GB2192413A - A building construction - Google Patents

Description

GB2192413A 1 SPECIFICATION Figure 4 is a horizontal section along the line

b-b of Fig. 2; A building construction Figure 5 is a horizontal section along the line c-c of Fig. 2 showing detail of a corner The present invention relates to a building 70 construction of the templet; construction. Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing The present invention can be applied to any a partially completed building construction pro structural element of a building. It is particu- duced by coating one side of the templet of larly intended for wall construction but may Fig. 2 and then removing the templet and as also be applied to other structural elements 75 sociated backing means; such as roofs or floors. Figure 7 is a vertical section along the line The building construction of the present in- a-a of Fig. 6; vention is simple and can be erected with lit- Figure 8 is a horizontal section along the tie use of skilled labour. line b-b of Fig. 6; The invention provides a building construc- 80 Figure 9 is a horizontal section along the tion having a depth which is small compared line c-c of Fig. 6 showing the detail of a to its longitudinal and lateral dimensions corn- corner construction.

prising a structural building element having a Figure 10 is a view similar to Fig. 6 show layer formed of cementitious material, wherein ing a completed building structure produced the layer incorporates integral longitudinal and 85 by coating the ribbed sides of the structural laterally extending ribs projecting outwardly elements of the assembly shown in Fig. 6 from the general plane of the layer on an in- together with associated backing means; ternal face thereof, each rib contains longitudi- Figure 11 is a vertical section along the line nally extending reinforcing means, and the a-a of Fig. 10; layer is fibre-reinforced. Figure 12 is a horizontal section along the The construction is preferably of twin, outer. line b-b of Fig. 10; layer construction having a first layer and a Figure 13 is a horizontal section along the second layer disposed in face to face relation line c-c of Fig. 10 showing the detail of a to one another wherein the first and second corner construction; layers are formed of cementitious material, the 95 Figure 14 is a perspective view to an en first layer incorporates integral longitudinally larged scale of a portion of the templet of Fig.

and laterally extending ribs projecting out- 2; wardly from the general plane of the layer on Figure 15 is a perspective view to an en an internal face thereof, each rib contains larged scale of a portion of the partially com longitudinally extending reinforcing means, the 100 pleted building construction of Fig. 6; and second layer has an internal profile which Figure 16 is a perspective, exploded view to complements the profile of the-internal face of an enlarged scale of a portion of the com the first layer and any intermediate layer, and pleted building construction of Fig. 10. - the first layer is fibre reinforced and the sec- In Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a ond layer is optionally fibre reinforced. The 105 schematic plan of a building construction 10 in construction may include an intermediate ther- accordance with the present invention corn mally and acoustically insulating layer, and the prising a plurality of integral, interconnected intermediate'layer may be formed of a foamed vertical structural wall elements 12.

plastics material, preferably of foamed polysty- The wall elements 12 may be external and rene 110 internal walls as shown in Fig. 1. Further, the In a preferred embodiment at least some of wall elements 12 are provided with door the longitudinally extending reinforcing means openings 14 and window openings. 16.

is in the'form of tensioned rods. The ten- In order to construct the building construe sioned rods May be pretensioned rods. tion of Fig. 1, a suitable footing 18 is first In a further preferred embodiment the longi115 provided as shown in Fig. 2. The footing 18 tudinally extending reinforcing means and the may be formed of concrete or any other suit fibre reinforcement may be the sole reinforce- able material which is capable of supporting ment of the building construction. the weight of the building construction 10.

The invention will now be described, by The footing 18 has mounted on it a templet way of example, with reference to the accom- 120 of vertical and horizontal performed members panying diagrammatic drawings, in-which- of suitable section joined by any suitable Figure 1 is a schematic view of a building means such as pop rivets. The preformed onstruction in accordance with the present members are typically formed of meta..

invention; In particular, it has been found that cold Figure 2 is an upper perspective View of a 125 rolled or pressed metal sections. have satisfac non-structural skeleton templet used to form tory strength to weight ratio, are moderately the building construction of Fig. 1 except for priced and are readily available. However, the lowermost corner which is omitted; other forming techniques can be employed as Figure 3 is a vertical section along the line can other materials.

a-a of Fig. 2; 130 The vertical members are typically in the 2 GB 2 192 413A 2 form of spaced, elongated vertical galvanised which as shown in Fig. 3, may be anchored at steel members 20 formed with steps 22 and its upper end at the wall 44. At their lower outwardly extending flanges 24 as can best ends the rods 52 may be anchored in the be seen in Figs. 4 and 14. This profile is apertures of the lugs 28 as can be seen in commonly known as top-hat section'. The 70 Figs. 3 and 14.

lower end of each templet section has an The assembly shown in Fig. 2 when the elongated L-shaped member 25 extending backing panels 48 are in place as described lengthwise of the templet section. above- form a coatable assembly which has a The vertical members 20-have their lower depth which is small compared to its horizon- ends resting on horizontal bases 26 of the L- - 75 tal and vertical dimensions. The upper and i shaped members 25 as can be seen in Fig. 3. lower horizontal members together with the The L-shaped members 25 have upright por- backing panels 49 define open ended, inter tions 27 which are connected to the rear of connected horizontal recesses 53 which ex the flanges 24. tend horizontally.

Further, as can best be- seen in Fig. 141 80 The. recess 51 and 53 are interconnected.

each base 26 has a plurality of spaced, up- The open ended recesses 51 and 53 face standing lugs 28. The lugs 28 contain-aper- outwardly of the general plane of the coatable tures which-are arranged to have a reinforcing assembly and have a depth extending in the rod 30 passed therethrough. As can be seen same, direction as the depth of the coatable in Fig. 3, the apertures in the lugs 28 have 85 assembly. The backing panels 49 are prefera lateral entrances for'receiving the rod 30. The bly thermally and/or - acoustically insulative L-shaped members 25 are also associated such as a foamed panel formed of polystyrene with Z-shaped members 32 comprising a hori- or polyurethane. It has been found that, in zontal base 34 arranged to rest on the footing particular, polystyrene has a relatively low 18, an intermediate upright poftion 36 and a 90 weight to volume ratio, low water permeability forwardly projecting horizontalplate means and high thermal and acoustical insulating pro 38'. The templet of Fig. 2 has a Z-shaped perties. As such polystyrene is the preferred member 32 -extending lengthwise of each tem- material for the backing means. As can be plet section with horizontal -plates 38 located seen in Fig. 5, corner assemblies may be between each pair of vertical members- 20. 95 formed by a vertical right angled member 56 Thus, the forwardly projecting-portions 38 are located internally of the junctions between the inserted between adjacent vertical members horizontal reinforcing rods 49a and 30 and and the horizontal base 34 rests on the serving to interconnect backing panels 49 in footing 18. - adjacent walls. The rods 49a and 30 may be The templet further comprises upper horitensioned sufficiently to make them taut and zontal members 40 which comprise 6 rear ver- as such may be interconnected by a ring as tical wall 42; an-upper horizontal wall 44, a sembly as shown in Fig. 5 as per normal fix lower horizontal step 46 and a vertical flange ing practice in the art. The rods 49a and 30 48, depending from the step 46. As can best need not be tensioned at all and could be in be seen in Fig. 3, the upper horizontal mem- 105 the form of bars. The rod 49a is typically bers 40are connected to the rear of the supported by being tied to the vertical rods flanges 24 of the vertical members 20 by 52.

means of the-flanges 48. Further, the horizon- A layer of a suitable thickness of concrete taU wall:44 projects forwardly a distance suffi- or similar cementitious masonry material may cient to overlie the plates 38. The Wall 44, 110 be applied to the side of the c, oatable as the wall 42 and the step 46 define a horizon- sembly corresponding with the right hand side tally extending recess 47. Therecess defined of the assembly shown in Fig. 3. For external by the upper horizontal member 40 contains a walls this is usually the external face of the longitudinally extending horizontal reinforcing coatable assembly although this is not essen rod 49a. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the tem- 115 tial.

plet assembly preferably comprises diagonal The layer of cementitious material has asso bracing rods on the side which is not to be ciated with it reinforcement which may be in coated initially so as to give the templet as- the form of reinforcing fibres contained in the - sembly more rigidity. cementitious material at the time it is applied As can -best be seen in Fig. 14, a backing 120 and/or mesh_ reinforcement attached to the means in the form of panels 49 are located backing means by any suitable means prior to between vertical members 20.-The panels 49 - application of the cementitious material. The abut the steps 22 Further, the panels 49 rest reinforcing fibres may be formed of metal, on the plates 38 and their upper ends are at plastics material or glass while the mesh rein -the same- height as the step 46. Thus, the 125 forcement may be formed of plastics material.

backing panels 49 fill the spaces between the The coating of the faces of the templet as members 2, 26 and 40. sembly containing the recesses 51 and 53 re The panels 49 and the vertical members 20 - sults in the filling of the recesses. The outer define vertical recesses 51. Each recess 51 surface of the applied layer may be levelled by contains a pretensioned reinforcing rod 52, 130passing a screed across the surface and float 3 GB 2 192 413A 3 finishing as is known in the art. An arrangement such as this is shown in The filling of the recesses means that a Figs. 10 to 13 and, in exploded form, in Fig.

formed layer 57 of cementitious material has 16. The further layer 57 has an internal face integrally formed structural ribs 58 which pro- with a shape complementary to that of the ject outwardly from the layer as can be seen 70 first layer 57 and any intermediate layer.

in Figs. 6 to 9 and 5. For clarity, the backing The further cementitious layer would usually panels 49 have been omitted in Figs. 6 to 9. have associated with it mesh or fibre renforce As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, the coating of the ment but in most applications of the present recessed faces of the coatable assembly can invention this layer would be reinforced as result in the formation, in situ of a stable, self 75 well as the first layer.

supporting building construction comprising a It is envisaged that the skeleton templet number of integral, interconnecting, divergent could be manufactured in a factory to obtain walls which have structural strength because the benefits of mass production techniques of the interconnected horizontal and vertical and the completed skeletons could be trans integral, reinforced ribs 58. 80 ported to a construction site for erection.

Once the cementitious material has cured Alternatively, the skeleton templet could be the walls have structural strength and are self made on site.

supporting. At this point the Z-shaped mem- The cementitious material may be applied by bers 32 are usually removed together with the any suitable means including manual, mechani- members 20 and 40. 85 cal or pneumatic means.

Further, as can be best seen in Fig. 6, the The application is preferably by spraying by building construction of the-present invention pneumatic means because this has the advan can be readily arranged to provide door and tage of providing an end product with high window openings. compressive strength, high flexura,l strength, The technique of the present invention may 90 high impact resistance, high strength to slen be applied to to other elements of a building derness ratio and high speed of application.

such as roof or floor elements. Thus, the ver- Further, the cured material can have high ticial and horizontal recesses in the templet water and sound imperviousness and achieve are, in general, lateral and longitudinal re- ment of early high strength.

cesses. 95 The applied mixture can have a low water In some circumstances, the foam interlayer to cement ratio and good bonding character- can be dispensed with and replaced by any istics. The spraying technique can be used suitable backing material. One-side only of the with a templet which is less strong than that backing means may have a layer of cementirequired in situ poured concrete.

tious material applied to it. Further, the skele- 100 The pneumatic spraying equipment should ton templet 'could be removed partially or enbe capable of delivering a continuous stream tirely when the applied cementitious layer has of uniformly mixed material to a discharge cured sufficiently to acquire sufficient strength nozzle at a suitable velocity.

to support itself. The pneumatic spraying equipment also In the embodiment illustrated the L-shaped 105 comprises an air compressor of sufficient member 25 is retained to provide a mounting capacity to supply clean dry air to maintain for the reinforcing rod 30. constant velocity-at the discharge nozzle to However, the templet members can be ar- ensure firm placement and compaction of ma ranged so that they can' be removed entirely if terial.

desired. Also, the backing layer can be re- 110 Modifications and variations such as would moved if -desired. be apparent to a skilled addressee are In the case where the templet and backing deemed within the scope of the present inven layer are removed a ribbed structure such as tion.

that shown in Figs. 6 and 15, may be ob-

Claims (9)

1. tained formed of structural walls intercon- 115 CLAIMS nected together and

   containing reinforced ce- 1. A building construction having a depth mentitious material with additional reinforce- which is small compared to its longitudinal ment in the ribs. Such a structure as shown in and lateral dimensions comprising a structural Figs. 6 and' 15, could have Internal cladding building element having a layer formed of ce- material applied to the ribs 58, to form a cav- 120 mentitious material, wherein the layer incorpor ity wall. ates integral longitudinal and laterally extending However, a further layer 57 of cementitious ribs projecting outwardly from the general material can - be applied to the ribbed side of plane of the layer on an internal face thereof, the coatabI6 assembly, with or without the each rib contains longitudinally extending reinbacking means and/or templet present, and 125 forcing means, and the layer is fibre-rein the outer surface of the further layer finished forced.

   off to form a twin layer building construction
2. 2. A building construction according to which may have the backing means as an in- claim 1, wherein it is of twin, outer layer con termediate layer, and which incorporates inte- struction having a first layer and a second gral vertical and horizontal ribs. 130 layer disposed in face to face relation to one 4 GB2192413A 4 another wherein the first and. second -layers are formed of camentitious material, the first layer incorporates integral longitudinally and laterally extending ribs projecting outwardly from the. general plane of the layer on an in ternal face thereof, each rib contains longitudi nally extending reinforcing means, the - second layer has an internal profile which comple ments the profile of the internal face of the first layer and any intermediate layer, and the first layer is fibre reinforced and the second layer is optionally fibre reinforced.
3. 3. A building construction according to claim 2, wherein it includes an intermediate thermally -and acoustically insulating layer.
4. 4. A building construction according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate layer is formed of a foamed plastics material.
5. A building construction according to claim 4, wherein the intermedi, ite layer is formed of foamed polystyrene. - -
6. 6. A building construction according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the longitudinally extending reinforc- ing means is in -the form of tensioned rods.

   -
7. 7. A building construction according to claim 6, wherein the tensioned rods are pre tensioned- rods.
8. 8. A building construction according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the longitudinally ex-tending reinforcing means and the fibre reinforcement are the sole reinforcement of the building construction.
9. 9. A building construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   Printed for Her Majesty's Stationary Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd, Dd 8991685, 1988. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1.AY, from which copies may be obtained.

   1