and continues about the circumference of the floor panels, ending at a recessed setting point pre-molded into selected floor panels
13
. The last wall panel
11
, having a similar setting point moulded into the wall panel's sides, is levered into position to interlock with the first floor panel
13
, thus providing a completely interlocked exterior finish to the building
10
.
Interior Walls
Lightweight wall panels, shown in
FIGS. 1 and 9
, having similar corrugated construction to the panels used for the beams and spacers
31
,
32
, only thinner, are provided for use as interior partitions
50
. The panels
60
are joined together to form partitions
50
as shown in
FIG. 10
a
using C-shaped extrusion mortises
16
and X-connector tenons
17
, best seen in
FIG. 10
c.
The partitions
50
are removeably secured to the exterior walls
11
utilizing a female socket
90
between the joints of two exterior wall panels
11
, a male elongated strip connector
91
and the C-shaped mortise
16
at the panel
60
. The strip connector
91
has a barb
92
, which fits securely and into the complimentary socket
90
, and two wings
19
of a tenon for fitting with the adjacent panel's mortise
16
. The partitions
50
are readily connected to the floor panels
13
using conventional hook and loop fasteners
94
(Velcro™) as seen in
FIG. 10
d.
As shown in
FIG. 10
d,
where the partitions
50
are open to the roof
14
, they are capped using an extruded cap
95
. The partitions
50
are also able to support the optional addition of ceilings (not shown). In cases where enhanced circulation is necessary, ceilings are omitted. In cases where ceilings are useful, the same partitions
50
can be used as ceiling material and are constructed to join to the partitions' mortises using suitable right angle connect or tenons.
Crown beam and roof construction
A crown beam
40
, seen in
FIGS. 6 and 7
, is formed from HS concrete, having lightening holes
100
along its horizontal axis, to reduce the weight of the beam
40
. It is used similarly as it would be in a conventional construction for roofs built without trussing or rafters. In such cases, it is normally placed vertically with respect to the exterior walls. The addition of a crown beam
40
provides means, at the point of juncture between the wall panels
11
and the roof
14
, to accept the spreading load therefrom. This load would otherwise be dependent upon the walls
11
and could result in wall deviation.
Rather than being placed in the conventional vertical position which would result in extra wall height, the crown beam
40
is placed horizontally on top of the walls
11
. Due to its width, the crown beam
40
creates a protuberance on the outside and on the inside of the walls
11
, which further allows it to be used as a building component suitable for the addition of external and internal structural and architectural attachments.
As seen in
FIG. 7
, externally the crown beam
40
is used as an anchor for a concrete rain gutter
41
capable of controlling large volumes of water flow such as might be found in a monsoon. The exposed face of the gutter
41
provides one form of a substitute for the soft and fascia found in conventional construction and minimizes the wind loading, and associated destruction, caused by high winds.
As seen in
FIG. 7
, internally the crown beam
40
is used as a connection for a continuous lighting valance
42
. The lighting valance
42
provides a suitable location for the installation of electrical, plumbing and communication harnesses used to provide services to the building
10
.
Installation of the crown beam
40
, between the wall panels
11
below and the roof panels
14
above, provides continuous horizontal strength with overall wall rigidity and relies on special joining conditions to maintain the final wall positioning. The system employs a finger joining technique, as seen in
FIG. 8
, designed to improve tensile strength in a lateral direction, while maintaining the required horizontal positioning or “bedding” by the casting of the finger joints
44
using a draw-casting method. This method of forming the finger joints
44
results in a downward diminishing taper for locking against movement.
The finger joints
44
are further reinforced by the insertion of epoxy fiberglass reinforcing rods
45
which extend axially into the crown beam and vertically through holes formed in the fingers of the finger joints
44
.
Roof panels
14
are moulded with overlapping extensions
33
along a bottom and a first vertical side edge. Formed In this fashion, roof panels
14
can be installed by sliding the non-overlapping vertical edge of a panel under the overlapping edge of the previously installed adjacent panel, while at the same time ensuring the bottom edge overlaps panels installed below. Roof panels are connected to one another using X-connectors
17
fitted into the facing dovetail mortises
16
of the adjacent roof panels
14
. The final roof panels
14
must be levered into position as they cannot be slid into position.
A peak connector
46
is installed at the apex of the roof
14
to connect the top edges of the opposing roof panels
14
where they meet. The peak connector
46
, shown in
FIG. 1
, acts to connect and to cap the top of the roof
14
.
The overlapping connection of the roof panels
14
provides a continuous, sealed structure relatively impervious to wind and rain.
Lighting Valance
The continuous lighting valance
42
, as seen in
FIGS. 1
,
9
and
7
, is connected to the interior edge of the crown beam
40
using an X-connector tenon
17
fit into dovetail mortise
16
on the crown beam
16
and the valance
42
. Reflectors
96
are placed on the adjacent curved roof panel
47
to reflect light from over the valance
42
and into the spaces below.
Trays
59
are fitted into the enclosure created by the lighting valance
42
and are joined to dovetail mortise
16
in the top of the crown beam
40
using X-connector tenons as seen in
FIG. 1
,
9
and
7
. These trays
59
are used to carry all service lines, in harness form, that can be installed or moulded into the walls
11
. This includes electrical, plumbing and communication services.
Heating and Cooling System
As shown in
FIG. 1
, a heating and cooling system is provided having a compressed-air, constant-pressure hot air heating system and a series of floor plenums and heat transfer tubes underneath the floor panels
13
.
Assembly
The panels
13
,
11
,
14
are all assembled and held rigidly together as a unit using corner wall panels
110
, and hip and peak connectors
111
. These connectors
110
and
111
are preferably held together using mortise and tenon connections.
Claims
- 1. A system of modular concrete construction for forming a roofed and walled structure comprising:a plurality of first lightweight composite concrete building components having at least a top linear peripheral edge formed with a linear dovetailed fitting mortise for forming wall panels; a plurality of second lightweight composite concrete building components which have a greater lateral dimension than height, wherein at least top and bottom linear peripheral edges are formed with linear dovetailed mortises for forming crown beams; a plurality of third lightweight composite concrete building components having at least a bottom linear peripheral edge formed with linear dovetailed fitting mortises for forming roof panels; a plurality of flared tenons for fitting in the mortises, so that when the mortises of two or more building components are aligned, the components are joined by inserting the flared tenons along the peripheral edges and into the aligned fitting mortises; and a plurality of crown beams having top and bottom edges, joined end to end atop the wall and inserting tenons to join the bottom edges of the crown beams to the top edges of the wall panels and below the roof panels by inserting tenons to join the top edges of the crown beams to the bottom edges of the roof panels.
- 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the wall panels or roof panels further comprise:a planer sheet; and flanges spaced periodically and extending perpendicularly from the sheet.
- 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the wall panels or roof panels further comprise aerated concrete placed between the flanges as insulation.
- 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the flared tenons are formed of pultruded FRP.
- 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the flared tenons have an “X”-shape complementary with the mortises.
- 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the crown beams have interlocking fingers at their ends, the fingers being vertically tapered, for joining adjacent crown beams end to end.
- 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the bottom ends of the roof panels further comprise extensions which overlap an aligned and joined building component.
- 8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:a plurality of lightweight composite concrete purlins having at least a bottom and a top linear peripheral edges formed with linear dovetailed fitting mortises, and wherein two or more roof panels are joined to the purlins by inserting tenons to join the purlins bottom edge to a roof panels' top edge and below the roof panel by inserting tenons to join the purlins' top edge to a roof panels' bottom edge.
- 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the bottom ends of the purlins further comprise extensions which overlap an aligned and joined building component.
- 10. A method of modular concrete construction for forming a roofed and walled structure comprising the steps of:providing a plurality of first lightweight composite concrete building components having at least a top linear peripheral edge formed with a linear dovetailed fitting mortise for forming wall panels; providing a plurality of second lightweight composite concrete building components which have a greater lateral dimension than height, wherein at least top and bottom linear peripheral edges are formed with linear dovetailed mortises for forming crown beams; providing a plurality of third lightweight composite concrete building components having at least a bottom linear peripheral edge formed with linear dovetailed fitting mortises for forming roof panels; assembling the plurality of wall panels by aligning two adjacent wall panels and inserting tenons into adjacent fitting mortises to join adjacent wall panels and form a wall; assembling the plurality of crown beams by joining them end to end atop the wall and inserting tenons to join the bottom edges of the crown beams to top edges of the wall panels; and assembling the plurality of roof panels atop the crown beam by aligning two adjacent roof panels and inserting tenons to join the bottom of the roof panels to the top edges of the crown beams.
- 11. A method of modular concrete construction for forming a roofed structure comprising:providing a plurality of first lightweight composite concrete building components having at least a top linear peripheral edge formed with a linear dovetailed fitting mortise for forming wall panels; providing a plurality of second lightweight composite concrete building components which have a greater lateral dimension than height, wherein at least top and bottom linear peripheral edges are formed with linear dovetailed mortises for forming crown beams; providing a plurality of third lightweight composite concrete building components having at least a bottom linear peripheral edge formed with linear dovetailed fitting mortises for forming roof panels; assembling the plurality of wall panels by aligning two adjacent wall panels and inserting tenons into adjacent fitting mortises to join adjacent wall panels and form a wall; assembling the plurality of roof panels by aligning two adjacent roof panels and inserting tenons to join adjacent roof panels and form a roof; and installing the crown beams end to end intermediate the wall and roof for absorbing roof loading and transferring the loading vertically into the wall.
- 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing lightweight concrete gutters about the roof by aligning linear mortises formed along inside edge of the gutters with linear mortises formed along outside edges of the crown beams and inserting tenons to join the gutters and crown beams.
- 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing lightweight concrete valences within the roof by aligning linear mortises formed along inside edges of the valences with linear mortises formed along inside edges of the crown beams and inserting tenons to join the valences and crown beams.
- 14. A method of modular concrete construction comprising the steps of:forming lightweight composite concrete building components having one or more linear peripheral edges formed with linear dovetailed fitting mortises, by forming first and second sheets of a lightweight composite concrete; forming a third corrugated sheet of a lightweight composite concrete; sandwiching the third sheet between the first and second sheets to form a corrugated panel having at least two opposing linear peripheral edges; inserting an FRP extrusion into at least two linear peripheral edges for forming a mortise; providing one or more flaring tenons; aligning two adjacent building components with aligned fitting mortises; and joining the aligned panels by inserting one or more of the flaring tenons along the peripheral edge and into the aligned fitting mortises.
- 15. The method of claim 14 for forming a building which can be erected on site without skilled personnel comprising the steps of:(a) providing a plurality of first building components having at least a top linear peripheral edge formed with linear dovetailed fitting mortises for forming wall panels; (b) providing a plurality of second building components which having a greater lateral dimension than height, wherein at least two ends, top and bottom linear peripheral edges are formed with linear dovetailed mortises for forming crown beams; (c) providing a plurality of third building components having at least two sides and a bottom linear peripheral edge formed with linear dovetailed fitting mortises for forming roof panels; (d) providing a plurality of corrugated panels; (e) placing piles at the building location in predetermined locations; (f) erecting a suspension system of a plurality of corrugated panels acting as beams extending between piles; (g) assembling the plurality of wall panels by inserting tenons into adjacent fitting mortises to join adjacent wall panels and form a wall supported by the suspension system; (h) assembling the plurality of crown beam atop the wall by inserting tenons into adjacent fitting mortises to join adjacent crown beams and inserting tenons to join the crown beam's bottom edge to the wall panels' top edges; and (i) assembling the plurality of roof panels atop the crown beam by inserting tenons to join adjacent roof panels and inserting tenons to join the roof panels to the crown beams' top edges.
- 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of assembling a plurality of corrugated panels to form partitions within the interior of the building.
- 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the flaring tenons are pultruded FRP.
- 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the flaring tenons have an “X”-shape complementary with the mortises.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2273757 |
Jun 1999 |
CA |
|
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