IL285372B2 - Panel unit - Google Patents

Description

VOLUMETRIC MODULES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND Volumetric modules are used in modular buildings. A modular building is a prefabricated building that consists of repeated sections, the volumetric modules. The modules are constructed away from the building site, and then are delivered to the intended or job site. In the job site, the volumetric modules are placed using a crane, side-by-side, end-to-end, or stacked, allowing for a variety of configurations and styles, including multi-storey building. After placement, the modules are joined together using inter-module connections, inter-connections, and form the overall building structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A beam fastener for using in fastening parallel beams is disclosed. The beams have flanges and webs. The beam webs have holes for receiving web bolts. The beam fastener includes a fastener web plate and a fastener overhang plate. The fastener web plate has at least one hole sized essentially identically to the beam web holes. The fastener overhang plate extends from a distance of at least ½ *(flange width-web thickness) of the one of the beams away from the fastener web plate. The fastener overhang plate has at least one hole for receiving flange bolts.The first beam fastener can be used with additional beam fastener/s, flange bolts and nuts to fasten together flanges of adjacent beams. It can also be used with additional beam fastener/s, bolts and nuts to fasten together two beam webs.In some embodiments, sidewalls connect the fastener web plate with the fastener overhang plate. A sidewall has two or three adjacent edges normal to each other for engagement with a beam web and with the beam flanges.

The term "essentially identically" in "The fastener web plate has at least one hole sized essentially identically to the beam web holes" means that the web plate hole and an aligned beam web hole both have a size such that a bolt can be easily slidthrough both, yet the bolt is snug in both holes. Typically the web-plate holes and the web holes each have diameters that vary by no more than 1mm.

According to another aspect a modified beam is provided, comprising:a beam having flanges and at least one web, the beam webs having holes for receiving web bolts;a first beam fastener affixed to the beam and comprising:a. a fastener web plate having at least one hole aligned with, and sized essentially identically to, a beam web hole; andb. at least one fastener overhang plate, extending away from a flange, and having at least one hole for receiving flange bolts,whereby a first modified beam can be used:with a second modified beam and at least one flange bolt and a nut to fasten together flanges of adjacent first and second modified beams, and with a third modified beam and at least one web bolt and at least one nut to fasten together webs of first and third modified beams.

In some embodiments the first beam fastener is sized to snugly fit into a span between a beam’s flanges. A modified beam is created by affixing a first beam fastener to the beam In some particular embodiments the first beam fastener is welded to flanges and a web of a beam.

In some embodiments, the beams are U-shaped beams, C-shaped beams, H-shaped beams, I-shaped beams, S-beams, and a mixture thereof.In some embodiments, nuts are stitched to some of the fastener holes, thus saving a worker at a job site from the need to access the hole with a nut while screwing a bolt therein.In some embodiments, a sheet metal is folded into the beam fastener and only two edges need to be stitched after folding. Preferably, the thickness of the sheet metal is in a range of 5 to 10 mm.In some embodiments, a building element includes two beam fasteners and two parallel beams adjacent in respective beam flanges. The beam flanges are fastened to each other by the overhang plates and the sidewalls of the beam fasteners.

In some embodiments, a building element includes two beam fasteners and two parallel beams adjacent in respective beam webs. The beam webs are fastened to each other by bolts, penetrating fastener webs and beam webs, and by nuts therein.

A rectangular panel unit having two parallel first sides and two parallel second sides for constructing a wall with panel units neighboring at one or two first sides is disclosed. The panel unit includes two external rectangular boards, spaced for receiving at least one substance in between, and bars disposed between the two external rectangular boards at two edges of the first sides of the panel unit. A bar has an external toothed side for tight coupling with a toothed side of a bar of a neighboring rectangular panel unit. The panel unit also includes U-shaped sheet metals encompassing the two second sides of the panel unit, such as to strongly hold edges of the two rectangular external boards, the substances therein, and the bars.In some embodiments, an internal rectangular board is disposed adjacent to one of the two external rectangular boards.In some embodiments, a thermal insulation material is disposed between the two external rectangular boards.In some embodiments, a sheet metal coupler couples a U-shaped sheet metal to a U- shaped beam of a skeleton of a volumetric module. The coupler is shaped as a riser­tread-riser combination whereby the coupler tread is attached to a web of the U-shaped sheet metal, a first riser is attached to a flange of the U-shaped sheet metal and a second riser is attached to a flange of the U-shaped beam. Preferably, the coupler tread and the web of the U-shaped sheet metal have at overlapping holes for receiving service channels.

A method is disclosed for constructing and integrating a rectangular panel unit having two parallel first sides and two parallel second sides for constructing a wall with panel units neighboring at one or two first sides. The method includes a step of attaching two external rectangular boards, spaced for receiving at least one substance in between, with bars disposed between the two external rectangular boards at two edges of the first sides of the panel unit. It also includes a step of clasping the two second sides of the panel unit using two U-shaped sheet metals, such as to strongly hold edges of the two rectangular external boards, and the bars.

In some embodiments, the method includes a step of integrating toothed bars of the panel unit with a corresponding toothed bars of a neighboring panel unit.In some embodiments, the method further includes attaching an internal rectangular board between the two external rectangular boards.In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of inserting a service channel between the boards in a substantially parallel direction to the first sides.In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of inserting a thermal insulation material between the two external rectangular boards.In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of coupling the panel unit to a U-shaped beam of a skeleton of a volumetric module using a sheet metal coupler, shaped as a riser-tread-riser combination, between one of the U-shaped sheet metals and the U-shaped beam. Preferably, the method further includes a step of inserting a service channel through matching holes in the coupler tread and in the web of the U- shaped sheet metal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to system organization and method of operation, together with features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a construction consisting of four volumetric modules in two storeys.Fig. 1B is a perspective view of a horizontal U-shaped beam used in a volumetric module as part of its skeleton.Fig. 1C depicts an enlargement of an end of the U-shaped beam showing a beam fastener therewithin.Fig. 2 illustrates a pair of beam fasteners fastening two flanges of respective two U- shaped beams.Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a beam fastener.Fig. 3B is a top view of the beam fastener of Fig. 3A.Fig. 3C is a rear view of the beam fastener of Fig. 3A.Fig. 3D depicts a sheet metal shaped for being folded as the beam fastener of Fig. 3A.

Fig. 3E is a side view of the beam fastener of Fig. 3A.Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a beam fastener with stitched nuts.Fig. 4B is a top view of the beam fastener of Fig. 4A.Fig. 4C is a rear view of the beam fastener of Fig. 4A.Fig. 5A is a side view of the construction of Fig. 1A showing a first pair of volumetric modules in two storeys. A second pair of volumetric modules in two storeys is partially hidden behind the first pair of volumetric modules.Fig. 5B is a cross-section view along the plane designated in Fig. 5A, showing the two pairs of volumetric modules meeting along a central line vertical to the page.Fig. 5C is an enlargement of the central part of the cross-section view of Fig. 5B.Fig. 5D is a further enlargement of the central part of the cross-section view of Fig. 5C showing only four beam fasteners within respective four coupled U-shaped beams.Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method for fastening U-shaped beams.Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a section of a wall of a volumetric module which includes two panel units between a floor beam and a ceiling beam and between two posts.Fig. 8A is a side cross-section view of a panel unit of Fig. 7.Fig. 8B is an enlargement of the upper part of Fig. 8A.Fig. 8C shows a service channel inserted within a panel unit through holes in the U- shaped sheet metal and the riser-tread-riser coupler.Fig. 8D is a horizontal cross-section view of two panel units attached together by toothed bars.Fig. 8E is a perspective view of a panel unit having toothed bars in vertical sides of the panel unit.Fig. 8F is an enlargement of the left upper corner of the panel unit of Fig. 8E.Fig. 8G is an enlargement of the right upper corner of the panel unit of Fig. 8E.Fig. 9 is a flowchart of a method for composing a panel unit and integrating it within a volumetric module.Fig. 10A is an exploded view of a skeleton of a volumetric module.Fig. 10B is an exploded view of a floor skeleton of the volumetric module of Fig. 10A.Fig. 11A is a perspective view of a floor corner unit for connecting two horizontal perpendicular U-shaped beams and a vertical post.Fig. 11B is a top view of the floor corner unit of Fig. 11A.

Fig. 11C is a side cross-section view of the floor corner unit of Fig. 11A.Fig. 11D presents a beam connector before integration within the floor corner unit ofFig. 11A.Fig. 11E depicts a sheet metal for production of the beam connector of Fig. 11D.Fig. 12A is a perspective view of a ceiling corner unit for connecting two horizontal perpendicular U-shaped beams and a vertical post.Fig. 12B is a top view of the ceiling corner unit of Fig. 12A.Fig. 12C is a side cross-section view of the ceiling corner unit of Fig. 12A.Fig. 13A depicts a post having a nut-equipped top end for coupling the post to a ceiling corner unit and a bolt-equipped bottom end for coupling the post to a floor corner unit.Fig. 13B is an enlargement of the nut-equipped top end of the post of Fig. 13A.Fig. 13C is an enlargement of the bolt-equipped bottom end of the post of Fig. 13A.Fig. 14A shows a first level volumetric module over a ground level module.Fig. 14B is an enlargement of Fig. 14A which shows a post within a floor corner unit over a post within a ceiling corner unit.Fig. 14C is an exploded view of Fig. 14B.Fig. 15 is a flowchart of a method for using corner units.Fig. 16 depicts a reinforced panel unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention will now be described in terms of specific example embodiments. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the example embodiments disclosed. It should also be understood that not every feature of the methods and systems is necessary to implement the invention as claimed in any particular claim of the appended claims. Various elements and features of devices are described to fully enable the invention. It should also be understood that throughout this disclosure, where a method is shown or described, the steps of the method may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one step depends on another being performed first.Before explaining several embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The systems, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs "comprise", "include" and "have", and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

A modular building is a prefabricated construction that consists of volumetric modules. The modules are constructed away from the building site, and then are delivered to the job site. In the job site, the volumetric modules are placed using a crane.

The walls of volumetric modules are installed before or after the volumetric modules arrive the building site.

Fig. 1A shows a construction 2consisting of four volumetric modules in two storeys. In the ground level, module 4is positioned side by side with module 6 . In the first level (a level directly above ground level), module 8is positioned on module 4and is located side by side with module 10 , which in turn resides over module 6 .After placement, the modules 4 , 6 , 8and 10are joined together in their respective beams using inter-connections, and form the overall building structure 2 , as discussed in the next section.The walls of the volumetric modules may consist of panel units installed side by side between floor and ceiling beams, as further discussed in a following section.Each of the modules of Fig. 1A includes four floor beams, four posts four ceiling beams, and eight corner units. Each corner unit connect together two perpendicular beams and a post, as described below.

A beam fastener (Figs. 1-6)In the example of Fig. 1A, the floor and ceiling beams may be modified U-shaped beams 12 , as shown in Fig. 1B and in the enlarged view of Fig. 1C. A U-beam includes a web 14and two flanges 16 . The beam web 14is vertical to the ground and faces the outside of the volumetric module. The beam flanges 16are posed essentially horizontally while their edges 17are directed inward the module 4 , 6 , 8or 10 . A beam fastener 18is disposed within the U-beam, and may be welded to it as further explained below to form a modified U-beam 12 . The beam fastener 18 allows fastening of modified U-beam 12to another modified U-beam 12of an adjacent module as shown in the example of Fig. 2.End plates 20are stitched to edges 22of modified U-beam 12to enable connection with corner units as further described in a following section. Also, several plates 24are distributed along the internal side of web 14for connection to corresponding ceiling beams 26 , as shown in Fig. 1A.Fig. 2 illustrates a pair of beam fasteners 18and 18Nfastening two U-shaped beams 12by their flanges 16 . Each of the beam fasteners 18and 18Ninclude a fastener web plate 30and a fastener overhang plate 32 . The fastener web plate 30has holes 34 sized essentially identical to matching holes 35in the beam web 14 . Thus, bolts (not shown) may be inserted within the matching holes 34and 35of the respective webs 30 and 14and be tightened by appropriate nuts (not shown) to strongly be attached to adjacent beam webs 14 .The fastener overhang plates 32extend away from the fastener web plate 30and are disposed proximal to edges 17of the flanges 16 . Each of the overhang plates 32of respective beam fastener 18and 18Nhas four matching holes 36 . Moreover, the overhang plate 32of beam fastener 18Nmay have stitched nuts 38for receiving bolts (not shown) inserted through the holes 36of the overhang plate 32 . The prior stitching of a nut 38to beam fastener 18Nsaves a worker at a job site from the need to access the hole 36with a nut while screwing a bolt therein.In some embodiments, two or three holes 36and respective two or three nuts 38 may be used rather than four holes 36and four nuts 38 .Two sidewalls 40connect the fastener web plate 30with the fastener overhang plate 32 , as presented in Fig. 3A. A sidewall 40has three adjacent edges 42 , 44and 46 . Edges 42and 46are parallel to each other, and both are normal to edge 44 , as shown in Fig. 3A. In some embodiments the beam fasteners 18are sized to snugly fit within the span between the flanges 16: Edges 44are welded to the beam web 14 , while edges 42 and 46are welded to the beam flanges 16 . Thus, sidewalls 40enhance the integrity and strength of the beam fastener 18or 18N , and the strength of the inter-connection of the modified U-shaped beams 12.The beam flanges 16are held together by the overhang plates 32and edges 42of sidewalls 40as shown in the top view of Fig. 3B. The beam flanges 16are further held together by their connection with the respective beam webs 14that are each fastened to a beam fastener 18N / 18that in turn are coupled together by nuts 38and the bolts (not shown) penetrating holes 36 .The beam fasteners 18and 18Nare cut-out boxes of massive construction. A beam fastener 18may be produced in two steps from a sheet metal 48 , shown in Fig. 3D. The first step is folding the sheet metal 48along lines 50 , 52and 54in right angles. The second step is stitching edge 56of fastener web plate 30 , shown in Figs. 3D and 3E, with sidewall edge 44 . Typically, the thickness of sheet metal 48is in a range of to 10 mm, 6 mm for example.A beam fastener 18N , which has stitched nuts 38 , is shown in the perspective view of Fig. 4A, in the top view of Fig. 4B, and in the rear view of Fig. 4C. As mentioned above, the prior stitching of a nut 38to the beam fastener 18Nsaves a worker at a job site from the need to access the hole 36with a nut while screwing a bolt therein.Reference is given now to coupling of U-shaped beams 12residing side by side with their respective beam webs 14close to each other A narrow space may be left between the webs 14 for a sealing layer (not shown). Fig. 5A is a side view of the construction of Fig. 1A showing volumetric module 10resting on volumetric module 6 . Volumetric modules 8and 4in two storeys are partially hidden behind modules 10 and 6 , respectively.Fig. 5B is a cross-section view along a designated plane 58of Fig. 5A, showing a meeting zone 60of volumetric modules 10 , 6 , 4and 8 . Fig. 5C is an enlargement of the meeting zone 60of the cross-section view of Fig. 5B. The meeting zone 60is further enlarged in Fig. 5D which shows beam fasteners 18-UR , 18-LR , 18-LLand 18-UL fastening respective modified U-shaped beams 12-UR , 12-LR , 12-LLand 12-UL .The beam webs 14of U-shaped beams 12-ULand 12-UR , for example, are held together between the fastener web plates 30of the beam fasteners 18-ULand 18-UR using two bolts (not shown) inserted through holes 34of the fasteners 18-ULand 18- URand holes 35of the U-shaped beams 12-ULand 12-URand by respective two nuts (not shown). Holes 34and 35are shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3C and Fig. 4C.The beam flanges 16of the U-shaped beams 12-URand 12-LR , for example, are held together between the fastener overhang plates 32of beam fasteners 18-URand 18- LRas detailed above.A thin sealing sheet 62may be disposed between the flanges 16of beams 12-UL and 12-URand the flanges 16of beams 12-LLand 12-LRfor sealing the interior of the respective volumetric modules 8 , 10 , 4and 6 .A method for 100fastening U-shaped beams is outlined in a flowchart of Fig. 6. The method includes a step 105of inserting beam fasteners 18and 18Ninside U-shaped beams, and a step 107 of welding the beam fasteners 18 and 18N to the U-shaped beams to make modified U-shaped beams 12. The method further includes a step 110of inserting bolts in beam web holes 35and a step 115of screwing nuts around the bolts. In a preferred embodiment, nuts (not shown) are already stitched to each modified U- shaped beam 12 and the bolts are screwed into them.The method 1 00may also include a step 120of inserting bolts into fastener holes 36 , and a step 125of screwing the bolts into nuts 38stitched to a fastener 18N .The dimensions of the fasteners and the positions of the holes must be carefully controlled to ensure alignment of the holes so that securing the modified beams to each other and to other components of the building is easily performed at the building site.In some embodiments a beam fastener is first affixed to a u-beam and then a hole is made that goes throughout the beam fastener and the u-beam. Preferably the hole is made at the factory, i.e., not at the building site.By connecting four u-beams together as described above, the strength of the junctions between the modular volumes is much greater than four times the strength of a single u-beam, in all directions perpendicular to the u-beams’ lengths.

A panel unit (Figs. 7-8)In some embodiments, the walls of the volumetric modules may consist of panel units installed side by side between floor and ceiling beams. A wall of a volumetric module, module 6for example, includes a series of rectangular panel units 200 , as shown in Fig. 5A. A rectangular panel unit 200has two parallel vertical sides 204and two parallel horizontal sides 206 , as depicted in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a section of a wall of a volumetric module 6which includes two panel units 200between a floor beam 12and a ceiling beam 12and between two posts 202 .A panel unit 200may have an adjacent panel unit 200disposed at each of its two respective vertical sides 204or one adjacent panel unit 200at a first vertical side 204 and a post 202at a second vertical side 204-P .As illustrated in the side cross-section views of Fig. 8A, and the enlarged view of 8B, the panel unit 200includes two external rectangular boards 208 , spaced for receiving additional substances in between. In the example of Figs. 8A and 8B, an additional rectangular board 210is attached to the board 208in the inward side. Also, an insulating layer 212is disposed between the rectangular outward boards 208and 210 .The insulating layer 212 may be a thermal insulating layer made of rock wall, for example. It may also or alternatively be a layer optimized for acoustic insulation.The boards 208and 210may be plasterboards or wooden boards. The width of the boards 208and 210may be chosen to fit standard production measures, a choice that saves excess cutting at the longer sides.We are referring now to Figures. 8D-8G. Fig. 8D presents a horizontal cross­section view of two panel units 200attached to each other by two male toothed bars 214interlaced with two female toothed bars 216 . The bars 214and 216may be wooden bars.Alternatively, a single wooden bar may be used in either side. Also, there may be a single tooth in a bar.The wooden bars 214and 216may be made from fire-retardant treated wood. In addition, the design of the volumetric module refrains from continuity of wooden parts, bars 214and 216for example, and they are kept isolated from each other. In the case that a fire breaks out in the bars 214and 216connecting two panels 200 , the fire may fail to spread to other inter-panel connections.The toothed bars 214and 216are disposed along the vertical sides 204of the panel unit 200 , up to the horizontal sides 206 , as shown in the perspective view of Fig. 8E. The two corners are enlarged in Figs. 8F and 8G which show the male toothed bars 214and the female toothed bars 216 , respectively, in detail. The male toothed bars 214protrude beyond the space between the boards 208 or 210 .Further referring to Fig. 8B, U-shaped sheet metal 217encompasses the upper horizontal side 206of the panel unit 200and attaches together edges of the two rectangular external boards 208 , and ends of the toothed bars 214and 216 . A web 218 of U-shaped sheet metal 217covers side 206of the unit panel 200 , while the flanges 219of sheet metal 217cover the upper parts of boards 208 . Similarly, additional U- shaped sheet metal 217(not shown) encompasses the lower horizontal side 206of the panel unit 200 .A sheet metal coupler 220couples a U-shaped sheet metal 217to a flange 16of a U-shaped beam 12 . The coupler 220is shaped as a riser-tread-riser combination. A coupler tread 222is attached to a web 218of the U-shaped sheet metal 217 . A first riser 224is attached to a flange 219of the U-shaped sheet metal 217 , and a second riser 224 is attached to a flange 16of the U-shaped beam 12 .At certain locations inside the panel unit 200 , a service channel 230has a route which has to penetrate at least one each of the sheet metals 220and 217 . As shown in the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 8C, the coupler tread 222and the web 218have respective overlapping holes 232and 234for that penetration.Further referring to Fig. 8D, a series of elongated sheet metal supports 240are attached to the outward external board 208a . A decorative wall 242is connected to the supports 240 . An elongated support 240may be designed to be of sufficient size to accommodate a service channel 244 . In addition, the supports 240may be constructive elements that are connected with the upper and lower U-shaped modified beams 12 . A support 240 may have a first leg at a certain panel 200 and a second leg on an adjacent panel 200, and thus reinforce the inter-panel connection.

A method for constructing and integrating a panel unit (Figs. 7-9)Fig. 9 is a flowchart of a method 300for constructing a panel unit 200and integrating it within a volumetric module 10 . The method 300includes a step 305of attaching two external rectangular boards 208 , spaced for receiving at least one substance in between, with bars 214and 216disposed between the two external rectangular boards 208at two edges of the vertical sides of the panel unit 200 .The method 300further includes a step 310of attaching an internal rectangular board 210between the two external rectangular boards 208 , and a step 315of inserting a service channel 230between the boards 208in a direction substantially parallel to that of the vertical sides 204 .The method 300further includes a step 320of inserting at least one insulating layer 212between the two external rectangular boards 208 .

The method 300further includes a step 325of clasping the two horizontal sides 206 of the panel unit 200using two U-shaped sheet metals 217 , such as to strongly hold together edges of the two rectangular external boards 208and the bars 214and 216 .The method 300further includes a step 330of coupling the panel unit 200to a U- shaped beam 12using a sheet metal coupler 220 , shaped as a riser-tread-riser combination, between one of the U-shaped sheet metals 217and the web 14of the U- shaped beam 12 . The method 300further includes a step 335of inserting a service channel 230through matching holes 232and 234in the coupler tread 222and in the web 218of the sheet metals 220and 217 , respectively.The method 300further includes a step 340of integrating toothed bars 214and 216 of the panel unit 200with corresponding toothed bars 216and 214of an adjacent panel unit 200 .

Corner units (Figs. 10-15)A skeleton of a volumetric module includes a floor 400and a ceiling 402connected by four steel posts 202 , as shown in the exploded views of Figs. 10A and 10B. Each of the floor 400and the ceiling 402includes four steel beams, U-shaped beams 12for example, connected to each other and to posts 202by floor corner units 404and by ceiling corner units 506 , respectively. The posts 202have a hollow structural section, preferably a hollow square section.A floor corner unit 404is illustrated in the perspective view of Fig. 11A, in the top view of Fig. 11B, and in the side cross-section view of Fig. 11C. The floor corner unit 404includes two beam segments 410and 412and two beam connectors 418and 420 .The beam segment 410has a hollow square section 414and receives a part of the beam segment 412which has a smaller hollow square section 416 . The beam segment 412is welded to the beam segment 410 . The hollow square section 416may be also the section of posts 202 . A square plate 422is stitched to the beam segment 412and has a hole 424for receiving a bolt welded to a post 202as further detailed below.Each beam connector, 418or 420 , is shaped like a box having only four faces while two adjacent faces are absent, as shown in Fig. 11D. The beam connector 418 may be produced from a sheet metal 421of Fig. 11E by folding plates 428and 428B along lines 426A , and folding plate 430along line 426B.The folding action is followed by welding lines 428Eto adjacent lines 430E . The flange 428Bhas a hole 444Bto which a nut 444may be stitched to, as shown in Fig. 11A.Alternatively, each beam connector, 418or 420 , is made from a segment of a U- shaped beam having a web 426,a flange 428and a flanges 428B , where a rectangular beam receiving plate 430is stitched to edges 428E of the flange 428,to the edge 428E of flange 428B,and to an edge 426Bof the web 426 .The other edges of the flanges 428and 428Band the other edge of the web 426 are welded to a side 432of the beam segment 410 . The sides 432which are welded to the beam connectors 418and 420are perpendicular to each other, such that two perpendicular U-shaped beams 12may be attached thereof.For the attachment to a U-shaped beam 12 , the beam receiving plate 430has three holes 434 , while a plate 20stitched to the end of the U-shaped beam 12 , shown in Fig. 1B, has three compatible holes 436of essentially the same size as holes 434 . Thus, bolts (not shown) may be inserted from either side and screwed by appropriate nuts on the other side to strongly attach the beam 12to the corner unit 404 . An open side of beam connector 418or 420enables access for bolts or nuts, as desired.In some embodiments, there are only two holes 434and only two holes 436 .To further strengthen the structure of the beam connector 418or 420 , two adjacent perpendicular sides 438and 440of two pentagonal ribs 442may be welded to the connector web 426and to the beam receiving plate 430 , respectively.In some embodiments, no ribs are used.The lower flange 428may have a hole (not shown) and a welded nut 444stitched to the hole margin to enable a connection of an article to a bottom flange 428of the beam connector 418 .We are referring now to a ceiling corner unit 506 , shown in the perspective view of Fig. 12a, in the top view of Fig. 12B and in the side cross-section view of Fig. 12C. Ceiling corner unit 506includes a beam segment 552and two beam connectors 518and 520 . The beam connectors 518and 520are connected to the beam segment 552in its upper part.The beam segment 552has a hollow square section 553 . A square plate 550is stitched to the beam segment 552and has a hole 554for receiving a bolt screwed around a nut stitched to the end of post 202 . Beam connectors 518and 520are similar in shape and construction to beam connector 418and 420 , respectively. To facilitate connection of the ceiling corner unit 506to an upper storey, a nut 556is stitched to an upper flange 560of the beam connector 518. A post 202 , as shown in Fig. 13A, has a nut-equipped top end 572 , as depicted in Fig. 13B, and a bolt-equipped bottom end 574 , as illustrated in Fig. 13C. A bolt 460 traverses a hole in a square plate 464and is welded to the plate 464 , which in turn is stitched to the bottom end 574of post 202 . The bottom end 574of post 202penetrates the beam segment 410 , and approaches the plate 422 , such that the bolt 460infiltrates the hole 424 . Then, a worker screws a nut (not shown) over the bolt 460 .A square plate 466is stitched to the top end 572of post 202 , and it has a hole 468 in its center. A nut 470is welded to the bottom side of plate 466 . The top end 572of post 202penetrates beam segment 552of ceiling corner unit 506and approaches the plate 550 . Then, a worker infiltrates a bolt (not shown) through hole 554of the ceiling corner unit 506and via hole 468and finally screws it into nut 470 .The above description focused on floor and ceiling corner units 404and 506in a single volumetric module 10 . Floor corner unit 404and ceiling corner unit 506meet each other when a volumetric module 8resides over a volumetric module 4 , as depicted in the perspective view of Fig. 14A. As shown in the enlargement of Fig. 14B, and in the exploded view of Fig. 14C, floor corner unit 404receives the bottom end 574of the upper post 202of the first level module 8. A worker may access a bolt 460at the bottom end 574of the upper post 202with a nut (not shown) and screw the nut over the bolt 460 .Ceiling corner unit 506receives the upper end 572of the lower post 202 , and a worker can infiltrate a bolt 472into a hole 468and a nut 470 . Then, beam segment 412 of corner unit 404penetrates the beam segment 552of corner unit 506 , and thus couples the two corner units 404and 506 . Furthermore, the beam connectors 418and 518of the two respective corner units 404and 5 06may be tightened together by a bolt screwed into a nut 556of the beam connector 518. The combined effect of corner units 404and 506interlaced and tightened together, and the effect of the beam fasteners 18distributed along the beams 12and tightening them, guarantees that the multi-storey construction 2is strong and stable, and can withstand the challenges it should stand according to building standards.

A method 600for using floor corner units 404and ceiling corner units 406is shown in the flowchart of Fig. 15. The method 600includes a step 605of attaching two horizontal beams 12 , perpendicular to each other, to a floor corner unit 404 , and a step 610of inserting a bolt-equipped end 574of a post 202inside a beam segment 410of the corner unit 404 . The method 600further includes a step 615of screwing a nut on a bolt 460at the end 574of the post 202 .The method 600further includes a step 620of placing a ceiling corner unit 506 on the nut-equipped upper end 572of the post 202 , and a step 625of inserting a bolt 472via hole 468and into the nut 470 .The method 600further includes a step 630of inserting a beam segment 412of a floor corner unit 404connected to beams 12and post 202to the beam segment 410of the ceiling unit 406 , and a step 635of inserting a bolt within a hole of the floor beam connector 418of the floor corner unit 404and screwing it to a nut 556of the beam connector 518of the ceiling corner unit 506 . The prior affixing of the nuts under holes facilitates connecting the units by easily inserting bolt from above during the building up, without need to access underneath to hold the nuts in place during tightening of the bolts.To conclude, the beam fasteners 18, the panel units 200 and the corner units 4and 406 provide a designer with versatile opportunities to design a modular building of several storeys, such that a major part of the work is done in a production facility away from the building site. Moreover, a substantial portion of these elements is prepared using relatively cheap and common profiles and materials.

A reinforced panel unit ( Fig. 16 )In some embodiments, the walls of the volumetric modules may comprise at least one reinforced panel unit 200’installed between floor and ceiling beams. A wall of a volumetric module, module 6for example, may include a series of rectangular panel units 200’ , as shown in Fig. 16 . Fig. 16is an exploded view of a section of a wall of a volumetric module 6which includes two male toothed bars 214’ , see detail b , interlaced with two female toothed bars 216’,see detail c .In addition, the unit 200’further comprises at least one horizonal bar 250’that may be interlaced with the male and female toothed bars 214’, 216’ –see Detail D.

The panel unit 200’may further comprise one or more internal plaster boards 210’ , at least one external plaster board 208’and at least one insulating layer 212’ therebetween. External to the external plaster board 208’a membrane 260’may be disposed for insulation from moisture for example.

The male and female toothed bars 214’, 216’and the boards may be held between an upper coupling clasp 220’and a lower coupling clasp 220’’.One or more of the clasps 220’, 220’’may allow piping or a service channel 230’to pass therethrough and to go through one or more of the boards held therebetween.

Claims (14)

1.CLAIMS: 1. A rectangular panel unit having two parallel first sides and two parallel second sides for constructing a wall with one or two rectangular panel units neighboring at respective one or two first sides, the rectangular panel unit being configured to be coupled to at least one beam of a skeleton of a volumetric module, and each panel unit comprising: a. two external rectangular boards, spaced for receiving at least one substance in between; b. two sets of wooden bars disposed between said two external rectangular boards at two respective edges of the first sides of the panel unit, each wooden bar of at least one set of wooden bars having an external toothed side for tight coupling with a toothed side of a wooden bar of a neighboring rectangular panel unit; c. two U-shaped sheet metals encompassing the two second sides of the panel unit, such as to firmly hold edges of said two rectangular external boards, said at least one substance, and said two sets of wooden bars; and d. at least one sheet metal coupler for coupling at least one of said two U-shaped sheet metals to at least one beam of a skeleton of a volumetric module, the coupler being shaped as a riser-tread-riser combination configured for attaching the tread to a web of said U-shaped sheet metal, for attaching a first riser to a flange of said at least one of said two U-shaped sheet metals, and for attaching a second riser to said at least one beam of the skeleton of the volumetric module.

2. The rectangular panel unit of claim 1 further including an internal rectangular board disposed adjacent to one of said two external rectangular boards.

3. The rectangular panel unit of claim 1 including a thermal insulation material in between said two external rectangular boards.

4. The rectangular panel unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one beam of the skeleton of the volumetric module is U-shaped and the second riser of said at least one sheet metal coupler is configured for attaching to a web of the beam.

5. The rectangular panel unit of claim 1 wherein the coupler tread and the web of said U-shaped sheet metal have at least one pair of overlapping holes for receiving a service channel.

6. The rectangular panel unit of claim 1 wherein the wooden bars are made from fire- retardant treated wood.

7. The unit of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising at least one horizonal bar interlaced with the toothed bars.

8. A method for constructing a first rectangular panel unit having two parallel first sides and two parallel second sides and for constructing a wall with one or two the first panel unit and s a neighboring second unit at one or two first sides of the panel unit, the rectangular panel unit being configured to be coupled to at least one beam of a skeleton of a volumetric module, the method comprising: a. attaching two external rectangular boards, spaced for receiving at least one substance in between, with two sets of wooden bars disposed between said two external rectangular boards at two edges of the first sides of the panel unit, each wooden bar of at least one set of wooden bars having an external toothed side for integration with a toothed side of a wooden bar of a neighboring rectangular panel unit; b. clasping the two second sides of the panel unit using two U-shaped sheet metals, such as to strongly hold together edges of said two rectangular external boards to each other, and to said two sets of one or more bars; c. coupling the panel unit to said at least one beam of the skeleton of the volumetric module using a sheet metal coupler between one of said U-shaped sheet metals and the beam, said sheet metal coupler being shaped as a riser-tread-riser combination; d. attaching the tread to a web of said one of said two U-shaped sheet metals; e. attaching a first riser to a flange of said at least one of said two U-shaped sheet metals; and f. attaching a second riser to said at least one beam of the skeleton of the volumetric module.

9. The method of claim 8 further including integrating a set of one or more toothed wooden bars of said rectangular panel unit with a corresponding set of one or more toothed wooden bars of a neighboring panel unit.

10. The method of claim 8 further including attaching an internal rectangular board between said two external rectangular boards.

11. The method of claim 6 8 further including a step of inserting a service channel between the boards in a substantially parallel direction to said first sides.

12. The method of claim 8 further including a step of inserting a thermal insulation material between said two external rectangular boards.

13. The method of claim 8 further including attaching the second riser of said at least one sheet metal coupler to a web of a U-shaped beam of the skeleton of the volumetric module.

14. The method of claim 8 further including a step of inserting a service channel through matching holes in the coupler tread and in the web of said one of said two U-shaped sheet metals. 20