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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
IMPROVED MODULAR BUILDING BLOCK FOR CONCRETE FORMWORK
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/024331
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
There is a modular building block for construction of a concrete structure such as a wall or the like. The block has spaced apart side panels (1) joined by a plurality of connecting members (2, 6) to form an internal cavity (5) for concrete infill. The block is adapted for horizontal or vertical interconnection with other like blocks for assembly into a permanent concrete formwork for said structure and the side panels are configured to form inset service channels (3, 4) across a face of the structure.

Inventors:
BEALE HOWARD MICHAEL (AU)
Application Number:
PCT/AU2016/000267
Publication Date:
February 16, 2017
Filing Date:
August 03, 2016
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
BEALE HOWARD MICHAEL (AU)
International Classes:
E04B2/86; E04B2/54; E04C1/39
Foreign References:
US20110203202A12011-08-25
US6253519B12001-07-03
NL1011366C22001-02-06
DE2936640A11980-03-27
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ANDERSON-TAYLOR, Michael (AU)
Download PDF:
Claims:
The claims:

1. A modular building block for construction of a concrete structure such as a wall or the like, said block having spaced apart side panels joined by a plurality of connecting members to form an internal cavity for concrete infill, said block being adapted for horizontal or vertical interconnection with other like blocks for assembly into a permanent concrete formwork for said structure and said side panels being configured to form inset service channels across a face of said structure.

2. The modular building block as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in a position of use of the modular block, said service channels extend in horizontal and/or vertical directions.

3. The modular building block as claimed in claim 2 wherein said connecting members include transverse battens along upper and lower edges of the block and internal transverse dowels through the centre of said block.

4. The modular building block as claimed in claim 3 wherein said internal cavity is shaped to receive lengths of reinforcing bar.

5. The modular building block as claimed in claim 4 wherein upper and lower edges of the side panels are formed with female slots and male flanges so that the block can engage with another like block.

6 The modular building block as claimed in claim 5 wherein sides of the vertical service channels and upper walls of the horizontal service channels are tapered inwardy toward the bases thereof to increase rigidity of the side panels when under load.

7. The modular building block as claimed in claim 6 wherein said horizontal service channels are formed with upstanding ridges along the outer edges thereof.

8. The modular building block as claimed in claim 7 wherein there are two spaced apart vertical service channels formed in each side panel.

9. The modular building block as claimed in claim 8 wherein the location of said vertical channels is chosen so that when said block is laid together with other like blocks in a running bond pattern said vertical channels substantially align with vertical channels of said other like blocks above and below.

10. The modular building block as claimed in claim 9 when fitted with a wall panel having a horizontal hanger rail which engages in one of said upstanding ridges along an outer edge of one of said horizontal channels

1 1. The modular building block as claimed in claim 8 wherein apertured flanges are formed to extend out from each side of the vertical service channels and upstanding threaded bosses are formed within said vertical channels at positions to enable the mounting of power points, light switches and other like fittings in a horizontal or vertical position.

Description:
IMPROVED MODULAR BUILDING BLOC FOR CONCRETE FORMWORK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to building construction. More particularly, although not exclusively it discloses an improved lightweight modular formwork block for constructing concrete walls.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

While it is known to use prefabricated void forming building units which are installed permanently and fortified with concrete to complete a structure these typically comprise large and cumbersome panels. Such panels are difficult to install and typically have to be slid into place along guide channels secured above and/or below the intended wall. Their size also makes handling and transport difficult. Examples of such "left-in-place" building formwork (as it is known in in the industry) are described in Australian patent 20022328693.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly a modular building block is disclosed for constructing a concrete structure such as a wall or the like, said block having spaced apart side panels joined by a plurality of connecting members to fonn an internal cavity for concrete infill, said block being adapted for horizontal or vertical interconnection with other like blocks for assembly into a permanent concrete formwork for said structure and said side panels being configured to form inset service channels across a face of said structure.

Preferably in a position of use of the building block said channels extend in the horizontal and/or vertical directions and are adapted to accommodate services such as electrical and communication cables, water supply, stonnwater and sewer pipes, heating/cooling ducts and any other utilities normally required in a building.

It is further preferred that in a position of use of the building block said

connecting members include battens along the upper and lower edges of the block and transverse dowels through the centre thereof.

It is further preferred that said internal cavity is shaped to receive lengths of vertical and horizontal reinforcing bar.

It is further preferred that said building block includes respective female slots and male flanges in the upper and lower edges of the panels whereby said block can engage with another like block.

It is further preferred that the panels are adapted to be moulded separately from plastic and then assembled in a spaced apart relationship using said battens and dowels to define the sides of the building block and the internal cavity

therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The currently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which :-

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a modular building block

according to the invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevation view along the direction of arrow A of

figure 1 , Figure 3 is a side elevation view similar to figure 2 but showing the preferred arrangement for attaching wall paneling to the building block, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a side panel of a second embodiment of the block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to figure 1 there is a modular building block which is adapted for assembly with other like modular blocks to create a permanent concrete formwork. The block in accordance with this embodiment may for example be incorporated with other blocks into a running bond or stacked pattern for construction of a wall or other building structure. It may be formed from

moulded plastic components and comprise spaced apart side panels 1 linked by rows of transverse parallel battens 2 along the top and bottom of the block. Each of the side panels is preferably shaped to form intersecting vertical and horizontal channels for building services in the outer face of the formwork. With this embodiment there are two vertical channels 3 and one horizontal channel 4 formed in each side of the block. The channels are positioned to align with channels of other adjoining like blocks when assembled as mentioned above. As best shown in figure 2 the side panels 1 define between them an internal cavity 5 for infill of concrete. There are also internal connecting dowels 6 which extend between the inner walls of the horizontal service channels on each side to brace the centre of the panels against outward deflection under the weight of the concrete infill.

The sides 8 of the vertical channels and the upper walls 9 of the horizontal channels are preferably tapered inwardly toward the bases 10, 1 1 to increase the rigidity of the panels under load. The horizontal channels may also be formed with upstanding ridges 12 along their outer edges to assist with placement of the service cables and also fixing of wall panels 12A which may be fitted with horizontal hanger rails 12B having an insulation layer 12C as shown in figure 3.

In order to construct a wall using an assembly of building blocks in accordance with the invention said blocks would typically be laid in a running bond pattern whereby the end butt joints in one row would fall in the middle of blocks in adjacent rows above and below. In this configuration the horizontal service channels line up within each row along the length of the wall. The locations of the vertical channels in each block are similarly chosen so that they would align above and below to form continuous passages for the vertical services. To facilitate the above assembly the upper edges of the side panels are preferably formed with female slots 13 and the bottom with male flanges 14. Each row of blocks is thereby easily aligned with and fits stably on the supporting row underneath. Similar female slots and male flanges are also preferably formed on the ends of the side panels to facilitate close fitting butt joints within the rows. The positions of the upper and lower battens is also preferably staggered or offset to enable a close vertical stacking of the rows of blocks without interference.

Once laid a plurality of blocks according to this invention define a formwork with the internal cavities between the side panels merging to form a continuous void throughout the structure for placement of reinforcing bars and concrete infill. After installation of the services in the vertical and horizontal channels the wall can be finished off preferably by the application of specialised insulated wall panels 12A for interior and exterior use as mentioned earlier. More specifically as shown in figure 3 these panels 12A may comprise an insulation layer 12C together with an external or internal finish surface. The blocks remain permanently in place as "lost" or "left-in-place" formwork as it is known in the industry. Although the invention is not limited to any specific method of constructing the block. With the current embodiments the side panels 1 may be moulded separately and then assembled by inserting the connecting dowels 6 into sockets 15 in each panel and fitting the battens 2 between the internal ribs 16 using any suitable connecting means.

Although not shown in the drawings support lugs of any suitable design may also be formed around the inside periphery of the side panels 1. These would be adapted to receive fastening screws for mounting covers over the open ends of an exposed block in a finished wall structure.

With a modified embodiment of the block (see figure 4) the ridges 12' on each side panel may be cut out at the vertical channels 3 ' to form flanges 17 on each side with apertures 18. There are also upstanding threaded bosses 19 formed on the sides 8' of the vertical channels. This arrangement allows the mounting of power points, light switches and the like in either the horizontal position between adjacent apertures 14 or vertically between one of the apertures 14 and an adjacent threaded boss 15 located above.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the

embodiment disclosed provides a novel and improved form of building block for "left-in-place" concrete formwork. Clearly however the example described is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example while it is currently preferred to mould the components of the block from ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) the invention extends to the use of any other suitable plastic. Also, although the building block shown preferably has standard modular dimensions of length 600mm, height 300mm and width 150mm other modular shapes and sizes may be used to facilitate construction of the formwork around doors, corners and windows etc. The particular shape and configuration of the side panels and channels formed therein may also be changed without departing from the scope of the invention.