GB2073278A - Modular dwelling - Google Patents

Abstract

A prefabricated dwelling has a platform (2) supported at its corners on feet, which are inter connected by rods (18). Each foot also supports a corner post (26) and the posts (26) are connected to each other at the vertex (28) of the dwelling. Each foot is also connected by a rod (24) to a central anchorage (19); the vertex (28) being also connected to the anchorage (19) by a rod (21). Two frames (34, 35) form upper floors of the dwelling, the frames (34, 35) being secured to the corner posts (26) and having bracing struts (36) extending between them. Interconnecting modular wall panels are vertically disposed between platform (2) and lower frame (34) whilst the inclined sides of the pyramid formed by corner posts (26) are covered with interconnecting roof and window structures. A further frame structure (37, 39, 40) provides a porch at the front of the dwelling. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Modular dwelling The present invention reiates to a prefabricated modular dwelling, the characteristics of which are directed to the obtaining of a rigid, aesthetic and light structure in which the constituent parts of flooring, coverings, structures and roofings are modular so that their length and weight are such that they are manageable by a maximum of two persons, whereby the assembling operations are considerably simplified, making unnecessary the use of medium sized or heavy machinery.

A fundamental feature of the invention is also constituted by the fact that its foundation, based on basic principles of statics, is reduced to a single anchoring arranged in correspondence with the geometrical centre of its base platform, whilst its structure, working in compensated triangles, is supported on four shoes disposed at the vertices of the said base platform of rectangular configuration, the said shoes being fixed diagonally to the central anchorage by means of rods provided with corresponding tensioners and fixed to one another by means of other rods also provided with tensioners.

These shoes receive at the corresponding corner posts of the structure, coinciding with the lateral edges of a pyramid so that the corner posts meet at the upper vertex of same where they are connected to one another by their upper ends, this vertex being subjected to a permanent tension downwardly by means of a rod which connects it with the central anchorage of the base. This rod is likewise provided with a corresponding tensioner.

Thus, from the said single anchorage disposed centrally on the platform of the dwelling, there are four rods which permanently pull inwardly the shoes disposed at the vertices of the base whilst a fifth rod pulls downwardly the other vertex at the upper end of the pyramid also towards the said single anchorage, whilst each show is connected by means of two cables to the two adjacent shoes.

The single anchorage is effected in the ground to a suitable depth, preferably greater than 1.5 m, and consists of a block of reinforced concrete to which is attached the vertical tension cable.

Surrounding this single anchorage and in contact with the platform of the dwelling is disposed a pressed and compacted layer of gravel and sand on which is disposed a sheet of wax-treated plastics material which constitutes an insulating base for the positioning of the various modules constituting the flooring, and which facilitates the sliding of the modules during the final phase of tensioning whilst assembling the flooring.

In this flooring is defined an inner rectangular section corresponding to the actual living area and a peripheral border which surrounds the outer wall of the living area and which is slightly lower than the central section.

The central section is constituted by rectangular modules which are coupled to one another by tonguing and grooving whilst the peripheral border is constituted by rectangular modules of lesser height than the above and with a maximum height corresponding to the height of the modules of the central section to which they are coupled. At this location they are provided with a rib to which the wall of the dwelling is coupled, also by tonguing and grooving.

These rectangular modules of the peripheral border are disposed perpendicularly to the corresponding edges of the central section, with the exception of the four modules corresponding to the vertices of the base platform, which are disposed diagonally and have on their inner face a straight angular notch which connects with the corresponding corner module of the central section.

All of the modules of the peripheral border have on their outer edge a groove which receives a peripheral rod which on being duly tensioned causes the adjustment and tightening of all the modules forming the platform, until reaching a compression force greater than that of its own weight, thus leaving it virtually suspended in the air and forming a single plate-like body.

The unit is supported, at its vertices, on four shoes disposed at the vertices of the platform and also diagonally. These shoes, as has been previously stated, are connected to one another by means of four rods which connect them to the central anchorage and they receive the corner posts of the metal structure of the dwelling.

This metal structure, which as previously stated adopts a rectangular pyramidal shape, is made up of a plurality of sections and connecting pieces which facilitate its assembly and dismantling. The structure establishes two rectangular frames at different heights which define three storeys in the dwelling.

The lower frame has the same dimensions as the central section of the base platform such that the walls in this zone are vertical and extend from the ribs on the inner end of the modules of the peripheral border to this lower frame, whereas from the lower frame to the top of the dwelling the walls adopt an inclined position determined by the faces of the pyramid and form a cover thereof.

There are pairs of struts which connect the two frames and which enable windows to be positioned corresponding with the interior partitioning of the intermediate floor.

The structure projects forwardly in the zone corresponding to the entrance forming a framework for a porch which is supported on a corresponding area of the peripheral border and preferably presents a rectangular frontage in its lower third and a triangular frontage in its upper two thirds.

The walls corresponding to the lower floor are formed of rectangular modules of expanded clay and grifi cement, which gives them high coefficients of thermal and acoustic insulation and a low weight. These modules are coupled to one another by tongues and grooves with theinterposing of a rubber insert, and an inner seal containing silicone.

Obviously there are special modules for the window areas which have apertures having the dimensions of the windows. The windows are similarly prefabricated and provided with tongues and grooves for their coupling to the rest of the walls.

The walls consist of a layer of insulating material, preferably polyspan disposed on the cross-members which are suitably mounted on the metal structure. This layer of insulating material is covered with a coating of fibro-cement which is finally covered with any decorative material, such as plasticised canvas, treated cork treated straw etc.

In order to complement the following description, and with the object of assisting a better comprehension of the features of the invention, there is accompanying this present description, as an integral part of same, a set of drawings in which in an illustrative and nonlimiting manner, there is shown the following::- Fig. 1 shows an underplan view of one of the modules of the peripheral border of the base platform; Fig. 2 shows a section of the module of the previous figure; Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a module of the central section of the base platform; Fig. 4 shows a section of the module shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the base platform on which appear clearly shown the central rectangular section and the peripheral border; Fig. 6 shows a section in detail of the coupling between a module of the peripheral border, two modules of the central section and the wall, there being shown also the section of the ground on which can be seen the compacted layer and the plastics sheet which covers it; Fig. 7 shows a section of one of the shoes disposed at the vertices of the platform and the corresponding corner module disposed thereon;; Fig. 8 shows a plan view of the unit of the preceding figure; Fig. 9 shows a section of the single anchorage of the dwelling; Fig. 10 shows a plan view of the central ring to which are connected the tension cables from the shoes disposed at the vertices of the base platform; Fig. 11 shows a general view in perspective of the metal structure corresponding to the modular dwelling; Fig. 12 shows an enlarged detail of the upper vertex of the pyramid formed by the structure of the previous figure; Fig. 13 shows a view in perspective of the structure of floors, vertical walls and roofings of the dwelling; Fig. 14 shows a detail in section of the coupling between two panels of the vertical walls; and Fig. 15 shows a view in perspective of a prefabricated modular dwelling, completely finished and made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the figures, it can be seen that the modular dwelling has a base platform formed by a plurality of rectangular modules 1, adapted to form the central section 2 of the platform which is likewise rectangular and corresponds to the actual living area. Each one of these modules 1 is provided with a lower recess 3, and tongues 4 and grooves 5, around their perimeter adapted to permit coupling between the various modules.

The base platform also has another type of module 6 also of rectangular shape and provided with a recess 7 on its lower surface and adapted to form the peripheral border 8. These rectangular modules 6 have at their inner end an enlarged portion 9 which is provided at its front with grooves 10 for coupling to the tongues of the modules 1 of the central section, whilst on an upper edge it has a rib 11 which receives, likewise by tonguing and grooving, the constituent panels of the vertical walls 42.

The enlarged portion 9 has a height equal to that of the panels 1, and due to the remainder of the body of the rectangular panel 6 having a smaller height than the peripheral border 8, which constitutes a kind of pavement is slightly lower relative to the plane of inner floor of the dwelling.

There is also in the peripheral border another type of module 12, four in number, which, unlike the modules 6 which are disposed perpendicular to the edges of the central section 2, are disposed diagonally as can be seen in Fig. 5. Each module 12 is provided in its inner edge with a notch 13 of rectangular shape for its coupling to the corresponding corner module 1 of the central section 2. This notched edge is provided likewise with an enlarged portion 14 with a corresponding rib 15, which corresponds in section and height with enlarged portion 9 on the rectangular module 6, except that in the area corresponding to its vertex it has a socket 16 adapted to receive the vertical corner posts of the vertical walls.

These modules 12 each rest on shoes 17, which extend outwardly of the modules 12 and are of a height equal to the latter, as can be observed in Fig. 7.

All of the modules 1, which form the central section 2, and all of the modules 6 which form the peripheral border 8, with the exception of the shoes 1 7 are surrounded by tension rods 18 which are located in a groove 19 provided in the outer edge of the rectangular modules 6, so that the adequate tension of the rods 18 by means of the appropriate tensioner causes a compression force between the various modules which is greater than their own weight and which causes the assembly to remain virtually suspended in the air supported on the shoes 1 7 whilst the actual shoes 17 are connected to one another by means of the four rods 18.

This assembly is fixed to the ground by means of a single point of anchorage, constituted by a block of concrete 19 reinforced by means of metal bars 20, which is embodied in the ground in correspondence with the geometrical centre 21 of the base platform. From the metal bars 20 a rod 21 emerges and passes through an orifice 22 in a metal ring 23 to which are connected four rods 24. Each rod 24 is provided with a tensioner 25 so that each rod 24 passes diagonally to one of the shoes 1 7 with which it is secured. Thus, the tension applied to the rods 24 is transmitted to the shoes 1 7 on which are mounted the corner posts 26 of the metal structure. These have an L-shaped section and engage in recesses 27 in the shoes 17.

The posts 26 run towards the upper vertex of the rectangular pyramid determined by the actual structure, a vertex which is slightly truncated as can be seen in Figs. 11 and 12.

For the purpose of facilitating the meeting of the posts 26 at the vertex of the pyramid during assembly, the shoes 1 7 have an inner recess in which is located a foot 26' to which is screwed the corresponding post 26. Each foot 26' has a supporting plate which is fixed to the shoe 1 7 by means of three threaded rods and corresponding sets of nuts and lock nuts, so that, by means of the suitable adjustment of these nuts the inclination of each post 26 may be regulated as desired.

These recesses, once the process of assembly is finalised, are filled with any suitable material up to the level of the top of the shoes.

The connection between the four corner posts 26 is effected by means of a small rectangular platform 28 at its vertices. The interior of platform 28 is hollow to permit the passage of the chimney 29, and it has lower reinforcing brackets 30 to which is fixed the rod 21 extending from the block of reinforced concrete 1 9 constituting the single point of anchorage. This rod 21 is also provided with a tensioner 31 which permits the regulation of the tension on the upper vertex 28.

Thus, by means of the pair of horizontal rods 24 and the vertical rods 21, a tension on all of the vertices of the structure towards a single point, coincident with the central point of anchorage, creates a system of forces based on compensating triangles, in which the whole assembly is supported on the four shoes 1 7 disposed at these vertices.

From the above, it follows that the rigid connection of the modular dwelling to the ground is at a single point provided by the block of reinforced concrete 19, whilst the- remainder of its base platform is simply supported on the ground which has previously been provided with a layer 32 pressed and compacted gravel and sand and which is covered by a sheet 33 of wax treated plastics material, which permits the modular plates of the platform to slide laterally during assembly and subsequent peripheral tensioning.

The metal structure, which as can be seen in Fig. 11, is formed of a plurality of sections capable of being coupled to one another and dismantled.

The structure provides two horizontal frames 34 and 35 which are suitably connected with the corner posts 26 and define three storeys in the dwelling.

These frames 35 are in their turn connected by means of struts 36 which define the window areas, whilst on the front face of the structure there is a forwardly projecting member 37 which extends approximately from the middle of a central strut 38 and which is connected to downwardly diverging inclined members 39 which are supported by two vertical members 40 so that, on assembly, there is provided a complementary structure for an access porch 41 to the dwelling, as can be seen in Fig. 1 5.

The lower frame 34 has the same dimensions as the central section 2 of the base platform so that the walls 42 which extend between the frame 34 and the edge of the central section 2 adopt a perpendicular disposition.

This wall 42 is formed of a plurality of modules 43, of arlite and grifi cement, which are connected to one another by tongues and grooves 44 with an interposed rubber insert 45, and having an inner seal 46 containing silicone between the panels 43.

These panels 43 are joined, as stated above, to the vertical ribs 11 of enlarged portions 9 of the modules 6 of the peripheral border, as can be seen in Fig. 6, and are fixed by their upper edge to the cross-members of the framework with the interposing of a rubber insert and with the collaboration of a wooden strip screwed to each cross-member, the panels 47 being of lesser height than panels 43 and are located in correspondence with the window areas. The panels 47 are also capable of being coupled by tonguing and grooving to the remainder of the wall.

Obviously the positioning of the windows 48 may vary as desired according to the partitioning selected for the inside of the dwelling. Also platforms 49, corresponding to the different floors, have spaces for the staircases 50 which may also vary in position according to the partitioning.

Whilst the lower storey is closed laterally by the vertical walls 42, the other two storeys are atticlike as regards being closed laterally by the roof 51 which has windows 52 therein also of variable positions.

The roofing, as has been stated previously, is obtained as is conventional, by means of beams which support a layer of insulating material conveniently covered by plates of fibro-cement, which are themselves covered in their turn by a decorative covering of any suitable material.

The prefabricated character extends to the installations of plumbing which are incorporated in the actual modules provided for the interior partitioning. This applies to the hot water which is obtained from a tank which forms an integral part of the chimney.

The pyramid shape and the establishing therein of three storeys, provides a large inhabitable surface area from a plan of reduced dimensions.

The materials, shape, size and disposition of the elements which constitute this dwelling will be susceptible to variation always so long as it does not change the spirit of the invention.

The form in which this specification is drafted is to be taken in a broad sense and not a limiting one.

Claims (13)

1. A prefabricated modular dwelling comprising a base platform formed of modules and in which a rectangular central section is defined and a peripheral border which is slightly sunken in respect of the central section, it having been arranged that the central section is constituted by first rectangular modules whilst the peripheral border is constituted by second rectangular modules which are coupled to one another perpendicularly to the first, with the feature that, in correspondence with the four vertices of the base platform, there are other such modules providedsfor a diagonal assembly and provided in their inner face with a rectangular notch for their coupling to the modules of the central section, which occupy the vertices of same, each corner module being superimposed on a shoe, and being disposed diagonally and extending beyond said shoe and in said extended zone have the same height as the peripheral border, the whole assembly which constitutes the base platform with the exception of the said shoes being connected together by peripheral rods which are located in grooves provided in the outer edge of the modules of the peripheral border, the tensioning of which provides a compression force greater than the weight of the platform, whereby said base platform is supported above the ground on the shoes at its vertices.

2. A prefabricated modular dwelling according to claim 1, characterised in that the four shoes are permanently urged towards the centre of the platform by means of rods secured thereto, the inner end of said rods being connected to a ring disposed in the said centre of the platform, and said rods having tensioners for regulating the tension effected by same, each shoe being connected to the adjacent ones by means of further tensioning rods, the said shoes being provided with recesses for receiving four corner posts which are disposed according to the lateral edges of a rectangular pyramid and which converge towards an upper vertex thereof and are each connected to a platform, a rod extending vertically from said platform to said ring which is secured to a metal frame embedded in a block of concrete which constitutes a single point of anchorage of the dwelling to the ground, and this vertical rod being provided likewise with a tensioning element.

3. A prefabricated modular dwelling according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that each shoe has a recess in which threaded rods emerge on which are nuts and lock nuts to provide tilting adjustment of a metal plate secured to a supporting foot to which is fixed a corresponding corner post of the framework.

4. A prefabricated modular dwelling according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that around a single point of anchorage, and covering a surface area of ground equal to the platform of the dwelling, is disposed a layer of pressed and compacted gravel and sand on which is disposed a sheet of wax treated plastics material which permits of the longitudinal sliding of the constituent modules of the base platform during the assembly and tensioning of same.

5. A prefabricated modular dwelling according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that four corner posts are connected to one another by means of a plurality of members which form two horizontal frames defining three storeys for the dwelling, a lower one of said frames having the same dimensions as the central section of the base platform so that, between said lower frame and the edge of the said platform, there extends vertical walls of a lower storey, each wall comprising rectangular modules which are coupled together by tongues and grooves to each other and to the rectangular modules of the peripheral border, there being interposed between said modules a ribber insert and an inner seal containing silicone, these modules being made of expanded clay and grifi cement, said walls also having further modules of lesser height disposed adjacent window areas, prefabricated window elements being provided and having means for coupling by tonguing and grooving to the rest of the wall.

6. A prefabricated modular dwelling according to claim 5, characterised in that between the frames of the metal framing are disposed struts which render rigid the said structure and which define the variable areas of location for the windows of the second storey, that the lateral closing of the second and third storey being determined by a -roof, and at the front face of the structure there is a complementary framework providing a porch giving access to the dwelling.

7. A prefabricated modular dwelling according to claim 6, characterised in that the roof comprises supporting beams, a covering of insulating material which is covered by a plurality of-fibro-cement plates, and a covering on said plates of a decorative material.

8. A prefabricated modular dwelling according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that inner partition walls of modular construction incorporate the necessary conduits for a plumbing circuit, and a wall of a chimney constitutes a storage tank for the supply of hot water.

9. A prefabricated modular dwelling comprising a base platform formed of a plurality of interconnecting modules supported on a plurality of shoes, each shoe being disposed at the periphery of said platform and being connected to the two adjacent shoes by rods having tensioning means therein, whereby tensioning of said rods provides a compressive force on said modules to maintain their interconnection.

10. A dwelling according to claim 9 wherein said shoes are connected to a centrally disposed anchorage means for said dwelling by means of further rods having tensioning means therein.

11. A dwelling according to claim 10 comprising a plurality of corner posts each supported by a respective one of said shoes and said corner posts being secured to each other at a vertex of said dwelling.

12. A dwelling according to claim 11 wherein said vertex is connected to said anchorage means, by a rod having a tensioning means therein.

13. A prefabricated modular dwelling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.