FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a module for the modular construction of a building, which module is made in one piece of reinforced concrete, wherein the rectangular module comprises at least a floor plate, a ceiling plate extending parallel to the floor plate as well as two side panels extending transversely to the floor plate and the ceiling plate, which side panels are connected to short sides of the floor plate and the ceiling plate and which are provided with aligned openings, wherein the centre of each opening is located near the centre of the short side of the module, wherein long sides of the module extending transversely to the short sides have a length of twice that of the short sides of the module.

The invention further relates to an assembly comprising such modules.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Reinforced concrete modules are suitable for the modular construction of a building, wherein a number of modules are arranged beside or on top of each other.

With such a rectangular module, which is known from DE3108841A1, side panels extend between the floor plate and the ceiling plate on both short sides and longitudinal panels extend between the floor plate and the ceiling plate on both long sides extending transversely to the short sides of the module. The ratio of 2 : 1 between the length of the long side and the length of the short side of the module makes it possible to couple, for example, three modules with their long sides, so that an assembly of modules is obtained which has external dimensions of one time the length of the long side and three times the length of the short side of a single module. Each side panel and longitudinal panel is provided with an opening which has a width, seen in a direction extending parallel to the short side and the long side, respectively, which is smaller than the length of the short side and the long side in question. The opening has a height, seen in a direction transversely to the short sides and the long sides, which is smaller than the length of upright sides extending transversely to the short sides and the long sides.

When modules are coupled with their facing long sides, the longitudinal panels of the two modules form a double-walled partition wall between the spaces bounded by the modules, in which situation the spaces in the individual modules are in communication with each other via the openings. In a similar manner, the side panels of the two modules coupled together with their facing short sides form a double-walled partition wall between the spaces bounded by the modules, in which situation the spaces in the individual modules are in communication with each other via the openings.

Because of the presence of the double-walled partition wall, the spaces of the two coupled modules remain partially separated from each other, so that the size of the space is limited to the size of the individual module.

The partition wall between the spaces bounded by the modules comprises two panels, which are each made of reinforced concrete, so that the partition wall consists of a relatively great deal of material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a module made in one piece of reinforced concrete, by means of which a building comprising spaces having varying dimensions and comprising a limited number of partition walls can be constructed in various ways in a simple manner.

This object is achieved with the module according to the invention in that the floor plate, the ceiling plate and the side panels are provided with substantially flat inner walls facing each other, which four substantially flat inner walls bound a passage between the long sides and upright sides of the module that extend transversely to the short sides and long sides, wherein in use with two modules coupled to each other with passages directed to each other, the substantially flat inner walls of the floor plates, the ceiling plates and the side panels of the two modules are aligned without a partition wall between the spaces bounded by the modules.

The substantially flat inner walls of the floor plates of the coupled modules are uninterrupted in line so that the transition from one floor plate to the other is substantially flat. In the same way, the substantially flat inner walls of the ceiling plates of the coupled modules are uninterrupted in line so that the transition from one ceiling plate to the other is substantially flat. Also the substantially flat inner walls of the side panels of the coupled modules are uninterrupted in line so that the transition from one the side panel to the other is substantially flat.

Since the passages of two modules face one another, wherein the substantially flat inner walls of the floor plate, the ceiling plate and the side panels of the two modules are aligned, an open space without a partition wall between the two spaces bounded by the individual modules is obtained, which open space in the two coupled modules is twice as large as the space in the individual modules.

The 2 : 1 ratio also makes it possible, however, to couple three modules in a configuration in which a first and a second module are coupled with their long sides, for example, and a third module is coupled to two aligned short sides of the first and the second module with its long side. The short sides of the third module are thus in line with the first and second module. An assembly of modules is thus obtained whose external dimensions equal one and a half times the length of the long side and twice the length of the short side of a single module.

The passages of two modules may face each other in this case as well, wherein the substantially flat inner walls of the floor plate, the ceiling plate and the side panels of the two modules are aligned and an open space without a partition wall that is twice as large as the space in the individual modules is obtained in the two modules. The passage of the third module may face the side panels of the first and the second module, with the side panels forming a single partition wall between the third module on the one hand and the first and the second module on the other hand. The spaces in the first and the second module on the one hand and the space in the third module on the other hand are in communication with each other via openings in the side panels of the first and the second module and the passage in the third module.

One embodiment of a module according to the invention is characterised in that the module is provided with a longitudinal panel extending transversely to the floor plate and the ceiling plate on long sides of the module remote from the passage, which longitudinal panel is connected to the floor plate and the ceiling plate as one unit made of reinforced concrete.

The longitudinal panel adds strength to the module. The longitudinal panel forms a partition wall in the situation in which the module is coupled to another module or it can form an outer wall of a building.

Another embodiment of a module according to the invention is characterised in that the longitudinal panel is connected to the side panels as one unit made of reinforced concrete.

The longitudinal panel in that case extends between the floor plate, the ceiling plate and the side panels. If the longitudinal panel is configured as an entirely closed panel, the longitudinal panel will form a completely closed partition wall - in the situation in which the module is coupled to another module - or a completely closed outer wall of a building.

Another embodiment of a module according to the invention is characterised in that the longitudinal panel is provided with at least one recess, wherein the centre of the recess is located at one quarter, one half or three quarters of the length of the long side of the module.

If the recess is located at one quarter or three quarters of the length of the long side of a first module, said recess will be located symmetrically opposite the opening in the side panel of a second module if a short side of the first module and a long side of the second module are in line. If the recess is located halfway the length of the long side of a first module, said recess will be located symmetrically opposite the opening in the side panel of a second module if the short side of the second module is located near the centre of the long side of the first module.

If the recess is located halfway the length of the long side of a first module, said recess will be located symmetrically opposite the passage of a second module if the long sides of the first and the second module extend parallel to each other and the short sides of the first and the second module are in line.

Another embodiment of a module according to the invention is characterised in that the ceiling plate is provided with a stiffening rib on the long side near the passage of the module, which stiffening rib is present on an outer side remote from the inner wall.

The stiffening rib prevents undesirable deflection of the ceiling plate at the location of the passage. In addition, the stiffening rib makes it possible to place a second module on top of a first module, wherein the floor plate of the second module is supported by the ceiling plate of the first module, wherein undesirable deflection of the ceiling plate is prevented by the stiffening rib also in the case of modules stacked one on top of the other. The invention further relates to an assembly provided with at least a first and the second module according to the invention.

One embodiment of an assembly according to the invention is characterised in that the first and the second module are arranged with their passages facing each other.

Because the inner walls of the floor plate, the ceiling plate and the side walls are substantially flat, the flat inner walls of the two modules are aligned and an open space without a partition wall that is twice as large as the space in the individual modules is obtained in the two modules,

Another embodiment of an assembly according to the invention is characterised in that the passage of the first module faces a longitudinal panel of the second module, which longitudinal panel is connected to the floor plate, the ceiling plate and the side panels near long sides and upright sides of the module.

The longitudinal panel of the second module closes the passage of the first module at least partially. Only a single partition wall formed by the longitudinal panel is present between the first and the second module in that case.

Another embodiment of an assembly according to the invention is characterised in that the assembly further comprises a third module, the passage of which module faces openings in the side panels of the first and the second module.

The spaces in the first and the second module on the one hand and the space in the third module are in open communication with each other via the openings in the side panels of the first and the second module and the passage in the third module.

Another embodiment of an assembly according to the invention is characterised in that modules are positioned one on top of another.

In this way a building comprising a number of floor levels can be constructed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective front view of a first embodiment of a module according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective side view of the module according to the invention that is shown in figure l;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view in a Y-Z plane of the module according to the invention that is shown in figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective top plan view of the module according to the invention that is shown in figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view in an X-Y plane of the module according to the invention that is shown in figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, which comprises four modules as shown in figures 1-5;

Figure 7 is a perspective side view in a Y-Z plane of the assembly according to the invention that is shown in figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective side view in an X-Z plane of the assembly according to the invention that is shown in figure 6;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the assembly according to the invention that is shown in figure 6;

Figure 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view in an X-Y plane of the assembly according to the invention that is shown in figure 6;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of two modules of the assembly according to the invention that is shown in figure 6; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, which comprises three modules as shown in figures 1-5;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a module according to the invention;

Figure 14 is a perspective front view of a third embodiment of a module according to the invention.

Like parts are indicated by the same numerals in the figures. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1-5 show various view of a module 1 according to the invention made in one piece of reinforced concrete.

The module 1 comprises a rectangular floor plate 2 and the rectangular ceiling plate 3 that extends parallel to the floor plate 2. The floor plate 2 and the ceiling plate 3 have long sides 4, 5 having a length 2A and short sides 6, 7 having a width A, wherein the length 2A is twice the width A.

The module 1 further comprises two side panels 8, 9 extending transversely to the floor plate 2 and the ceiling plate 3, which are connected to short sides 6, 7 of the floor plate 2 and the ceiling plate 3.

The side panels 8, 9 are provided with aligned openings 10, 11, respectively.

The module 1 further comprises a single longitudinal panel 12, which extends transversely to the floor plate 2, the ceiling plate 3 and the side panels 8, 9 and which is connected to long sides 4, 5 of the floor plate 2 and the ceiling plate 3 and to upright sides 13 of the side panels 8, 9, which extend transversely to the short sides 6 and the long sides 4, 5.

The centre 14 of each opening 10, 11 coincides with the centre of the short sides 6, 7 of the floor plate 2 (see figure 3) and is spaced a distance o.5*A from the long sides 4 of the floor plate 2. The openings 10, 11 extend from the floor plate 2 and have a height HO which is smaller than the height HD between the floor plate 2 and the ceiling plate 4. The openings 10, 11 have a width B which is smaller than the width A of the floor plate 2 and the ceiling plate 4.

The floor plate 2 has a thiclaiess DV of, for example, 120 mm, the side panels 8, 9 and the longitudinal panel 12 have a thiclaiess DZ of, for example, 100 mm, and the ceiling plate 3 has a thiclaiess DP of, for example, 100 mm.

The length 2A is for example 6960 mm, the width A is for example

3480 mm, the width B is for example 1800 mm, the height HD is for example 2600 mm and the height HO is for example 2340 mm.

The floor plate 2, the ceiling plate 3 and the side panels 8, 9 have substantially flat inner walls 15, 16, 17, 18 that face each other. On a side remote from the longitudinal panel 12 the four substantially flat inner walls 15, 16, 17, 18 bound a passage 19 between the long sides 4, 5 and the upright sides 13. The passage 19 has a height HD of, for example, 2600 mm, and a width BD that equals 2A-2*DZ, for example 6760 mm.

The ceiling plate 3 is provided with a stiffening rib 20 at the long side 5 near the passage 19, which stiffening rib 20 is located on an outer side 21 remote from the inner wall 16. The ceiling plate 3 is further provided with upright edges 22 aligned with the side panels 8, 9 and the longitudinal panel 12. The stiffening rib 20 and the upright edges 22 have a height HV of 150 mm. In the space 23 bounded by the outer side 21, the stiffening ribs 20 and the edges 22, insulation material and/or cables, pipes etc. may be provided., for example.

If such dimensions are used, the module 1 will have the following external dimensions: a length 2A of 6960 mm, a width A of 3480 mm and a height H which equals DV + HD + DP + HV of 2970 mm. Figures 6 - 11 show various views of an assembly 30 according to the invention, which comprises four modules 1. For the sake of clarity, the first, the second the third and the fourth module 1 of the assembly 30 are indicated as modules 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4, respectively.

As best shown in figure 10, the long sides 4, 5 of the modules 1.1, 1.2,

1.3 extend parallel to each other. The short sides 6 near the side panels 8 are aligned. The short sides 6 near the side panels 9 are similarly aligned. The passages 19 of the second and the third module 1.2, 1.3 face one another. The passage 19 of the module 1.1 faces the longitudinal panel 12 of the module 1.2 and is completely closed by the longitudinal panel 12 of the module 1.2.

The module 1.4 extends transversely to the modules 1.2 and 1.3, with the long sides 4, 5 of the floor plate 2 and the ceiling plate 3 abutting against the short sides 6, 7 of the floor plate 2 and the ceiling plate 3 of the modules 1.2 and 1.3 near the passage 19 of the module 1.4. The short sides 6, 7 of the fourth module 1.4 are aligned with long sides 4, 5 of the second and the third module 1.2 and 1.3.

As is clearly shown in figures 6 - 11, the substantially flat inner walls 15 of the floor plates 2 of the three modules 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 extend in the same plane, so that unimpeded passage from the space bounded by one module to the space bounded by the other module is possible. The floor plates 2 of the three modules 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 can for example be provided with floor covering in a simple manner.

The substantially flat inner walls 16 of the ceiling plates 3, the substantially flat inner walls 17 of the side panels 8 and the substantially flat inner walls 18 of the side panels 9 of the coupled modules 1.2 and 1.3 also extend in the same plane, so that an open space which is twice as large as the space bounded by a single module 1 is obtained between the modules 1.2 and 1.3. The open space does not have any partition walls. The adjoining, substantially flat inner walls 17, 18 can be provided with a wall finishing material, such as wallpaper, in a simple manner. Disposed between the modules 1.1 and 1.2, forming a partition wall, is the longitudinal panel 12.

Between the modules 1.2; 1.3 and the module 1.4 only the side panels 9 of the modules 1.2; 1.3, forming partition walls, are disposed.

Square recesses and/or easily removable portions measuring 200 x 300 mm may for example be provided in the floor plate 2 and the ceiling plate 3 for leading through water pipes, gas pipes, electricity cables and the like. The recesses are preferably provided in the corners between side panels and longitudinal panels.

In the openings 6, a door or a window can be placed. In the case of a window, a lower part of the opening 6 can be closed by means of a concrete filling plate or metal partition.

In view of the relatively great weight of the modules 1.1 - 1.4, the modules 1.1 - 1.4 need not be joined together, although this is possible, of course.

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of an assembly 14 according to the invention, which comprises three modules 1. For the sake of clarity, the first, the second and the third module 1 of the assembly 40 are indicated as modules 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7, respectively. As shown in figure 12, the long sides 4, 5 of the modules 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 extend parallel to each other. The short sides 6 near the side panels 8 are aligned. The short sides 6 near the side panels 9 are similarly aligned. The passages 19 of the first and the second module 1.5, 1.6 face one another. The module 1.7 is supported on the stiffening rib 20 and the upright edges 22 of the module 1.6. By adding further modules 1 to the assembly 40, a building having a desired number of spaces can be obtained.

Figure 13 shows a perspective front view of a second embodiment of a module 51 according to the invention, which is different from the module 1 in that an opening 52 is provided in the longitudinal panel 12, the centre 53 of which opening coincides with the centre of the long side 4 of the floor plate 2, being spaced from the short sides 4 of the floor plate 2 by a distance A. The opening 52 extends from the floor plate 2 and has a height HO and a width B that correspond to the dimensions of the openings 10, 11.

Figure 14 shows a perspective front view of a third embodiment of a module 61 according to the invention, which is different from the module 1 in that the longitudinal panel 12 is provided with an opening 62, the centre 63 of which opening is spaced a distance 0.5A from the short side 6 of the floor plate 2 near the side panel 8 and a distance 1.5A from the short side 6 of the floor plate 2 near the side panel 9. The opening 63 extends from the floor plate 2 and has a height HO and a width B that correspond to the dimensions of the openings 10, 11.

By combining the modules 51, 61 with the modules 1, a large number of different assemblies of modules can be formed, wherein the openings 10, 11 in the module 1 can be aligned with an opening 52, 62 of the module 51, 61 in a simple manner.

It is also possible, of course, to select different dimensions A, 2A and H for the module 1.

It is also possible to place a number of modules or assemblies of modules on top of each other.

It is also possible to provide the longitudinal panel 12 with at least one recess, with the centre of the recess being located at one quarter, one half or three quarters of the length of the long side of the long side of the module.

Is also possible not to provide the module with a longitudinal panel, in which case the module will be provided with a passage near both long sides. In such a case the ceiling plate will be provided with a stiffening rib at both long sides.

It is also possible to couple two modules together with their short sides. Because the openings and the side panels are located in the middle, the openings of the modules will be aligned at all times. It is also possible to place separation walls in the modules to form in the module for example, a cabinet, a restroom or a bathroom.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 module

1.1 module

1.2 module

1-3 module

1-4 module

1-5 module

1.6 module

1-7 module

2 floor plate

3 ceiling plate

4 long side

5 long side

6 short side

7 short side

8 side panel

9 side panel

10 opening

11 opening

12 longitudinal panel

13 side

14 centre

15 inner wall

16 inner wall

17 inner wall

18 inner wall 19 passage

20 stiffening rib

21 outer side

22 edge

23 space

30 assembly

40 assembly

51 module

52 opening

53 centre

61 module

62 module

63 centre

A width

B width

BD width

DP thickness

DV thickness

DZ thickness

H height

HO height

HD height

HV height

2A length