Pre-fabricated buildings offer a number of conveniences. For example, because they use manufactured materials (such as metals), the amount of waste is often reduced relative to on-site building projects. This helps to reduce the cost for the consumer. In addition, pre-fabricated buildings install quickly, sometimes within a few hours. This allows them to be put up when an immediate need arises. For example, they can act as temporary housing or storage while a more permanent structure is constructed. They can then be moved, in some cases, to a new location.
Nevertheless, pre-fabricated buildings suffer from a number of drawbacks. For example, they are mass produced, reducing the ability of the consumer to design a building specifically for his/her needs. Moreover, they are more difficult to customize after the fact. In particular, they often do not have walls or other locations where materials can be attached or hung. This means that customization is often a more labor intensive process.
In addition, pre-fabricated buildings often are less energy efficient than other buildings. I.e., because the pieces are made to fit together quickly, there are often gaps or other areas that allow air to either enter or exit the building. This makes the building more difficult to heat or cool and to prevent drafts. Also, they may be made of sheet metal or other materials that act as good thermal conductors, allowing heat transfer into or out of the conditioned space. This means that the heat or air conditioning is often set to a more extreme temperature as users try to ensure a comfortable space.
Finally, pre-fabricated buildings are often not as sturdy as other buildings. For example, they may be made of sheet metal or plywood. Therefore, they are often used only as temporary buildings and more permanent structures must be built if the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a pre-fabricated building that can be customized to the needs of the user, both in the design and building process and after installation is complete. Further, there is a need in the art for the pre-fabricated building to be energy efficient, both by reducing thermal conductivity and by eliminating any gaps. Moreover, there is a need for the pre-fabricated building to be sturdy enough to act as a permanent structure, if so desired.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
One example embodiment includes a structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation includes a steel frame. The steel frame includes a first support beam and a second support beam. The structure with integrated insulation also includes an assembly with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation includes a first building panel with integrated insulation. The building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge. The first building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the first building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the first building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam in contact with the first building panel with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation also includes a second building panel with integrated insulation. The building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge. The second building panel with integrated insulation also includes an indentation in the first surface configured to receive at least a portion of the first building panel with integrated insulation. The second building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the second support beam on the second surface of the second building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the second building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation.
Another example embodiment includes a structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation includes a steel frame. The steel frame includes a first support beam and a second support beam. The structure with integrated insulation also includes an assembly with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation includes a first building panel with integrated insulation. The building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge. The first building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the first building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the first building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam in contact with the first building panel with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation also includes a second building panel with integrated insulation. The building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge. The second building panel with integrated insulation also includes an indentation in the first surface configured to receive at least a portion of the first building panel with integrated insulation. The second assembly with integrated insulation also includes a c-channel attached within the indentation, wherein the c-channel is configured receive the first edge of the first building panel with integrated insulation. The c-channel includes adhesive on the entire surface of the c-channel in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation. The second building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the second support beam on the second surface of the second building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the second building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation.
Another example embodiment includes a structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation includes a steel frame. The steel frame includes a first support beam and a second support beam. The structure with integrated insulation also includes an assembly with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation includes a first building panel with integrated insulation. The building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge. The first building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the first building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the first building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam in contact with the first building panel with integrated insulation. The assembly with integrated insulation also includes a second building panel with integrated insulation. The building panel with integrated insulation includes a first surface, a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, a first edge, wherein the first edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and a second edge, wherein the second edge is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is opposite the first edge. The second building panel with integrated insulation also includes an indentation in the first surface configured to receive at least a portion of the first building panel with integrated insulation. The second assembly with integrated insulation also includes a c-channel attached within the indentation, wherein the c-channel is configured receive the first edge of the first building panel with integrated insulation. The c-channel includes adhesive on the entire surface of the c-channel in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation. The second building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the second support beam on the second surface of the second building panel with integrated insulation, wherein the attachment between the second support beam and the second building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the second support beam in contact with the second building panel with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation additionally includes a backing secured within the second building panel with integrated insulation, the backing configured to allow an external device to be attached to the second building panel with integrated insulation.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made to the figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of some embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.
By way of example, a method of creating the T-beam 100 is described herein. The T-beam 100 starts out as a flat sheet of 20 gage steel (standard). Flange 102 is approximately two inches wide. To make flange 102 there will be two 180 degree bends, one on each end of the flange 102 and one (1) 180 degree bend on the bottom of the web 104. The first bend at the bottom of the top right side of the flange 102 is a one hundred and eighty (180) degree bend that is approximately seven eights (⅞″) of an inch that goes back to the center of the of flange 102. The second bend is at the left of the flange 102. This one hundred and eighty (180) degree bend is one (1″) inch in length and goes back to the center of the T-beam 100. At the end of this one (1″) inch bend will be a ninety (90) degree bend that is one and one half (1½″) inches (2 inches for an exterior wall) in length to create the web 104. At the end of the one and one half (1½″) inch web 104 on the T will be another one hundred and eighty (180) degree bend that will be one quarter (¼″) of an inch in length.
The height of the c-channel 400 can be critical to create a thermal break (as described in third related application). For example, the c-channel 400 can be approximately 75% of the height of the indentation 402 cut in the building panel with integrated insulation into which the c-channel 400 will be inserted. E.g., if the indentation 402 cut in the building panel with integrated insulation is approximately 2 inches high then the c-channel 400 can be approximately 1.5 inches high. Making the c-channel 400 smaller that the indentation 402 cut in the building panel with integrated insulation can be critical to prevent a thermal bridge that passes through the entire panel.
One of skill in the art will appreciate that the that the “width” of the c-channel 404 will be the horizontal width and which is not necessarily the same as the size of the c-channel 400 as measured along the surface of the containing element, such as a roof panel. For example, the roof's pitch is its vertical rise divided by its horizontal span (or “run”), what is called “slope” in geometry and stair construction, or the tangent function in trigonometry. It is typically expressed with the rise first and run second, with the run denominated by the number 12, giving a ratio of how many inches of incline there is to each foot of run. For example, 3:12, 4:12, 5:12, and so on. To find the exact roof slope in degrees, one takes the arctangent. For example: arctan(3/12)=14.0°. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the measured opening of the c-channel 400 in the roof panel with integrated insulation 110 may not be the exact width of the wall panel. I.e., because the roof panel with integrated insulation 110 may be installed at an angle the measured width along the surface of the roof panel with integrated insulation 110 will be longer than a horizontal measurement at the installed angled.
For example, if the roof has a pitch of 6/12 (−26.6 degrees) then the measured opening along the surface of the roof panel with integrated insulation 110 can be calculated by:
where w is the horizontal width and p is the pitch expressed as a fraction or a decimal. For example, if the pitch is 6/12 then the opening across the surface is 6×√{square root over (1+(0.5)2)}=6.708 inches for an exterior wall and 4.472 inches for an interior wall.
The backing 800 is secured to the structure with integrated insulation using adhesive. In particular, the adhesive is applied to the entirety of the surface of the backing 800 that is in contact with the structure with integrated insulation. This ensures that air gaps are removed, minimizing thermal bridging. Additionally or alternatively, it ensures that the backing 800 remains in place regardless of any force that would be applied by the external element.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/302,161 filed on Oct. 5, 2016, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/021,161 claims the benefit of and priority to PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IB2015/050890 filed on Feb. 5, 2015, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IB2015/050890 claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/173,713 filed on Feb. 5, 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IB2015/050890 claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/173,696 filed on Feb. 5, 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereinafter “first related application”). PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IB2015/050890 claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/173,703 filed on Feb. 5, 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereinafter “second related application”). PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IB2015/050890 claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/173,721 filed on Feb. 5, 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereinafter “third related application”).