The invention relates to ^" a ^" wall of a building structure. There are a great many different designs of walls of building structures . In addition to walls which are formed by pouring material into a formwork, there are, on the one hand, walls which are formed by stacking elements, such as bricks and elements made of cellular concrete, and, on the other hand, walls which are made up of panels.

A drawback of walls which are formed by stacking bricks is that building such walls is a labour-intensive activity due to the large number of bricks or stone-like elements to be processed and the necessity of bonding the bricks or stone¬ like elements together with cement mortar, an adhesive or the like. Moreover, such bricks or stone-like elements are relatively heavy, as a result of which there is a great risk of injury during the erection of the wall.

Walls assembled from panels, in turn, have still other drawbacks. The panels are relatively large, which makes them difficult to handle, and a large variety of panels is required for walls to be built to different designs. The object of the invention is to provide a wall which can be erected quickly without the necessity of handling heavy, unmanageable structural elements and without the necessity of bonding the structural elements together, and which can be produced in a large variety of designs while using a limited variety of structural elements .

According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by a wall of a building structure, comprising at least two layers of stacked-together wall modules, said wall modules each comprising two parallel, spaced-apart and interconnected plates, whereby the wall modules of said two layers interlock with such a close fit that horizontal movement transversely to the plane of the wall is prevented, and whereby said wall modules are staggered in horizontal direction, parallel to the plane of the wall.

The weight of the wall modules of a certain size of the wall according to the invention- is low, as a result of which relatively large dimensions can be used for these wall modules in comparison with conventional stackable structural elements. Since the wall modules of stacked-together layers thereby interlock with such a close fit that horizontal movement transversely to the plane of the wall is prevented, and said wall modules are staggered in horizontal direction, parallel to the plane of the wall, wall parts are prevented from deflecting with respect to adjacent wall parts, that is about a vertical axis. Deflection of wall parts with respect to wall parts located thereabove and thereunder, that is about a horizontal axis, can be adequately prevented by walls joining said wall transversely and by posts which may be secured to said wall. In this manner the wall according to the invention is given sufficient rigidity to ensure its flatness. This in turn makes it possible to use the wall modules without bonding them together, using considerably smaller dimensions than those of the conventional panels for assembling a wall. A wall module arranged for building a wall according to the invention comprises two parallel, spaced-apart and interconnected plates having profiled edges for interconnecting the two adjacent wall modules with a close fit against movement transverse to the plane of the plates. A further elaboration of the invention may furthermore be embodied in a connecting post for use in a building structure, in which two walls according to the invention, which have been filled with material, join each other at an angle ^' . Said connecting post has a substantially L-shaped cross-section, whereby the flange has free edges, which are profiled in such a manner that the one free edge is complementary to the other free edge. Said connecting post can be used advantageously as an outside corner piece for bounding a continuous cavity extending from the one wall into the other wall, which is to be filled.

The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of a few embodiments,- with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

Figures 1-3 are elevational views of an example of a building comprising walls according to embodiments of the invention;

Figures 4-6 are schematic illustrations of the construction of the walls of the building according to the respective Figures 1-3; Figure 7 is schematic view of a further example of a wall according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view according to the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a schematic sectional view according to the line IX-IX in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a schematic sectional view according to the line X-X in Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a schematic sectional view according to the line XI-XI in Figure 7; Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view of parts according to Figure 8;

Figure 13 is an enlarged exploded sectional view of parts according to Figure 9;

Figure 14 is an enlarged exploded sectional view of a corner part according to Figure 10;

Figure 15 is an enlarged exploded sectional view of a wall connection according to Figure 10;

Figure 16 is an enlarged exploded sectional view of a vertical wall boundary according to Figure 10; Figures 17 and 18 are views corresponding with Figures 12 and 13 respectively, according to a further embodiment of the invention;

Figures 19 and 20 are views corresponding with Figure 14, according to further embodiments of the invention;

Figures 21 and 22 are views corresponding with Figures 15 and 16 respectively, accordin -to a further embodiment of the invention.

Figures 4-6 schematically illustrate the construction of the walls 1, 2 and 3 respectively, according to the invention for forming the walls 1, 2 and 3 respectively of a building, which are illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Said walls each comprise several layers of stacked- together wall modules 11, 21, 31. The wall modules are preferably modular and may for"example be produced in the following dimensions. The walls of the building according to Figures 1-3 comprise wall modules 11, 21 and 31, whereby the wall modules 21 and 31 comprise half the length and one quarter of the length respectively of the wall module 11 and the same height. The inclined edges 50 for connection to the roof may be obtained in a simple manner by sawing.

Figures 7-11 show an example of a further part of a building comprising a wall 4 according to the invention. Said wall 4 comprises wall modules 11, 22 and 32, whose height is twice that of the wall modules 11, 21 and 31. Furthermore the wall 4 comprises wall modules in the shape of lintel elements 13. In addition, window openings 51 are provided in the wall 4.

As is apparent from these examples of walls 1-4 according to the invention, it is possible to produce a large variety of walls using a limited variety of available wall modules. On the one hand the wall modules are so compact that they can be fitted by one or two persons without using any mechanical handling aids and without these persons running any special risk of being injured. On the other hand the wall modules are sufficiently large to build a wall from a limited number of wall modules, and thus very quickly.

The construction of the wall modules will be described with reference to a first group of embodiments. The construction is illustrated most clearly in Figures 12-15.

With the wall modules of different dimensions, corresponding parts are provided with identical reference numerals.

Each of the wall modules 12, 22, 31, 32 comprises two parallel, spaced-apart and interconnected plates 40. As is shown in the example according to Figure 12, the wall modules 31 and 32 of the said two layers interlock with such a close fit that any horizontal movement transversely to the plane of the wall is prevented. This is also the case with the other stacked-together wall modules. The wall modules 12, 13, 21, 22 (Figure 7), as well as the wall modules 11, 21 (Figures 4-6) are staggered in horizontal direction, parallel to the plane of the wall 1-4.

Since the wall modules 12, 13, 21, 22 (Figure 7) as well as the wall modules 11, 21 (Figures 4-6) of stacked-together layers interlock with such a close fit that any horizontal movement transversely to the plane of the wall is prevented, and are are staggered in horizontal direction, parallel to the plane of the wall 1-4, deflection of wall parts with respect to adjacent wall parts, that is about a vertical axis, is prevented. Deflection of wall parts with respect to wall parts located thereabove and therebelow, that is about a horizontal axis, can thereby be adequately prevented by walls joining the walls 5 transversely and by posts which may be secured to said wall 5. In this manner the wall 4 according to the invention is imparted sufficient rigidity to ensure its flatness. This in turn makes it possible to use the wall modules 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 31 and 32 without glueing them together. This has a further positive effect on the pace at which a wall according to the invention can be erected. With the walls according to the embodiments shown in the drawing, each wall module is provided with a profile comprising a tongue 41 along one horizontal edge and with a profile comprising a groove 42 along the opposite edge, said groove 42 extending parallel to said edge. As is shown in Figure 12, the tongue 41 of a wall module 32 extends into the groove 42 of a vertically adjacent wall module 31. Thus a

close-fitting interlocking of stacked-together wall modules is obtained in a simple manner, i-r-respective of the fact if and along what distance said wall modules are staggered in horizontal direction, parallel to the wall. The wall modules are each provided with layers of insulating material 43 attached to the inner sides of the plates 40. The above-described profile of the edges of the wall modules is obtained in a simple manner in that the tongue 41 along the one horizontal edge is formed by insulating material 43, which projects with respect to the plates 40, and in that the insulating material 43 along the opposite edge terminates at some distance from the associated edges of the plates 40, so as to form the groove 42 along said edge. The insulating material is preferably in the shape of plates of a hard pressed material, which are glued against the plates 40. A suitable insulating material is for example a hard pressed plate of expanded perlite, cellulose and glass fibre. Such a plate is marketed under the trade name Fesco by Manville de France S.A., France. A suitable material for the outside plates 40 is for example a type of plate which is marketed under the trade name Cempanel by Cemtac Nederland B.V., the Netherlands.

Instead of two layers of insulating material, each fitted against an outside plate 40, it is also possible to use a single layer of insulating material, which is provided against one of the outside plates or against both outside plates. In the former case it is furthermore necessary to provide a packing strip between the plates 40, in order to adapt the width of the groove to the thickness of the tongue. The wall modules according to Figures 12-16 are furthermore provided with connecting elements 44 for securing the outside plates 40 with respect to each other. Said connecting elements 44 are attached to the layer of insulating material. As a result of this it is prevented that heat and sound are conducted from the one plate 40, via the connecting elements 44, to the other plate 40. The connecting elements 44

are preferably glued against the insulating 43 material without using any fixing elements, such as screws or nails, so that heat and sound cannot be conducted via such fixing elements, either. The construction of the wall 4 according to the embodiment shown in Figures 7-11 is started by providing a horizontal base member 45. Then a first layer of wall modules 12 is placed on the horizontal base member 45. Since the horizontal base member 45 fits into the grooves 42 of the wall modules 12, said wall modules are aligned with respect to each other. The vertical edges of the wall modules 12, 13, 21, 22, 31, 32 are each provided with a groove 48. When wall modules succeeding each other in horizontal direction are placed, a connecting element 49 (Figures 11 and 15) is provided between the respective modules, which fits into the joining opposite grooves 48 of the wall modules. As a result of this the wall modules are also fixed against movement with respect to each other, transversely to the plane of the wall, along their vertical edges. The next layer of elements which are placed consists of the wall modules 22 and 32 and frame elements 46, which function as lower boundaries of the openings 51 to be formed in the wall 4 and which also close the space between the plates 40 of the wall modules 12 in upward direction. Then the ^" further wall modules 32 and 31 are stacked, until the level of the intended upper side of the openings 51 is reached. The next stage of the erection of the wall 4 consists of fitting vertical frame elements 47 against the wall modules 21, 22, 31, 32, which function as vertical boundaries of the wall 4 with respect tothe openings 51. These vertical frame elements extend along the entire height of the opening 51 in question and are provided with a tongue 56 having a width corresponding with the width of the grooves 48 in the vertical edges of the wall modules, which tongue extends into said grooves 48 in mounted condition. As a result of this the wall parts on the sides of the openings 51 are

imparted additional rigidity. With the wall 4 according to Figures 7-11 this is particular-ly advantageous, since the wall modules 21, 22, 31, 32 of the wall parts on the sides of the openings 51 are not staggered. The construction of the vertical frame elements is shown in more detail in Figure 16. Subsequently the wall modules 13 in the shape of lintel elements are placed on top of the wall modules 21 and 31, which extend approximately to the level of the upper sides of the intended openings 51. The construction of these modules 13 has been modified, in order to"enhance the flexural rigidity and strength of said wall modules. This is most clearly shown in Figure 13. The connecting elements 44 terminate at some distance from the horizontal edges of the wall modules 13. Girders 52 are secured between the plates 40 between the horizontal edges of the wall modules 13 and the ends of the connecting elements 44 thereof, so that the wall modules 13 have a greater flexural rigidity and strength.

The wall modules 13 forming lintel elements are staggered in horizontal direction, parallel to the plane of the wall 4, with respect to the wall modules 21 present between the openings 51. As a result of this the rigidity of the wall 4 in horizontal direction is further enhanced. Frame elements 54 are secured to the bottom sides of the lintel elements 13, so that the opening 51 is bounded by a flate surface at its upper side as well. ^' Since each opening 51 is bounded on all sides by flat surfaces of the frame elements 46, 47 and 54, universal frames may be mounted therein as desired.

At its upper side the wall 4 is finally finished by providing a horizontal covering member 53, which constitutes a flat upper side of the wall 4, closes the space between the plate 40 of the modules 12, 13, 21, 22, 31, 32 and which further enhances the rigidity in horizontal direction of the wall 4.

The vertical edges of the wall 4 are finished by end pieces 55 provided against the wall modules, which extend along the entire height of the wall 4. Said end pieces 55 are

identical to the frame elements 47 and are likewise provided with a tongue 56, which extends- into the grooves 48 of adjacent wall modules. As a result of this the wall 4 is given further additional rigidity in vertical direction. The rigidity in vertical direction of the wall 4 is further enhanced by wall modules 32 of walls 5, which join the wall 4 transversely. A connecting post 57 is first secured to the wall 4, so as to connect a wall 5 to the wall 4. The width of said connecting post corresponds with the width of the grooves 48 in the edges of the ^~ wall modules. Then, when the wall modules of a wall 5 are being stacked, the wall modules 32 connecting to the wall 4 are placed against the wall 4 in such a manner, that the connecting post 57 fits into the respective grooves 48 in the edges of said wall modules. As a result of this also the rigidity in vertical direction of the walls 5 is enhanced.

The wall 4 is thus given rigidity in vertical direction by the end pieces 55, the vertical frame elements 47 and the walls 5 joining the wall 4 transversely. The walls 5 are given rigidity in vertical direction by the connecting posts 57 attached to the wall 4. The wall 4 is given rigidity in horizontal direction by the horizontal base member 45, the staggered relationship between certain layers of the wall modules and the horizontal covering member 53. At those places where the openings 51 interrupt the horizontal connection, the vertical frame elements 47 provide additional vertical rigidity along said openings in the wall parts between the non-interrupted wall parts. Also the frame elements 46 and 54 along the lower and upper sides of the openings 51 are suitable for enhancing the rigidity in horizontal direction. This effect occurs when said frame elements 46 and 54 are mounted on the wall modules in staggered positions.

With the wall modules according to Figures 12-16 the connecting elements 44 are in the shape of uprights mounted between the plates 40. As is shown most clearly in Figures 10 and 11, the wall modules 12, 22 of successive layers are

provided in staggered positions, the mutual distances between said positions being such that--the uprights 44 of staggered wall modules 12, 22 of successive layers are in the same straight line. Said uprights 44 of vertically adjacent wall modules thus form through columns extending into the wall. Also the uprights 44 of wall modules stacked one straight on top of the other, such as the wall modules 21, 22 and 31, 32 in Figure 7, are in the same straight line.

For the sake of clarity the space between the plates 40, apart from the insulating material and the connecting elements, is shown to be empty in all Figures of the drawing. It may be advantageous, however, for the space between the plates 40 to be filled with a material after stacking of the wall modules. Such a material may for example function to obtain an enhanced thermal and/or acoustic insulation, but also to reinforce the wall.

Figures 17-22 show wall modules 15, 24, 34 and 35 having dimensions which correspond with the wall modules 12, 22, 31 and 32 respectively according to Figures 12-16. The wall modules 15, 24, 34 and 35 according to Figures 17-22 are adapted to pour a reinforcing material into the space between the plates 40 following the erection of a wall. For example, by pouring concrete into the spaces between the plates, the load bearing capacity of the wall may be increased considerably, ^" as a result of which walls built up of wall modules as shown in Figures 17-22 may be used for buildings of up to about 20 building layers (ground floor + 19 floors) . For comparison: walls assembled from wall modules as shown in Figures 12-16 are in principle suited for buildings comprising a height of up to one building layer.

If less heavy demands are made of the load bearing capacity of the wall, it will be possible to fill the space between the plates 40 with for example loam. This is particularly advantageous when the wall according to the invention is used in developing countries, where it is common to use loam in constructing buildings. By filling the spaces

Between the plates with loam it is prevented that vermin use this space for their accommodat-ion, whilst a more even temperature is obtained in the building. The latter aspect is particularly important in climates where there is a large temperature difference between night and day.

With the wall modules 15, 24, 34 and 35 shown in Figures 17-22, the connecting elements, which secure the plates 40 with respect to each other, are in the shape of strip ties 58. Said strip ties form a structure which is open in horizontal direction, so that the material poured can also readily spread in horizontal direction over the space between the plates 40. After the material poured has solidified, the strip ties 58 are secured in the material poured, whereby said strip ties secure the insulating material 43 and the plates 40 with respect to the material poured.

The strip ties 58 are provided with saddles 59, in which reinforcing material can be placed. The position of the saddle determines the location of the reinforcing material in the wall. With the wall modules according to Figures 17-22 the saddles 59 are centrally provided in the strip ties 58, so as to position the reinforcing material centrally inside the wall. Also other positions of the saddles are possible, however. Each strip tie may for example be provided with two spaced-apart saddles, so as to provide reinforcements in spaced-apart relationship on either side of the centre plane of the wall.

With the wall modules according Figures 17-22 the insulating material 43 projects beyond the plates- 40 along one of the edges and terminates at the opposite edge, at some distance from the plates 40. This is most clearly shown in Figure 20. The projecting insulating material 43 constitutes tongues 60, and since the insulating material 43 terminates at the opposite edge, at some distance from the plates 40, a groove 61 is formed. The width of the groove 61 corresponds with the distance between the outer sides of the tongues 60. When wall modules, such as the wall modules 15 according to

Figure 20, are placed side by side, the tongues 60 are inserted into the groove 61, so- that the modules 15 are fixed against movement with respect to each other transversely to the plane of the wall. A continuous space is thereby obtained between the plates 40 of adjacently provided wall modules 15, so that any material poured into said space can spread in lateral direction.

Vertical terminations of the wall assembled by using the modules according to Figures 17-22 can be formed by frame elements 62 (Figure 22) and end pieces 63 having the same profile (Figure 20) . The frame elements 62 and end pieces 63 are provided with tongues having a width that corresponds with the width of the grooves 61 in the edges of the modules. In assembled condition the frame elements 62 and end pieces 63 close the space between the plates 40 of the wall towards the sides, so that it is prevented upon pouring that the material being poured can run out of said space. In addition to that the frame elements 62 and end pieces 63, as well as the frame elements 47 and 55 according to Figures 14 and 16, give the wall additional vertical rigidity.

As is apparent from Figures 20 and 22, it may be necessary to provide a groove 61 along an edge where insulating material 43 projects beyond the plates 40. For that purpose a portion 64 of the insulating material may be removed in a simple manner, for example by milling or cutting.

Connecting posts 65 (Figures 20 and 21) corresponding with the connecting posts 57 according to Figures 14 and 15 but having a tongue 67, whose width is adapted to the width of the grooves 61, may be used for joining walls in a direction transversely to each other.

When using the wall modules according to Figures 17-22 the boundaries along the lower side of openings, such as the openings 51 (Figure 7), are made up of frame elements 46, which are identical to the frame elements 46 according to Figure 13. It is important that the space between the plates 40 is also closed along the lower side of such openings

present in the wall, because otherwise material being poured into the space between the plates 40 would flow out of the space between the plates 40, due to the pressure exerted by material poured above said lower side. Frame elements 54, which are identical to the frame elements 54 according to Figure 13, may be used against the bottom side of wall modules according to Figures 17 - 22 joining an opening, such as the opening 51, at its upper side. In that case said frame elements 54 at the same time stop up the space between the plates 40, so that material poured into said space is prevented from flowing out at the bottom side of wall modules 34 being adjacent to the upper side of an opening.

Figure 19 shows a building structure, wherein two walls assembled by using wall modules according to Figures 17 - 22 join each other at an angle. A connecting post 66 of substantially L-shaped cross-section is provided between the walls. Outside surfaces of the connecting post 66 each join one of the outside surfaces of said walls. The plates 40 of the wall modules 15 and 35 of the two adjoining walls and the connecting post 66 form a cavity, which continues from the one wall into the other wall, which cavity may be filled with a pouring material. As a result of this, the pouring material can also spread over the spaces between the plates 40 of walls joining each ^" other at an angle, and, after solidifying, form a continuous structure extending from the one wall into the other wall, as a result of which additional rigidity can be obtained. Preferably a reinforcement which continues around the corner is provided as well.