| WO2012149829A1 | 2012-11-08 | |||
| WO2013097678A1 | 2013-07-04 |
| CA2843797A1 | 2015-08-27 | |||
| CN102605858B | 2014-11-12 | |||
| CN102261129B | 2013-05-29 | |||
| JP2002004416A | 2002-01-09 | |||
| US4910939A | 1990-03-27 | |||
| CN203755451U | 2014-08-06 |
| CLAIMS The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A modular building connection system, which creates square cuboid space modules, by using four connectors, each one configured for either the south-east (A), the south-west (B), the north-west (C) and the north-east (D) comer of a space module, wherein each connector connects a bottom post (1), an upper post (2), a primary beam (3), and a secondary beam (4) into a rigid assembly, and wherein each connector is prefabricated from steel plates welded together to form an horizontal L-shaped bracket (5) to support a primary beam (3) and a secondary beam (4), which said horizontal L-shaped bracket (5) has two vertical triangular plates (6); a bottom vertical sleeve (7) to fit on a bottom post (1 ), which said bottom vertical sleeve (5) is formed by four vertical plates (8); an upper vertical sleeve (9) to receive an upper post (2), which said upper vertical sleeve (9) is formed by four vertical plates (10). 2. A modular building connection system as defined in Claim 1 , wherein the horizontal L- shaped bracket (5) has a square hole (5a) to allow the vertical transfer of electric cables from solar photovoltaic panels, mini-wind turbines, or other equipment. 3. A modular building connection system as defined in Claims 1 & 2, wherein the roof parapet incorporates parapet posts (2A), which in addition to supporting guardrails, may also support pole-mounted dual axis solar tracking devices with PV solar panels, pole-mounted mini wind turbines, or pole-mounted communication devices, without interfering with the use of the rooftop terrace. 4. A modular building connection system as defined in Claims 1 , 2 & 3, wherein the square cuboid space modules are independent and stand-alone, and can be added, removed, or relocated within a square three-dimensional rectangular grid, without disturbing the adjacent square cuboid space modules. |
(a) The Title of the Invention: MODULAR SYSTEM
(b) Technical Field: Connection systems between the structural posts and beams in buildings.
(c) Background Art: The present invention is an improvement to patent CA 2843797.
Current conventional connection systems between the structural steel posts and steel beams in buildings are inflexible, do not facilitate prefabrication, and are difficult and expensive to modify for adaptation, expansion, or disassembly.
The present modular system provides a solution to this problem by introducing a novel connection system that facilitates prefabrication, helps achieve flexible growth, adaptation or relocation, and can help create building modules that can function as living architectural organisms. These modules, like living cells in the natural world, can create building blocks, which can grow, shrink, or be moved. Furthermore, the present invention facilitates the incorporation of solar panels and mini wind turbines to achieve energy self-sufficiency of buildings.
There currently exist several patents for modular systems, and structural connection systems, which are modular, or demountable. However, the present invention is uniquely novel by introducing a specially configured saddle to connect posts and beams, and facilitate the erection and installation of the structural frame for each module, and its disassembling, relocation, and/or reuse, as needed. Thus, independent stand-alone modules are created. They can be added, removed and relocated, without disturbing the structure of adjacent modules.
(d) The Technical Problems and the Solutions:
The present invention solves the following problems:
i) How to facilitate the prefabrication of buildings for efficient and economic transportation, and for fast assembly or disassembly: The present invention facilitates the design and manufacturing of structural building components for easy transportation, and for their fast assembly or disassembly, with minimum manpower and equipment. ii) How to achieve building flexibility, adaptability, reuse and relocation:
The present invention can create stand-alone structural modules, which can be added within a three-dimensional grid, or demounted and relocated as needed, without disturbing the adjacent modules.
iii) How to achieve efficient installation, demountability and reuse of the building components:
The present invention introduces steel saddle connectors for the installation and connection of posts and beams.
iv) How to install pole-mounted solar panels, mini-wind turbines and communication devices on a rooftop terrace, without affecting the usable outdoor space, at any time during the life of the building:
The saddle connectors (A & B) used at the roof parapet, can accommodate parapet post extensions (2A), which may be incorporated during construction or after completion, and, in addition to supporting the guardrails around the rooftop terrace, may also support pole- mounted solar panels, mini wind turbines, or communication devices, which are elevated overhead. e) Description of figures:
The figures illustrate the configuration, the purpose and the various benefits that the present modular system can bring in the construction of prefabricated modular buildings, whose aim is to be flexible and adaptable in space and time, and environmentally sustainable.
Figure 1 illustrates the bolted connections between saddle connectors (A & B), bottom posts (1), upper posts (2), primary beams (3), secondary beams (4), and bolts.
Figure 2 illustrates saddle connectors A and B, in axonometric view. Figure 3 illustrates the components of saddle connector A before being welded together, including horizontal L-shaped bracket (5), which said horizontal L-shaped bracket has two vertical triangular plates (6); bottom vertical sleeve (7), which said bottom vertical sleeve (5) is formed by four vertical plates (8); upper vertical sleeve (9), which said upper vertical sleeve is formed by four vertical plates (10), and pins (1 1) for temporary setting-in-place of beams.
Figure 4 illustrates a cluster of four saddle connectors (A & B), viewed from above.
Figure 5 illustrates how a saddle connector facilitates the erection of the structure by providing top and bottom square sleeves to capture bottom post (1), upper post (2), and vertical guiding pins to install primary beam (3) and secondary beam (4) and keep them in place before bolting.
Figure 6 illustrates an example of a square cuboid building module that can be created by using the present modular system for the main structural elements. The following building elements are shown: upper posts (2), primary beams (3), secondary beams (4), and saddle connectors (A & B).
Figure 7 illustrates parapet posts (2A) inserted into saddle connectors (A & B) to support guardrail (G), pole-mounted dual axis solar tracking devices (DASTD). This can be achieved during construction, or after the building was completed, without disturbing the existing.
Figure 8 illustrates the flexibility of the present modular system, which makes possible the addition or removal of cuboid modules, which can be pre-assembled away from the building, due to the strong connections between posts and beams.
f) Plan to implement the invention:
Phase 1 : Fabricate a saddle connector mockup.
Phase 2: Construct a cuboid module prototype to test the present invention.
Phase 3. Build a model home, applying the present invention in the steel structure.