Apparatus and Methods For Connecting Timber Flanges

Abstract

A method and apparatus for constructing a single story or multistory building using timber as a major structural material. The apparatus includes a connector plate having a series of pins extending therefrom. In a building component, each pin engages with a relatively small diameter timber flange by way of an axial bore hole formed in each flange. In this way, the flanges form a timber structural member useful in the formation of a framework of a building structure. The plate of the connector provides a fastener for fastening to other similar connectors or to other building structures. Various combinations of connectors and building flanges may be used to construct a single story building, and furthermore may be used in the construction of a multistory building.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is directed to the field of building construction, and particularly the construction of multistorey buildings using timber as a major structural material.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]The stability of multistorey buildings is typically conferred using steel or reinforced concrete, or a combination of the two materials. A steel frame alone may be used in low rise buildings. For medium rise buildings either concrete or braced steel cores are typically used. For high rise buildings a concrete core may be used to facilitate the construction process. The core confers stability as steelwork is erected about the core. In some high rise buildings, an ‘exoskeleton’, may also be used to confer stability, this typically requiring substantial temporary works as the final stability system is only complete after a significant number of floors are erected.[0003]The corrosion of steel as a component of reinforced concrete is a well known problem ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes an invention that has various benefits, which are not always displayed in all embodiments. Some embodiments may only show one or a few advantages.

Problems solved by technology

The corrosion of steel as a component of reinforced concrete is a well known problem in building construction.

However, over time pH declines slowly and the alkaline conditions are lost, leading to increased probability of steel corrosion.

However, these measures are firstly difficult to realize in practice fully and secondly the same are not found to be sufficient in hostile environments.

Corrosion is also a problem of structural steel beams used in building construction.

Eventually, such coating will break down and expose the underlying structural steel to the environment leading to corrosion.

Quite apart from the problems of corrosion, acceptable quality concrete or steel may not be available, or may not be available at an acceptable cost.

Clearly, the production of steel is a highly energy-consuming process (mainly due to the use of vast amounts of heat energy in smelting) and therefore a substantial contributor to carbon dioxide production.

Such timbers are typically very expensive given the need to harvest the wood from the prime regions of very mature trees.

While generally effective, these wood products are expensive and therefore not useable in many applications.

Accordingly, these products are not widely available and may need to be transported long distances to a building site.

Where available, these products are expensive and may not be cost-effective for many applications.

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