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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
BUILDING MODULE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2004/048710
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A building module comprising a central unit for technical installations such as for example water pipes, drain pipes, cables, fuse boxes, telephone/data exchanges, and water heaters. The central unit comprises stiffening members that form a skeleton of vertical, horizontal and possibly angled stiffeners. Wall panels are attached to the stiffening members such that the stiffening members and wall panels together form a wall. The building modules are characterized in that the stiffening members are made of a light metal such as preferably aluminum.

Inventors:
KJAERVIK FRODE (NO)
Application Number:
PCT/NO2003/000387
Publication Date:
June 10, 2004
Filing Date:
November 17, 2003
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
KJAERVIK FRODE (NO)
International Classes:
A47K4/00; E03C1/01; E04B1/348; E04F17/08; (IPC1-7): E04B1/348; A47K4/00; E03C1/01
Foreign References:
US4655011A1987-04-07
US5076310A1991-12-31
GB569053A1945-05-02
US4470227A1984-09-11
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Onsagers AS. (Oslo, NO)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A building module comprising a central unit for technical installations such as for example water pipes, drain pipes, cables, fuse boxes, telephone/data exchanges, water heaters, wherein the central unit comprises stiffening members that form a skeleton of vertical, horizontal and possibly angled stiffeners, wherein wall panels are attached to the stiffening members such that the stiffening members and the wall panels together form a wall, characterized in that the stiffening members are made of a light metal preferably aluminum.
2. The building module according to claim 1, characterized in that the building module further comprises a bathroom floor that is ready for use and ready for mounting in a dwelling, in that the bathroom floor is placed onedge under transport.
3. The building module according to claim 2, characterized in that the bathroom floor is made a light metal such as aluminum, covered with a floor covering or tiles.
4. The building module according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the bathroom floor is equipped with a drain such as a wall drain, and possibly a drainpipe.
5. The building module according to one of claims 24, characterized in that the bathroom floor is equipped with raised edges around its circumference, and that the bathroom floor is mounted by having one of its edges attached to a throating at the lower end of the central unit's wall and possibly that the bathroom floor is also attached to the bathroom's other walls.
6. The building module according to one of claims 15, characterized in that one or more of the stiffening members is formed with a groove, and that the wall panels are attached to the stiffening members such that the groove is accessible from the central unit's exterior and can be utilized for example to hang kitchen or bathroom fixtures.
7. The building module according to one of claims 16, characterized in that the grooves extend in the vertical direction substantially to the height of the walls, and that the grooves are spaced evenly along the walls.
8. The building module according to one of claims 17, characterized in that the groove is formed as an integrated part of the stiffening member or is formed as a separate element that is attached to the stiffening member for example by a spacer.
9. The building module according to one of claims 17, characterized in that the stiffening members are formed with additional grooves adapted for the attachment of a section of wall panels such that the stiffening members form an independent attachment system for the wall panels.
Description:
Building Module The present invention relates to a building module, where the building module can also facilitate the wet-room functions of a dwelling.

Construction projects are complicated projects that are dependent on cooperation between various craftsmen with various specialties and areas of expertise, such as carpenters, electricians and plumbers. In addition, the logistics are complicated and entail รก great deal of transport of building materials to the construction site and the transport of waste away from the site.

It is previously known to construct houses and apartments from pre-fabricated modules. A common feature of such modules is that they are either purely wall modules that are mounted together to form a completed unit or that they are complete rooms, such as a bedroom or a bathroom, or portions of a room, such as portions of a living room or family room, that are mounted together to form completed houses or apartments.

Known module-based solutions are not particularly flexible and are most appropriate as components in clearly planned buildings.

One object of the present invention is to optimize construction time and costs as well as provide construction elements that can be utilized in many different buildings and building environments.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a building module with low weight, that uses less materials/increases the degree of material utilization, that uses less energy, that has a shorter production time, requires fewer work hours, increases flexibility (designed to be reused), as well as providing for simplified and more effective logistics. A building module according to the present invention (that is essentially complete prior to arriving at the building site) has very low mounting times at the site. The use of trained craftsmen can thereby be reduced to a minimum. The mounting cari be accomplished without the need for special tools.

The building module according to the invention comprises a central unit for technical equipment such as for example water pipes, drain pipes, tables, fuse boxes, telephone exchanges/data processing centers, water heaters etc. The central unit is built up of stiffening members that form a skeleton of vertical, horizontal and possibly angled supports/stiffening members. Wall panels are attached to the stiffening members such that the stiffening members and the wall panels together form a wall. These stiffening members are constructed of a light metal, preferably aluminum. The tenn"stiffening members"in this application means both columns

as well as materials traditionally understood as stiffening elements. The stiffening members will preferably be formed with a male/female attachment means. The columns will preferably be formed with slots/female sections.

Aluminum is light, water proof, corrosion resistant, and is easily formed using extrusion processes. Aluminum is a very precise material and profiles exhibit tolerances within 1/10 mm and are quite suitable for"dry"click-mounting.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention one or more of the stiffening members are formed with one or more slots. The wall elements are attached to the stiffening members such that the slots, which are accessible from outside the central unit, can be used for example for hanging kitchen or bathroom modules. The stiffening members are formed with additional slots adapted for the attachment of a number of wall elements, such that the stiffening members provide an independent attachment system for the wall elements.

In this manner the wall elements may be attached directly to the profiles without the need for other attachment means such as glue, screws etc. The other slots can be used to attach side or crossbars that support and stabilize the construction, and that make it possible to lift the construction with a crane without the need for pallets or the like. This method of attachment utilizes a dry process, in other words without the use of glue, paint, putty liquid membranes etc. The use of nails, expansion bolts and similar attachment means is kept to a minimum since the system is based on "Lego"-/click principles.

The slot members that are used for hanging of bathroom and kitchen fixtures are arranged in the vertical direction at essentially wall height, wherein the slot members are positioned at regular intervals along the wall. The slot members are formed as an integrated part of the stiffening members or are formed as separate elements that are attached to the stiffening members/supports for example with the help of a spacing member.

The choice of materials according to the invention makes possible industrial/robotic production. As previously mentioned, aluminum profiles are very precise and are therefore quite suitable for click joints. The walls in the building module may be treated separately and mounted in a jig, which simplifies and makes more effective the mass production of modules. Dry mounting means that robots may produce units continuously, without consideration of drying times or replacing modules in the jig, while the various points dry.

Because the modules are very light and flexible due to the choice of materials, they will also be very easy to move, for example by hand. Modules can be relocated in

their entirety both inside the apartment, and can also (if necessary, for example for joining together smaller apartments), be removed entirely and reused in another or the same building. Use of light materials as well as the unique construction of a bathroom floor that is only 25 mm thick including the heating system (electrical or water born heat) and tiles, allows for the module to be set directly on the existing floor. It is in other words unnecessary to provide a recessed area where the bathroom will be located.

The present invention will be described in detail below in reference to the following figures where: Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present building module packaged for transport, seen from above, Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the same preferred embodiment, and Figure 3 shows another preferred embodiment seen from above.

The embodiment in figure 1 shows a module 1 that is packaged for transport.

Module 1 is surrounded by a transport protector 2 that preferably surrounds the sides and top of the module, but that preferably is open at the bottom such that it can easily be lifted away from the module. The module comprises a central unit 3, where central unit 3 has on one side a wall in common with a kitchen and on the other side has a wall in common with a bathroom. In an embodiment of the invention that is mentioned in the publication"Teknisk Ukeblad 150. argang nr. 11, 21. mars 2003", the building module may be packaged for transport such that partition walls are utilized as the packaging under shipment. After arrival at the installation location, which may be for example a completely empty apartment without any partition walls, the building module offers a complete interior for the apartment, in that the building module contains all of the fittings for both kitchen and bathroom, as well as partition walls for completing the floor plan of an apartment ; for example by partitioning out a child's bedroom or the parent's bedroom.

Central unit 3 is built around a plurality of stiffening members 9 which can be made of any appropriate material utilized for such purpose. Stiffening members 9 are preferably made of metal, more preferably of a light metal such as aluminum.

Stiffening members 9 comprise a skeleton of vertical, horizontal and possibly angled supports upon which are mounted wall panels 11, such that stiffening members 9 and the wall panels create a wall. The central unit as shown is a utility room which may comprise a plurality of fixtures, such as a water heater 4, a fuse box 5, a central vacuum system 6, ventilation ducts 7 and possibly ventilation fans,

water pipes 8, drain pipes 9, a tank possibly for use with a wall-mounted toilet as well as possible other technical equipment (telephone/data exchanges, heat pumps etc. ). These fixtures are attached to the walls, preferably to the stiffening members, in that the central unit preferably has no bottom (floor) since the underlying surface upon which the module is placed constitutes the future floor for the central unit.

The wall panels 11 can be made of different materials, but the panels that face inwards in a wet room must comply with the regulatory requirements for such walls for that particular type of room.

On the sides of the wall panels 11 that face outwards from central unit 3 there are attached a plurality of fixtures normally found in a kitchen or bathroom respectively. On the side directed towards the kitchen are attached a kitchen counter 20 with underlying cabinet 21, a washbasin 24, a stove 25, possibly an oven and dish washing machine, as well as other possible appliances, as well as upper cabinets 22 and ventilation fan 23. On the side directed toward the bathroom are mounted a shower 30, a toilet 31, a basin 32 and a cabinet 33, where cabinet 33 may possibly be substituted with a washing machine and/or dryer.

All of the fixtures that are mounted on the walls directed towards the kitchen and the bathroom respectively are attached to the walls and preferably to the stiffening members 9 such that the units do not need to be supported against the floor of the prospective kitchen or bathroom. Because the fixtures are attached to the walls it is possible to design and place the units according to personal preference and needs.

In this manner it is simple to adapt the equipment for the physically impaired or other persons with special-needs in terms of placement and mounting height of the fixtures in the bathroom or kitchen.

Water pipes 8 leading to the fixtures, drain pipes 10 leading away from the fixtures, as well as necessary electrical wiring, go through the wall and directly into the fixtures to which they are connected such that the electrical wiring, water pipes and drain pipes are accessibly from the central unit.

A door 19 provides access to central unit 3 for necessary inspection, replacement and service of the fixtures in central unit 3. The fixtures may also comprise a closet unit 18 as shown in figure 1 in the event one does not utilized the entire length of the central unit for the technical equipment.

In the packaged form as shown in figures 1 and 2 there is provided a bathroom floor 35 standing in the packaged unit. The bathroom floor is preferably made of a light metal such as aluminum. The bathroom floor is preferably slightly elevated/a build up floor and has raised edges to ensure that water does not leak out into the adjacent

room. The bathroom floor may also comprise a drain and possibly drainpipe to transport water from the shower and possibly the floor to drain pipes 10. The drain can be a so-called wall drain, that is, a drain that is placed at the intersection between the floor and the wall.

When the present building module is to be mounted at the building site, it is preferred that it is installed before the roof is attached, such that it can be hoisted directly in place. However, the unit can also be installed in areas having a roof by for example wheeling the module in place. When the module is correctly placed, the piping systems in the central unit is connected to the piping system of the house, drain pipes 10 are connected to the house's drain system and the electrical wiring is connected to the house's power supply. Even though this may require the assistance of authorized craftsmen, the majority of the plumbing and electrical work is done during the manufacture of the module such that the work at the construction site is kept to a minimum.

The bathroom floor, which during transportation stands on edge, is preferably ready for use in that it is painted, covered with floor covering or possibly tiles. As mentioned above the bathroom floor has an edge around its circumference to prevent water leaking out into the adjacent room and thus functions as a container having an outlet in the form of one or more drains. The edge along one side of the bathroom floor is, during construction, preferably placed under a lip/throating (not shown) at the lower end of the wall of the interior of the bathroom and is thereafter laid to rest upon the underlying surface The bathroom floor can be attached to the wall adjacent the central unit, and to the other walls in the finished bathroom after these walls are set up. The bathroom floor can also be attached to the central unit by other means than by being placed under a lip and in this manner be attached directly to the wall. The bathroom floor can also be attached by other attachment means, such as screws and bolts, and the transition between the floor and the walls can be sealed using materials common for this purpose, such as silicone and the like.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present building module completely mounted. This embodiment is preferred for dwellings were there is no need for a water heater in that hot water is provided by a decentralized hot water system or by a boiler room that is shared by several dwellings. This embodiment can also be used to give the option of an extra bathroom and kitchen in a house, to provide the option of an extra apartment or to offer an extra bathroom.

This module is also built around a central unit 3. This central unit 3 is thinner than the embodiment as shown in figures 1 and 2 and does not allow one to enter into the central unit for inspection and maintenance. Access to the electrical wiring, fuse

box, water pipes, drain pipes, telephone/data exchanges and cables, is provided in this embodiment by a hatch or door into the central unit from an adjacent room.

Even though figure 3 does not show stiffening members 9, it should be apparent that this central unit is also built up of similar stiffening members 9.

The bathroom or kitchen portion of the module can be omitted in the event it is not necessary to have wet rooms on each side of the central unit. In the alternative, the same type of room may be on both sides of the central unit, as part of the same or adjacent dwellings. In the event the module is to be used to provide a bathroom or kitchen for two adjacent dwellings, then the technical equipment in the central unit can be duplicated such that there are separate installations for each side.

The arrangement of the present modules makes it possible to manufacture them at a site distant from the construction site for the dwelling, and to easily transport them.

When constructing the modules at the manufacturing site, the walls are first assembled individually, for example on the floor. Thereafter the fixtures are attached to the wall while it is in the most accessible position. The fixtures for example may be attached while the wall is laying flat on an appropriate work surface. After two walls are completed and the fixtures are mounted on them, the walls are set upright and equipment such as wiring/cables, water heater, pipes etc. that will be located inside the central unit are attached to the walls prior to the walls being packaged together with a bathroom floor and prepared for transportation.