Building construction system and manufacturing method with assembleable hollow load-bearing elements

Abstract

The present invention proposes a building construction system comprising an assembled hollow load-bearing element including a plurality of load-bearing elements such as beams, columns, and joists, each load-bearing element having a polyhedral shape extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends defining a perimeter wall including four sides of a parallelogram shape, two of the four sides including two longitudinal recesses in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, the recesses having an outer dimension of the perimeter wall smaller than the inner dimension of the perimeter wall to form a female means capable of accommodating a male means of another element of the construction system, and the load-bearing element includes a housing extending from one of the open ends to the other to form a sleeve capable of accommodating at least one other structural or reinforcing element of the construction system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates particularly to beams or columns of a construction system for modules of buildings, houses or garages, or other facilities, the main elements of which can be made of plastic materials, particularly recycled plastic materials or recycled wood, or any other object made by assembling this construction system, the elements of which can be made of plastic and / or composite materials.

[0002] The present invention proposes a construction system for buildings, including prefabricated hollow load-bearing elements, as well as various load-bearing elements, various reinforcement materials, and various assembly accessories.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the present invention optimizes and rationalizes the use of load-bearing elements (beams, columns, joists, etc.) and enables obtaining benefits from the best ratio in terms of building modularity and structural strength.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to propose a beam or column that enables creating a lightweight construction system, the assembly of which for a large number of buildings is simplified and much more rigid, and the number of standardized complementary parts between them for constructing construction elements is reduced.

[0005] In the present application, the terms "beam", "column" or "joist" are used to designate load-bearing elements, but they are not limiting, as they relate to any kind of structural element of a structure intended to support loads and ensure the stability of the structure or building.

[0006] One of the objectives of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by proposing a modular structural system that enables the easy and low-cost integration of various structural elements of a system while ensuring optimal reliability and stability of the system, as well as excellent diversity in the possible configurations of the system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This objective is achieved by a building construction system comprising a set of assembled hollow load-bearing elements, each load-bearing element having a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped shape, extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends by defining a circumferential wall having at least four sides of a parallelogram shape, and at least two of the four sides include at least two longitudinal recesses in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, the recesses having an outer dimension of the circumferential wall smaller than the inner dimension of the circumferential wall to form a female means capable of accommodating a male means of another element of the construction system, and the load-bearing element includes at least one housing extending from one of the open ends to the other to form a sleeve capable of accommodating at least one other structural or reinforcing element of the construction system.

[0008] According to another feature, the housing has a cross-section smaller than the dimensions of the load-bearing element and forms a parallelepiped sleeve that defines the inner wall of the load-bearing element (EP) connected to the outer wall by longitudinal transverse members.

[0009] According to another feature, the housing forms a polyhedral sleeve, and its circumferential surface is divided by longitudinal transverse members that connect the inner surface of one side of the circumferential wall to the inner surface of another side.

[0010] According to another feature, the housing has an orientation that is rotated by an angle determined with respect to the orientation of the periphery wall of the load-bearing element.

[0011] According to another feature, the housing of the load-bearing element has reduced dimensions for assembly with at least one other structural or reinforcing element of the construction system, and is open at one face or corner of the perimeter wall to accommodate another load-bearing element complementary to the dimensions of the housing.

[0012] According to another feature, the open housing, rotated by a determined angle, is configured to accept a load-bearing element which can be assembled with at least one other structural or reinforcing element of the construction system, oriented according to this determined angle.

[0013] According to another feature, the system includes at least one reinforcing profile of a polyhedron shape, preferably a parallelepiped, extending along the longitudinal axis between two open ends, defining a wall device having at least four sides in the form of a parallelogram, wherein at least one of the four sides has a longitudinal ridge of a shape and dimensions complementary to the shape and dimensions of the recess of the load-bearing element, thereby allowing the reinforcing profile to be positioned alongside at least one of the load-bearing elements by sliding along the longitudinal axis to reinforce the system in at least one spatial direction.

[0014] According to another feature, the reinforcing profile includes at least one longitudinal recess on the face opposite to the face containing the protrusion, which is similar in shape and dimensions to or identical to the recess of the load-bearing element.

[0015] According to another feature, the system includes at least one internal reinforcing member of a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped, extending along the longitudinal axis between two open ends, defining a perimeter wall that includes at least four sides of a parallelogram shape.

[0016] According to another feature, the shape and dimensions of the internal reinforcement are complementary to the internal space present within the polyhedron of at least one housing of at least one load-bearing element, or at least one reinforcing profile of the system.

[0017] According to another feature, the internal reinforcement includes longitudinal transverse members defining a fixed housing at each of the two open ends of the internal reinforcement, the fixed housing being able to receive a fixed lug of the internal reinforcement fixing tab, the internal reinforcement fixing tab being configured to receive a tenon (19, 22) in at least one recess of at least one load-bearing element, which can be used to fix the tab to the internal reinforcement.

[0018] According to another characteristic, at least some of the structural or reinforcing elements of the construction system are filled with foamed foam, hardened earth, ceramics, mineral aggregates, reinforced or unreinforced concrete, or any material or combination of materials, during their assembly and during the construction of the building, and solidified to reinforce the whole.

[0019] One of the objectives of this invention is to propose a load-bearing element for building construction that allows for easier assembly along with improved reinforcement.

[0020] This objective is achieved by a hollow and modular load-bearing element for a building construction system according to various embodiments of the present invention, such as a beam or a column, wherein the load-bearing element has a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped shape, extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends by defining a circumferential wall including at least four sides in the form of a parallelogram, and at least two of the four sides include at least two longitudinal recesses in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, the recesses having an outer dimension of the circumferential wall smaller than the inner dimension of the circumferential wall to form a female means capable of accommodating a male means of another element of the construction system, and the load-bearing element includes at least one housing extending from one of the open ends to the other so as to form a sleeve capable of accommodating another element that can accommodate at least one other structural element of the construction system.

[0021] One of the objectives of the present invention is to propose a load-bearing element for buildings that enables easy assembly in three-dimensional space by limiting the number of required elements while ensuring good stability of the structure.

[0022] This objective is achieved by a hollow, assembleable load-bearing element for a construction system, such as a beam or column, wherein the load-bearing element has a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped shape, extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends, defining a wall device including at least four sides in the form of a parallelogram, and at least two of the four sides include at least two longitudinal recesses in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, wherein the recesses have an outer dimension of the perimeter wall smaller than the inner dimension of the perimeter wall, to form a female means capable of accommodating a male means of another element of the construction system, and the at least two of the recesses are arranged symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal centerline of the lateral face.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a set of several hollow beams or columns for a construction system, which includes a plurality of beams and a plurality of columns of the same length.

[0024] During assembly, particularly with regard to the columns, the dimensions are adjusted according to the structure being assembled.

[0025] The present invention also relates to an assembly of several hollow beams or columns in a construction system, wherein at least one beam or at least one column is reinforced by using another beam or column inside. The present invention also relates to a beam or column, whether integral or disintegrated, reinforced by a sleeve screwed around the beam or column.

[0026] The present invention also relates to a beam or column assembled from several complementary elements of the same material (e.g., fibrous PET) or different materials (e.g., metal), and stabilized and reinforced by corner braces or lateral braces.

[0027] Preferably, the beams and / or columns are assembled end-to-end by inserts that are inserted into the ends of the openings at the ends of the beams or columns. Certain load-bearing elements include blocks or surrounding elements assembled together by cooperating means.

[0028] In a multi-layer structure, two adjacent sides of the central column are respectively attached to different columns, and the height of the structure is determined by the length of the central column.

[0029] According to the present invention, construction can be carried out in six directions (up, down, left, right, front, and back).

[0030] Another object of the present invention is to enable the production of structural elements of a building construction system that is preferably made of recycled plastic materials and is sufficiently stable and reliable (e.g., in terms of robustness, resistance, and durability). [[ID=!--]]

[0031] This object is achieved by a method for manufacturing structural elements for a building construction system including a plurality of load-bearing elements such as beams, columns, and joists that are hollow and can be assembled together, derived from plastic materials, at least one step of preparing the material by a mixture of PET and / or PEF, at least one filler, preferably a fiber, and generally at least one additive, at least one step of selecting at least one profile whose shape is determined on the one hand according to the characteristics of the structural element and the density of the material so as to obtain a weight of less than 15 kg per linear meter of the profile, at least one compounding step from the mixture by applying a vacuum of -30 to -90 kPa so as to obtain an MFI of less than 10, and at least one step of extruding and cooling the compound to obtain the structural element characterized by comprising. <!--

[0032] According to another characteristic, the applied vacuum is on the order of -40 to -80 kPa, preferably -60 kPa, and the MFI is less than 8.

[0033] According to another characteristic, the filler is a mineral and includes glass and / or carbon and / or basalt.

[0034] According to another feature, the aforementioned selection of the shape of the profile is carried out to obtain a weight of less than 10 kg per straight meter of material.

[0035] According to another characteristic, the compound extrusion step is carried out at a processing flow rate of 800-1000 kg / h and a speed of 300-400 rpm.

[0036] The features of the present invention will become clearer by referring to the schematic diagram and reading the following description of several embodiments, which are given simply as examples. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0037] [Figure 1] Figures 1A, 1C, and 1D show schematic cross-sectional diagrams of load-bearing elements according to various embodiments, and Figure 1B shows a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the load-bearing element according to Figure 1A, including another identical but smaller load-bearing element. [Figure 2] Figures 2A and 2B show a cross-sectional view and schematic diagram of a sleeve according to a specific embodiment, respectively, while Figures 2C and 2D show a cross-sectional view and schematic diagram of a load-bearing element forming a sleeve according to another embodiment, respectively. [Figure 3] Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, and 3F show schematic cross-sectional diagrams of load-bearing elements according to various embodiments. [Figure 4] Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E show schematic cross-sectional diagrams of load-bearing elements according to various embodiments. [Figure 5]Figure 5A shows a schematic diagram of the cross-section of a reinforcing profile according to a specific embodiment, Figure 5B shows a schematic diagram of the cross-section of an internal reinforcing member according to a specific embodiment, Figures 5C and 5D show schematic diagrams of the cross-section of a reinforcing profile including an internal reinforcing member according to various embodiments, and Figure 5E shows a schematic diagram of the cross-section of a load-bearing element including an internal reinforcing member according to several embodiments. [Figure 6] Figures 6A and 6B show perspective views of assembled supports for load-bearing elements according to various embodiments, and Figure 6C shows perspective views of two assembled supports for load-bearing elements according to a particular embodiment, in two different orientations that enable their assembly shown in Figure 6D. [Figure 7] Figures 7A, 7B, and 7C show perspective views of bases for load-bearing elements according to various embodiments. [Figure 8] Figures 8A and 8B show perspective views of profile ends for fixing load-bearing elements or brackets, Figure 8C shows a perspective view of an insert for assembling load-bearing elements, Figure 8D shows a perspective view of a fixing tenon, Figure 8E shows a perspective view of a fixing tab for internal reinforcement, and Figure 8F shows perspective views of two variations of a fixing tab for beams. [Figure 9] Figure 9A shows a schematic cross-section of two load-bearing elements, one nested inside the other, according to a particular embodiment, and Figure 9B shows a perspective view of a set of assembly accessories for an element carrier, having two assembly supports, a base for the load-bearing elements, two reinforcing brackets, and fixing tenons. [Figure 10] Figure 10A shows a perspective view of part of a load-bearing element assembly, showing three load-bearing elements with reinforcing profiles positioned parallel to the load-bearing elements and several internal reinforcing members positioned perpendicular to the load-bearing elements. Figure 10B shows a perspective view of part of a load-bearing element assembly similar to Figure 10A, but including an additional load-bearing element, with a beam assembled between this additional load-bearing element and another load-bearing element. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0038] The present invention proposes a construction system for buildings such as houses or other facilities, generally at one or more levels. The system advantageously comprises hollow load-bearing elements (EP) (or "support" elements) that can be assembled together, as well as various structural elements such as reinforcing profiles (F), internal reinforcements (D), and beams (P), and connecting elements such as sleeves (M), corner reinforcements (RC), and side reinforcements (RL), but also comprises various assembly accessories such as bases (21) or supports (26), brackets (27) for reinforcements, or profile ends (28) for fixing load-bearing elements (EP) and / or brackets (27) onto supports (26).

[0039] Hollow load-bearing elements (EPs) can be composed of a variety of materials, particularly composites. These are generally obtained by extrusion using a “compounding” technique, preferably according to English terminology, which allows for the mixing of various components to form granules that can be easily processed in an extruder. Certain elements of the system, such as assemblies and / or reinforcing accessories (21, 26, 27, 28), can be made of metal (various alloys), but the majority of structural elements (EPs, Ds, Fs, Ps, As, Bs) are generally made from plastic and / or wood-based polymers or composites. In some embodiments, at least the structural elements of the system are preferably formed from recycled polyethylene (PET), which is preferably combined with glass fibers to solidify the resulting final product. PET (i.e., polyethylene terephthalate) is a compound better known by its English name polyethylene terephthalate (hence its most common acronym PET), and is also seen in the acronym PETE. It is a thermoplastic saturated polyester-type polymer, as opposed to thermosetting polyesters. This is a candidate for selection for the applications of this application, but not the only one; other polymers, such as polyethylene furanoate (PEF), already constitute competitors to conventional polyethylene (PET). In fact, PEF is made from monoethylene glycol obtained from the processing of sugarcane and furanic acid: FDCA synthesized from plant or agricultural residues. 2,5-Francaic acid (FDCA) is an organic compound consisting of two carboxylic acid groups bonded to a central furan ring. Thus, the manufacturing process detailed later in this application can be applied to various polymers based on ethylene monomers, but other monomers are also possible. On the other hand, most other plastic materials known in the field of extrusion (to name just two, PEHC or PVC) do not possess the physicochemical properties, particularly mechanical resistance, that are suitable for this application as described here. Preferably, at least one type of "filler," such as mineral and preferably fiber-reinforced PET (or PEF), is therefore preferred for the manufacture of at least load-bearing elements (EP), but remains preferred for all structural elements (EP, D, F, P, A, B).The term “filler” is used in this application, in its conventional sense, to specify an additional material that is added in a solid form (such as aggregates or particles like beads, or in the form of, for example, fibers or flakes), withstands the manufacturing process (maintaining its solid form), and provides the final product with its mechanical properties (elasticity, solidity, fire resistance, etc.) (or, if it relates to the material used, it is “load,” but not if it relates to the forces or stresses applied). In various embodiments of the present invention, the filler preferably comprises at least one inorganic substance, but may (alternatively or additionally) include metal and / or polymer-based and / or plant-based materials, with mineral fibers being preferred. Thus, this application may describe methods for producing physicochemical properties (particularly mechanical) and / or load-bearing elements (EP) solely for the sake of simplifying the description, but the scope is not limited to these elements and actually extends to all structural elements (EP, D, F, P, A, B). Similarly, this application describes methods relating to PET, but actually covers PEF, or even other polymers, preferably ethylene-based. In particular, certain embodiments relate to processes or methods for manufacturing these elements, for this reason that manufacturing using materials such as PET (or PEF) presents technical problems with respect to dimensions and weight, particularly those arising from the applications covered by this application (especially buildings). In fact, PET extrusion is generally limited to sizes such as small wires, for example, those used in 3D printers, whereas the load-bearing elements (EP) of this application have lengths on the order of 1 meter (from just under 1 meter to several meters) and cross-sections on the order of 10 centimeters (from just under 10 centimeters to several tens of centimeters). However, the present invention provides that the cross-section of the load-bearing elements (EP) is not solid, but advantageously hollow with walls on the order of 1 centimeter in thickness (from just under 1 centimeter to several centimeters), thereby making it possible to manufacture them by compounding and extrusion as detailed below.In fact, the manufacture of load-bearing elements (EPs) formed from a single block, rather than being composed of several complementary elements assembled together as in this application, presents an excessive number of technical problems because extrusion of such elements does not yield a solid element usable for the target application.

[0040] Compounding is an extrusion granulation process that enables the fusion mixing of a polymer (thermoplastic resin) with one or more additives to obtain a plastic material (or "compound" in English) in the form of a masterbatch having specific physical or thermal properties (antistatic, slippery, UV resistant, antioxidant, etc.). These additives can be solid, liquid, powder, and polymer mixtures, sometimes in the form of granules or spheres (rubber or elastomer), and are generally part of the know-how. The plastic granules obtained by compounding can be "filled" (or "loaded") with fibers or beads, i.e., supplemented with at least one "filler" that enables the enhancement of specific mechanical properties of the final product. This "filler" is preferably fibrous and generally inorganic, such as carbon or glass, or even basalt, but may also include at least one polymer (identical to or at least compatible with the main polymer of the compound) and / or at least one metallic component (e.g., metal or alloy flakes or fibers), or even fibers or beads of at least one plant component (e.g., rare plant fibers that can withstand the temperatures associated with the manufacturing process). Accordingly, a particular embodiment of the present invention relates to the manufacture of such an assemblable load-bearing element (EP) by this type of extrusion granulation technique (or "formulation-extrusion"), preferably using a compound of the type described below, but in particular according to the process detailed below.

[0041] In fact, it is preferable to add various additives to the composition in order to ensure optimal performance, particularly with respect to extrusion and stability over time. Therefore, preferred compositions for these hollow elements include: - 50-70% PET (and / or PEF), preferably 60% (total) - 30-50% glass fiber, preferably about 38% - 0.1-2%, preferably about 0.2-1%, of a polyfunctional polymer reagent, preferably a polymerization expander, such as Joncryl or optionally PDMA (pyromellitic anhydride). - At least one antioxidant, such as Irganox (e.g., Irganox 561B) and / or Thinuvin (e.g., Tinuvin 5617 and / or Tinuvin 1577), in a total proportion between 0.1 and 2%, preferably 0.2 to 1%, particularly for protection against ultraviolet light. - In some cases, at least one fire-retardant additive or flame retardant to make the product flame-retardant or less flammable; however, the use of fire-retardant coatings on products that do not contain such additives has also proven to be effective while being easier to implement. - At least one other additive, such as an impact modifier (or "impact modifier" in English), which is known to improve the material's properties, such as resistance, thanks to its ability to chemically or mechanically bond to the polymer matrix, in some cases. Research on the basic blend of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) has been conducted by various researchers over the past several decades, and several embodiments utilize such modifiers.

[0042] Regarding polyfunctional polymer reagents, various types of compounds are possible, with Joncryl-type compounds generally preferred. In addition, one or more types of Joncryl available on the market can be used, such as Joncryl 4400 and / or Joncryl 4468, for example, with the individual proportions being 0.1-0.5% each, and therefore the overall proportion being 0.2-1%.

[0043] Regarding antioxidant compounds, Irganox is known to consist of sterically hindered phenols and thioethers as well as mixtures of different antioxidant technologies. Tinuvin belongs to the class of hydroxyphenylbenzotriazoles and imparts good photostability to a wide variety of polymers. While various antioxidants and UV inhibitors are possible, these two compounds have been observed to be particularly advantageous in combination with each other in relation to this application, especially at a ratio of 0.1–0.5% Tinuvin (or optionally "Thinuvin") and 0.2–0.8% Irganox.

[0044] An advantageous feature of the system is the fact that it is hollow and contains load-bearing elements (EPs) such as beams, columns, joists, and others that are assembled together. An advantageous feature of this process is the fact that these load-bearing elements (EPs) can be obtained by modifying known compound-extrusion techniques and by taking advantage of the fact that they are hollow.

[0045] Generally, the load-bearing element (EP) is a polyhedron, preferably a parallelepiped, extending along the longitudinal axis between two open ends communicating with each other (due to the fact that the load-bearing element is hollow), and includes at least four parallelogram-shaped sides forming the exterior or peripheral wall of the load-bearing element (EP). The cross-section of the load-bearing element (EP) (crossing the longitudinal axis) may be square or rectangular, but may optionally be hexagonal or any type of polygon. Thus, schematic diagrams are used in this application to more easily illustrate non-limiting examples of profiles and possible configurations. In particular, these diagrams make it possible to illustrate two advantages of the configurations presented in this application. In certain configurations, the fact that the load-bearing element (EP) is hollow and includes a longitudinal internal housing (extending from one end of the element to the other) for accommodating another element of the system is an advantage, as detailed below. In addition, a particular configuration takes advantage of the fact that at least two of the four sides include at least two longitudinal recesses (10) in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between two open ends, and the recesses (10) have outer dimensions smaller than the inner dimensions of the perimeter wall, forming female means capable of accommodating male means of other elements of the construction system. Preferably, these recesses are dovetail-shaped to ensure good stability of the assembly between the female means formed by these recesses (10) and male means complementary to other elements of the system. Thus, these recesses (10) in the form of grooves or rails allow the load-bearing elements to be assembled by sliding (translation parallel to the longitudinal axis) to facilitate assembly while ensuring good reliability, unlike assembly by deformable means (clip-ons) as in certain systems of the prior art. In fact, the shape and dimensions of these grooves require assembly by sliding only and prevent the elements thus assembled from coming apart. In addition, since these recesses (10) are provided in the surrounding walls, the remaining surfaces of these walls provide sufficient support surfaces to stabilize the elements between them, which is particularly advantageous in the case of building structures referred to by the present invention where dimensions impose significant constraints. Indeed, the forces applied to the elements require their configuration to allow for significant stability.Therefore, the beam (EP) has two symmetrical rails or recesses (10) of their length used to slide other elements of the system, such as reinforcing members or accessories or assemblies or support tools. Thus, the fact that at least one or two faces of the load-bearing elements contain two parallel grooves allows two load-bearing elements (EP) assembled perpendicular to each other to function as a support structure for a trellis composed of profiles (P), such as beams, arranged perpendicular to each other. In fact, as shown in Figure 10B, for example, one groove (10) of one of the two load-bearing elements (EP) allows for the fixing of a first profile (P) in a first direction, and the perpendicular groove (10) of the other load-bearing element (EP) allows for the fixing of a second profile (P) in a second direction perpendicular to the first profile (P). Such profiles or beams (P) have a reduced cross-section compared to the cross-section of the load-bearing elements (EP) to which they are fixed using, for example, these fixing tabs (18) (i.e., base or mounting or fixing plate / inclined section), thanks to tenons (19) that can be fixed on fixing tabs (18) as shown in Figure 8F and cooperate with recesses (10) of load-bearing elements (EP). Figure 8F shows two variations of such fixing tabs (18) comprising a support frame with a plate (180) for holding the end of the beam vertically, and a fixing plate with two side plates positioned vertically on both sides of the support plate (180) and a hole for fixing the tenon (19). Figure 10B shows the use of these fixing tabs (18) for assembling beams (P) on beams or columns (EP). The joist fixing tabs (18) are preferably made of metal. Such a tenon (19) is configured, for example, as shown in Figure 8D, and comprises a parallelepiped element (19) that opens on one side to form a U-shaped cross section, into which a chamfered wedge (22) is inserted to deform the U and obtain a complementary shape of the recess (10) in order to ensure secure fastening by tightening the tenon within the housing.In addition, various sizes of tenons are provided, for example, when a load-bearing element is fitted into a hollow sleeve (M) having a recess that matches the recess of the load-bearing element, or when they have a recess (10) that matches the recess of the load-bearing element, when fitted into a corner reinforcement (RC) or even a lateral reinforcement (RL), they can accommodate the shape of various sizes of recesses (10) provided on the load-bearing element, which will be described in detail below for an assembly of interlocked load-bearing elements (EP).

[0046] Accordingly, a particular embodiment of the present invention relates to a hollow, assembleable load-bearing element (EP) for a building construction system, such as a beam or column, wherein the load-bearing element (EP) has a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped shape, extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends by defining a circumferential wall including at least four sides in the form of a parallelogram, and at least two of the four sides include at least two longitudinal recesses (10) in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, wherein the recesses (10) have an outer dimension of the circumferential wall smaller than the inner dimension of the circumferential wall, in order to form a female means that can accommodate a male means of another element of the construction system, wherein at least two of the recesses (10) are symmetrically arranged on either side of the longitudinal centerline of the circumferential wall. By symmetrically arranging two recesses (10) on either side of the longitudinal centerline of the load-bearing element, the profile can therefore be positioned perpendicular to each other in a plane parallel to the plane on which the two load-bearing elements are assembled, thereby ensuring an easy and inexpensive assembly while guaranteeing good stability. Such an assembly can function, for example, as a (horizontal) floor or a (vertical) wall for construction. In addition, if the profile (P) has dimensions perpendicular to the plane containing the recesses (10) of the two assembled load-bearing elements (EP), and this is less than half the dimensions of the faces of these load-bearing elements in this same direction, a structure is obtained that forms a surface suitable for accommodating a floor or partition cover while leaving room for the passage of technical equipment such as wires, pipes, and other such equipment. In addition to constructing floors and / or ceilings, columns, beams, or joists can be arranged to form internal partitions to divide spaces and rooms according to various configurations, the partitions being perpendicular to the floor or ceiling. Therefore, some embodiments relate to a construction system including at least two load-bearing elements, such as those described above, associated with at least two beams (P) assembled on these load-bearing elements (EP) using tabs (18) fixed to the load-bearing elements by tenons, for example.

[0047] On the other hand, various embodiments of this application relate to assemblies of complementary load-bearing elements (EP) that enable the fitting of specific load-bearing elements or various reinforcing members (F) into other load-bearing elements (EP) or sleeves (M) or into external reinforcing members such as lateral reinforcing members (RL) or corner reinforcing members (RC). Such reinforcing members may be made of the same material as the load-bearing elements, but they are preferably made of metal. Accordingly, some embodiments relate to a construction system comprising an assembled hollow load-bearing element, which includes a plurality of load-bearing elements (EPs), such as hollow beams, columns, and joists, wherein each load-bearing element (EP) has a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped, extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends, defining a circumferential wall including at least four sides of a parallelogram shape, and at least two of the four sides include at least two longitudinal recesses (10) in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, wherein the recesses (10) have an outer dimension of the circumferential wall that is smaller than the inner dimension of the circumferential wall, in order to form a female means that can accommodate a male means of another element of the construction system, and the load-bearing element (EP) includes at least one housing (L) extending from one of the open ends to the other so as to form a sleeve (M) that can accommodate at least one other load-bearing element (EP, F, B, A) of the construction system.

[0048] For example, load-bearing elements (EP), such as hollow posts or hollow beams, can accommodate reinforcing members, whether hollow or solid, such as tubes made of metal, wood, plastic, or protruding composite material, within a housing (L) in the form of a sleeve (M), the reinforcing members having a variable cross-sectional shape. Other load-bearing elements (EP) with a similar configuration but reduced dimensions complementary to the dimensions of the housing (L) can also be accommodated.

[0049] On the other hand, load-bearing elements (EP) may have their housings (L) reinforced by filling them with foamed foam, hardened soil, ceramics, mineral aggregates, reinforced or unreinforced concrete, or any solidifying material that allows the whole to be reinforced, and hybrid (combined) use of these materials and means is also possible.

[0050] The cross-section of the housing (L) forming the sleeve (M) can be circular or polygonal, such as a hexagon as in Figure 3D, or a square as in Figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A, and 3B, or a rectangle as in Figure 1D. This has the special characteristic of having two housings, but it is clear that a single rectangular housing can be provided, and since the load-bearing element itself can have a rectangular cross-section, a number of variations are within the scope of this application. In addition, the housing (L) forming the sleeve (M) can have walls that are oriented in the same direction as the periphery wall of the load-bearing element, but it is also possible to rotate their orientation by an angle determined with respect to the orientation of the wall-periphery device. For example, Figures 3A and 3B show the case where the housing is oriented at 45° with respect to the periphery wall, which allows the load-bearing elements fitted together in this manner to have increased resistance in various directions in space.

[0051] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the housing (L) can be opened outward, for example, on one of the faces of the load-bearing element (EP), or at a corner of the load-bearing element if the housing is rotated by a specific angle. This type of embodiment allows for the assembly of load-bearing elements (EP) with different cross-sections using tenons of different sizes. Moreover, in the case of a housing whose orientation is rotated relative to the perimeter wall, for example as shown in Figure 3C, this assembly of elements with different cross-sections can be manufactured at angles other than 90°. In fact, in Figure 3C, it is clear that the illustrated configuration allows for the assembly of elements at 45°, but other angles are naturally also considered. Thus, in some embodiments, the housing has an orientation rotated by an angle determined relative to the orientation of the perimeter wall of the load-bearing element. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the housing of a load-bearing element is opened on one face or corner of the perimeter wall to accommodate another load-bearing element having reduced dimensions and complementary to the dimensions of the housing (L) for assembly with other load-bearing elements. Finally, in some embodiments combining the previous two characteristics, the open housing, rotated by a determined angle, is configured to accept a load-bearing element (EP) which can be assembled with other load-bearing elements oriented according to this determined angle.

[0052] Accordingly, some embodiments of the present invention relate to hollow and modular load-bearing elements (EP), such as beams or columns, for a building construction system, wherein the load-bearing element (EP) has a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped shape, extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends by defining a circumferential wall including at least four sides in the form of a parallelogram, and at least two of the four sides are provided with at least two longitudinal recesses (10) in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, wherein the recesses (10) have an outer dimension of the circumferential wall smaller than the inner dimension of the circumferential wall to form a female means suitable for accommodating a male means of another element of the construction system, and the load-bearing element (EP) includes at least one housing (L) extending from one of the open ends to the other to form a sleeve (M) capable of accommodating another element that can accommodate at least one other structural element (EP, F, B, A) of the construction system.

[0053] In some embodiments, the housing (L) forms a parallelepiped sleeve (M) whose cross-section is smaller than that of the load-bearing element (EP), defining the inner wall of the load-bearing element (EP) connected to the outer wall by longitudinal transverse members (25), e.g., Figures 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, etc. Some of these longitudinal transverse members (25) form the walls of the housing (L) that form the sleeve (M), while others function solely as structural reinforcements. In other embodiments, the sleeve (M) is formed directly by the periphery wall of the load-bearing element, e.g., as shown in Figures 2A, 2B, 4B, and 4E, and / or by internal reinforcements of the periphery wall, e.g., as shown in Figures 2C and 2D. It should also be noted that with such a configuration, two load-bearing elements forming a sleeve (M) having only a periphery wall and a recess (10), e.g., as shown in Figure 3E, can be fitted together, provided that the dimensions of their cross-sections are complementary. In some embodiments, the housing (L) forms a polyhedral sleeve (M), and the circumferential surfaces of the polyhedral sleeve (M) are separated by longitudinal transverse members (25) that connect the inner surface of one surface of the circumferential wall to the inner surface of another surface (i.e., a side), as shown, for example, in Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D.

[0054] In some embodiments of the system, the sleeve (M) is simply formed by a longitudinally extending parallelepiped perimeter wall between two open ends, as shown, for example, in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D. This type of sleeve can house and integrate load-bearing elements, for example, as in Figure 4B, which is intended to house a load-bearing element formed by an assembly of elements (A, B) in Figure 4A, or as in Figure 4E, which houses another sleeve of the same configuration, but whose cross-sectional dimensions are reduced and complementary to the interior of the outer sleeve, or even as in Figure 3F, which houses an assembly of block B) to form a stable load-bearing element (EP). In the example of Figure 1D, the load-bearing element (EP) includes two housings (L) of rectangular cross-section, which can house two internal reinforcing members, such as those in Figure 5B, to obtain a reinforced load-bearing element as shown in Figure 5E.

[0055] For example, in some embodiments shown in Figures 3E, 3F, and 4A-4B, a sleeve (M) formed by an internal housing (L) is intended to accommodate complementary blocks (B) to form a column. Such blocks preferably include cooperating means (8A, 9A) between assembled blocks. Such cooperating means may be, for example, a female means (9A) of a block cooperating with a male means (8A) of another block. Preferably, as shown, for example, in Figures 4D and 4E, each block has one of two male and female means on one of its faces so that it can be assembled with the same adjacent block. In addition, it is possible to use an additional central block or "core" (A), as shown, for example, in Figure 4A. In this case, the central core (A) includes a central body (7) and a protrusion (1), and the surrounding blocks (B) have an inner surface that fits with this central element (7) and a recess (6) that fits with the protrusion (1) of the central core (A). Therefore, these elements (A, B) can be assembled together, and a sleeve, such as that in Figure 4B, can house them and form a stable load-bearing element (EP). Note that the core (A) is optional thanks to the support by the sleeve (M). Furthermore, if the blocks (B) cooperate with each other by their male and female means (8A, 9A), the central core (A) is optional even without the sleeve, although it is still preferable to house the set of blocks within the sleeve. Following this line of thinking, the example in Figure 4C shows that when such an assembly of blocks (B) cooperates by male and female means (8A, 9A), the sleeve (M) can be replaced with a corner reinforcement (RC) that stabilizes the assembly of blocks (B). Similarly, instead of a corner reinforcement or sleeve, a lateral reinforcement having a substantially U-shaped cross-section can be provided (however, as shown in Figure 4D, for example, the substantially U-shaped cross-section is partially recessed to coincide with a recess (10) present on the block in order to obtain a stable structure).

[0056] In some embodiments, the load-bearing function of load-bearing elements in a building construction system is improved by the addition of reinforcing profiles (D). Such profiles are configured in the form of a parallelepiped, whose cross-section has dimensions smaller than those of the load-bearing element in one direction, but preferably the same in the other direction. Thus, these reinforcing profiles (D) conform to the load-bearing element and provide additional support that is particularly useful during vertical assembly. Preferably, these reinforcing profiles also include recesses (10) and protrusions (hence male and female rails) of a shape complementary to the recesses to match those of the load-bearing element. Thus, they are assembled by sliding along the axes of these recesses and protrusions, and the structure is reinforced. Examples of such reinforcing profiles (D) are shown in Figures 5A, 5C, and 5D, among which Figures 5C and 5D show that they may also include housings into which internal reinforcing members (F) can be fitted, for example, of the type usable in the load-bearing element (EP) of Figure 1D as shown in Figure 5E. Furthermore, Figures 10A and 10B show examples of the use of such reinforcing profiles (D) for vertical support, and examples of possible use of internal reinforcing members (F) as a reinforcing structure for a frame formed by several load-bearing elements (EP) assembled together. In the examples of Figures 10A and 10B, the internal reinforcing members (F) placed between the load-bearing elements are assembled to the load-bearing elements thanks to the fact that these internal reinforcing members (F) are also hollow and include longitudinal transverse members (25) that divide compartments that can receive the raised portion (PF) of the tab (SP) for fixing the internal reinforcing members, for example, as shown in Figure 8E, which shows the use of tenons in tabs (SP) for fixing the internal reinforcing members to recesses or grooves or rails (10) of the load-bearing elements.

[0057] Various interesting aspects of this application relate not only to the nesting of various structural or reinforcing elements within one another, but also to the assembly of these elements with other elements. Accordingly, specific assembly accessories for use in such construction systems have also been developed. Thus, certain embodiments also relate to such accessories (21, 26, 28, 12, SP, 18) for load-bearing elements (EP) and / or systems according to the present invention. Thus, although these accessories are within the scope of the present invention, they can be considered independently of the technical features of the structural elements to which the accessories are attached, unless specific features are unique to these accessories. Figures 7A, 7B, and 7C show an example of a base (21) for a load-bearing element (EP). Such a base allows for the formation of a base on which load-bearing elements are attached in order to initiate construction or to connect two load-bearing elements end to end. The figures do not represent possible means for fixing such bases, but it is understood that they may include, for example, holes or any other known means. On the other hand, these figures show that these bases (21) include blades (211) that can be screwed into the openings (11) to stabilize the assembly. In addition, these bases may include a central reinforcing member (210) of any other shape, such as cylindrical as in Figure 7A or square cross-section as in Figure 7B. This central reinforcing member may be hollow or solid and is intended to cooperate with a recess in a load-bearing element (EP), such as the hole in the central element of the core (A) in Figure 4A in the example of Figure 7A, or the hole in the square housing (L) of the load-bearing element (EP), such as in Figures 1A, 1C, 2C, etc., or even in Figures 3A, 3B, 3C, if the reinforcing member is rotated by an appropriate angle. Alternatively, the base may instead include an opening, such as the one shown in Figure 7C, to accommodate the reinforcing member or load-bearing element (EP) inside the base (21). Figures 8A and 8B show examples of end pieces (28) of profiles for load-bearing elements (EP) or reinforcing brackets (27). These profile ends (28) are used in assembly with blades (281) configured to match the contour of the peripheral wall of the load-bearing element (EP) by matching the edges of the recesses (10).In addition, these end pieces (28) may include fastening means, such as holes for screwing to other elements or accessories. In particular, these profile ends (28) inserted into the open ends of load-bearing elements can be screwed to assembly supports (26), such as those shown in Figures 6A, 6B, and 6C, and may be assembled in pairs as shown in Figure 6D. These supports (26) are used to assemble load-bearing elements together using profile ends (28), tenons (19), and reinforcing brackets (27), as shown in Figure 9B, for example. Similar to the base (21), these supports (26) may include openings with shapes complementary to the structural elements of the construction system. For example, in Figure 6A, the support includes a housing (260) that matches the shape of the core (A) in Figure 4A. In the example of Figure 6B, the support is solid and thus forms a support surface, and in Figure 6C, the support has a square housing (260) that can accommodate load-bearing elements (EP) of the same cross-section. Those skilled in the art will understand by this specification a number of possible variations within the scope of the present invention. Generally, structural or reinforcing elements such as load-bearing elements (EP), and / or beams (P), and / or internal reinforcements (F), and / or reinforcing profiles (D) include openings (11) at the open ends of a parallelepiped (in addition to their housings), which are not to be confused with the housing (L). These openings (11) are configured to accommodate blades (211) of reinforcing bases (21) (as shown, for example, in Figures 7A, 7B, and 7C) and / or blades (281) of profile ends (28) (as shown, for example, in Figures 8A and 8B), and / or inserts (12) that enable these structural or reinforcing elements to be assembled end-to-end (i.e., coaxially aligned, with their longitudinal axes collinear). Such inserts include, for example, one stopper that prevents the insert from completely penetrating the opening (11) of the elements they join end to end, as shown in Figure 8C, and the elements preferably include one notch that accommodates this stopper (13), which is an entrance to the opening (11) and is generally formed by a simple rib.

[0058] The assembly support (26) is generally used in two copies, as shown in Figure 6C, and assembled as shown in Figure 6D, in particular by the base (21), profile end (28), using tenons (19) and chamfered wedges (22) to enable the assembly of various elements in three-dimensional space.

[0059] Generally, the profile ends (28) form joints between various load-bearing elements (EPs) via their fasteners (e.g., tenons (19) and chamfered wedges (22)), each fixed to an assembly support (26) having an H-shape (viewed from the front or in profile). This H-shaped joint (26) allows various end pieces of suitable profiles (28) of various cross-sections and / or configurations to be fixed in particular with respect to the internal housing (L) of load-bearing elements (EPs) (e.g., as shown in Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 7A, 7B, 7C, 8A and 8B), but also allows for the fixing of metal or wooden columns and beams by adapting the end pieces to be fixed to the H-shaped joint (26).

[0060] A particular load-bearing element (EP) consists of blocks or surrounding elements (B) assembled together by coordinating means (8A, 8B), as shown in Figures 3E, 3F, 4A, 4C, and 4D, for example. In these examples, the use of sleeves (M) or corner reinforcements (RC) or lateral reinforcements (RL) is particularly advantageous for forming a stable load-bearing element (EP).

[0061] In the example shown in Figure 4A, the beam or column comprises a core element A formed of a linear hollow central element (7) having four outwardly spreading dovetail-shaped, diametrically opposed external hollow ridges (1) in its cross-section, the four external hollow ridges (1) having closed inner ends that are spaced apart from the closed inner ends of adjacent external hollow ridges and connected by segments of the hollow central element.

[0062] The beam or post includes four linear hollow perimeter elements B assembled around the core element A, forming a square surrounding the core element A, the four perimeter elements B having an internal shape complementary to the external ridges 1 facing the four diametrical directions of the core element A in cross-section. The sleeve (M) in Figure 4B advantageously allows the element to be stabilized even in the absence of the core (A). Furthermore, in the absence of the core (A), the coordinating means (8A, 9A) of the perimeters (B) allow them to be held together without other complementary elements. However, Figures 4C and 4D show that corner reinforcements (RC) or U-shaped lateral reinforcements (RL) allow the structure to be stabilized. Figures 3E and 3F show alternatives to the perimeter elements B that can be assembled together and inserted into the sleeve (M) to form a load-bearing element (EP).

[0063] Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D show examples of reinforcing profiles (D) that can be assembled to load-bearing elements (EP) to reinforce the structure, as shown in Figure 10. Such reinforcing profiles (D) themselves can be reinforced by inserting reinforcing members (F) inside, as shown in Figures 5C and 5D. The reinforcing profiles D, which have an essentially rectangular cross-sectional shape, have projections and recesses on their opposing faces in order to assemble with the recesses 10A and 10B of the load-bearing elements (EP).

[0064] The recess 10 is preferably dovetail-shaped to optimize assembly. The figures presented on plates 1 to 10 demonstrate that the present invention enables a wide variety of configurations having stable load-bearing elements that are complementary to each other or composed of complementary elements such as reinforcing materials. Naturally, all figures are purely illustrative and not limiting. Accordingly, references to figures in this description generally relate to functional means, and the present invention is not limited to the specific examples provided.

[0065] Broadly speaking, the construction system uses the elements of this application to obtain a building, and therefore uses several hollow beams or columns of all the same length, and sets of multiple columns of all the same length, each having different standardized lengths for ease of construction. However, the size of the elements can be changed as needed. For example, when using beams or columns for a house, it is important to take into account the fact that the standard spacing between two columns is 325 cm, and the standard spacing determining the beams, and therefore the height, is 280 cm. For example, the module to be constructed can be a square of 755 cm on each side, with 15 cm of external insulation added to 740 cm on each side, and a central intermediate column 325 cm from the corner column below the beam. This configuration provides a living area of ​​50.4 m2, with one column in the center of this space, and the other columns and beams within the walls. However, in the various nesting (fitting) configurations of the elements of the system, the specific dimensions of the nests and assemblies are necessary to take into account the various dimensions of all elements, but this gives great flexibility to the elements used depending on the load constraints at different locations throughout the structure. In one example, a standard module consists of 10 680cm beams and 9 columns (5 280cm intermediate columns and 4 340cm columns), representing a total of 95.6m of A-shaped members, 382.4m of B-shaped members (or EP-shaped members with or without block (B)), and 22.4m of D-shaped members (and / or P-beams). Thus, adjacent standard modules sharing a surface represent 77.8m of A-shaped members, 311.2m of B-shaped members, and 16.8m of D-shaped members. Similarly, the ratio is improved to share surfaces, thereby sharing ceilings / floors. The standard module for flooring represents an A-type section of 61.6 meters, a B-type section of 246.4 meters, and a D-type section of 22.4 meters. Based on the previous information, a building, for example, a 151.2 m2 house composed of three standard modules, two side-by-side and a third above the floor, would represent an A-type section of 235 meters, a B-type section of 940 meters, and a D-type section of 61.6 meters, totaling 1236.6 straight-line sections. This standard configuration is given as an example only, and the dimensions can be changed without causing structural problems.

[0066] In various configurations, the structure can stand on piles, pillars, or rafts, for example, with or without a base (21). This construction system includes standard A, B, and D profile lengths and allows for pre-assembly of column, intermediate column, beam, and half-beam units for faster assembly, although this pre-assembly is basically suitable for structures with two levels (ground floor + first floor).

[0067] For configurations requiring columns and / or beams that are taller or longer than 340 cm half beams, assemblies can be designed in various combinations of the various embodiments detailed in this application.

[0068] In all implementations, the plastic material must be understood as any recyclable material (PEHD, PEBD, PP, PET, PEF, PS, ABS, etc.). Preferably, the recovered plastic parts can be crushed and shredded. Once shredded, the plastic is washed, then dried, and then prepared for extrusion. The polymer is melted by heat to obtain a uniform paste. After a series of conventional steps, granules are obtained. The pellets are then extracted from the extruder. Finally, the granules can be used to manufacture structural elements according to the present invention. Similarly, shredded, crushed, and recycled wood or plastic / recycled wood composite materials can be used.

[0069] Construction elements (i.e., building, load-bearing, or structural) can be manufactured by means of extrusion, 3D printing, or injection molding. Construction elements can also be made from composite materials.

[0070] In some embodiments, the system includes at least one polyhedral, preferably parallelepiped, reinforcing profile (D) extending along the longitudinal axis between two open ends, defining a perimeter wall including at least four molded sides of a parallelogram, wherein at least one of the four lateral faces has a longitudinal ridge of a shape and dimensions complementary to the shape and dimensions of the recess (10) of the load-bearing element (EP), thereby allowing the reinforcing profile (D) to be juxtaposed with fewer load-bearing elements by sliding along the longitudinal axis to reinforce the system in at least one spatial direction. In some of these embodiments, the reinforcing profile (D) includes at least one longitudinal recess on the face opposite to the face containing the ridge, having the same or identical shape and dimensions as the recess (10) of the load-bearing element (EP).

[0071] In some embodiments, the system includes at least one internal reinforcing member (F) that is polyhedral in shape, preferably parallelepiped, extending along the longitudinal axis between two open ends, defining a perimeter wall having at least four parallelogram-shaped lateral faces.

[0072] In some of these embodiments, the shape and dimensions of the internal reinforcement (F) are complementary to the internal space present in the polyhedron d of at least one housing (L) of at least one load-bearing element (EP), or at least one reinforcing profile (D) of the system. In some embodiments, without excluding the preceding embodiments, the internal reinforcement (F) includes longitudinal transverse members (25) defining a fixed housing (LF) at each of the two open ends of the internal reinforcement (F), the fixed housing (LF) being able to receive a fixed lug (PF) of a fixed tab (SP) of the internal reinforcement, the fixed tab (SP) being configured to receive a tenon (19, 22) into at least one recess (10) of at least one load-bearing element (EP) that can be used to fix the tab (SP) and the internal reinforcement (F).

[0073] In some of these embodiments, at least some of the structural or reinforcing elements (EP, F, B, A, D) of the construction system are filled (preferably only in their main hollow portions) with foam, hardened soil, ceramics, mineral aggregates, concrete (reinforced or unreinforced), or any material or combination of materials during their assembly and during the construction of the building, which solidifies within the element and reinforces the whole.

[0074] Certain embodiments also relate to methods for assembling structural or reinforcing elements (EP, F, B, A, D), such as those described herein, to obtain various embodiments of the construction system detailed herein. Thus, such assembly processes correspond in practice to manufacturing processes for such construction systems, and those skilled in the art will understand the various possible variations for such manufacturing thanks to the details provided herein for the system and the structural or reinforcing elements (EP, F, B, A, D) that it contains.

[0075] On the other hand, certain embodiments also relate to methods for manufacturing structural or reinforcing elements (EP, F, B, A, D), particularly load-bearing elements (EP), as stated at the beginning of this application. This process is described below only with respect to load-bearing elements (EP) for the reason that these are the most technically constrained, but the scope is not limited to these elements alone and actually extends to all structural elements (EP, D, F, P, A, B). Various embodiments of the manufacturing process relate to certain compound-extrusion techniques (or compound-extrusion in English) using PET (or PEF as already described above in this application) to manufacture these load-bearing elements (and / or structural elements). Preferably, these load-bearing elements (EP) are hollow and in the form of profiles, with the weight of each straight meter being less than 15 kg, preferably less than 10 kg (but preferably more than 5 kg). Thus we can speak by the misnomer of weight or density less than 10 kg / m per straight meter. In fact, exceeding these values ​​prevents the extrusion of PET (or PEF) from obtaining the load-bearing elements of the present invention and does not allow for obtaining these elements, and even with these values, a specific process within the scope of this requirement is required. This process is based on controlling the viscosity of the compound during production using, for example, the compounds detailed at the beginning of this application. The term “viscosity” is used here to refer to the melt flow index (MFI) as known in the field of extrusion. The “melt flow index” (MFI) or high temperature fluidity index (IFC) or melt flow index (IF), also known as melt flow rate (MFR) or melt index (MI), is a method commonly used in the plastics industry for characterizing thermoplastic materials, especially polyolefins, and for estimating their extrudeability. The MFI is usually measured using a tester called a fluidity indexer or extruder. This device has a heated barrel with a die at one end and a piston that acts on the extrudeability of the sample material. A known mass of plastic is placed in the barrel and heated to a specified temperature. A constant load is then applied to the piston, and the molten plastic is extruded through the die. The amount of plastic flowing out of the die in 10 minutes is recorded as the MFI value.Test conditions (temperature, load, die diameter) vary depending on the type and quality of the plastic. MFI can be obtained by measuring MFR or MVR. The most commonly used standards are ISO 1133 and ASTM D1238, which describe this traditional and relatively simple method readily used for batch quality control in production and receiving. MFR is usually expressed in grams per 10 mins (g / 10 min), and MVR is usually expressed in cubic centimeters per 10 mins (cm3 / 10 min). A higher MFI value indicates lower viscosity and molecular weight of the polymer. This is a thermomechanical method under static stress because a constant disturbance (pressure in this test) is applied to the material at a given temperature. The hot melt index measures, in arbitrary units, the mass of thermoplastic material flowing through a (generally) cylindrical die in a "molten" state (fluid or deformable state) under specified conditions of a given time, temperature, and pressure. This criterion provides information about the potential for material transformation. The device is essentially a gravimetric extrusion plastometer (simplified capillary rheometer). The sample (granules or powder) is melted at a controlled temperature (tests are performed, for example, at 190 and 230 ± 0.5°C for polyethylene and polypropylene, respectively). The flowing mass (extruded material) is then measured over a given time (mass flow rate is expressed as g / 10 min) using a loaded piston (e.g., a standard mass of 2.160 g) through a standardized (capillary) die made of tungsten carbide (length 8.0 mm; inner diameter 2.096 mm). The warm fluidity (melt flow rate or index) of high polymers depends on the shear rate. The device operates under low shear conditions (shear stress and rate are lower than those occurring in most plastic processing processes). However, this method provides an index of the fluidity of different types of samples during their processing. Because this process involves high shear rates, polymers with high melt flow indices should be selected for injection molding (e.g.). This measurement also provides information about the average molar mass of the sample, which is related to the material's mechanical resistance. The melt index is inversely proportional to the molecular weight. Samples with a high MFI (e.g., 40) are easy to mold but have relatively low mechanical strength.

[0076] In particular, to obtain load-bearing and / or structural elements of this application having a weight or density value of 5 to 15, preferably less than 10 kg / m as described above, the method includes adjusting the MFI to less than 10, preferably less than 8. For this purpose, the compounding-extrusion process applies a vacuum of the order of -0.3 to -0.9 bar (and thus -30 to -90 kPa), preferably -0.4 to -0.8 bar (and thus -40 to -80 kPa), and generally -0.6 bar (and thus -60 kPa) using a vacuum pump in the equipment (manufacturing machine). In fact, the use of vacuum makes it possible to control viscosity, in particular by reducing humidity, and various embodiments of the manufacturing process have proposed using a vacuum of the above value to obtain viscosity of the above MFI value, which has been observed to make it possible to obtain elements of the system during extrusion. In fact, thanks to cooling at the outlet of the extruder, such material can be continuously solidified in the form of profiles, such as the profiles described in this application. On the other hand, even with the same initial composition of the compound, materials produced by MFI with weights (per linear meter) outside the above values ​​have been found to be either too liquid (not held together) or, conversely, too brittle when released from the extruder. Therefore, it should be noted that this method is not limited to the exact shape of the structural elements (having longitudinal grooves, etc.) described in this application, but is applicable to a number of other shapes of structural elements, as long as they are hollow and have similar external dimensions, such as construction system elements described (non-limited) in brochures such as International Publication No. 2018 / 146533, International Publication No. 2019 / 063828, International Publication No. 2019 / 202498, International Publication No. 2023 / 067438 or any other invention application relating to similar systems (e.g., using assembleable elements of similar dimensions and weight).

[0077] Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the process for manufacturing structural elements of a plastic construction system is generally: - At least one step of preparing a material by mixing PET (or PEF) with at least one "filler," preferably fibrous, and generally at least one additive, - At least one step of selecting at least one profile whose shape is determined on the one hand according to the characteristics of the structural element and the density of the material, such that the profile weighs less than 15 kg per straight meter of profile, - At least one blending step from this mixture by applying a vacuum of -30 to -90 kPa to obtain an MFI of less than 10, - At least one step of extruding the compound and cooling it to obtain the element Includes.

[0078] In some of these embodiments, the vacuum applied is on the order of -40 to -80 kPa, preferably -60 kPa, and the MFI is less than 8.

[0079] In some of these embodiments, the inorganic filler includes glass or carbon fiber.

[0080] In some of these embodiments, the selection of the profile shape is carried out to obtain a weight of less than 10 kg per straight meter of material.

[0081] Various embodiments may use various additives related to know-how, and may be of the type described in this application, for example.

[0082] On the other hand, various embodiments of this method also relate to the parameters used during the extrusion step itself, after adjusting the weight and MFI. In fact, the difficulty in obtaining such construction elements in PET (or PEF) has been effectively overcome by such weight and MFI parameters, using specific values ​​for the flow rate and speed parameters of the extruder. In particular, good results of stable and reliable construction elements have been obtained with flow rates (in English, "processing rate") on the order of 500 to 1600 kg / h (kilograms per hour), preferably 800 to 1000 kg / h, generally on the order of 900 kg / h, and extrusion speeds (in rpm: revolutions per minute or "RPM") of 200 to 600 rpm, preferably 300 to 400 rpm, generally around 350 rpm. Therefore, a preferred embodiment of this process uses a vacuum of -60 kPA, a flow rate of 900 kg / h, and 350 rpm. Therefore, in various preferred embodiments, the compound extrusion step is carried out at a flow rate of 800-1000 kg / h and a speed of 300-400 rpm.

[0083] From this application, it is understood that the illustrative figures are not limiting and serve to provide examples for the functional description of the various embodiments described herein. Similarly, we understand that the various embodiments are not mutually exclusive unless it is clear that they are incompatible. Thus, the various embodiments can be combined with each other, particularly in terms of different technical features, and furthermore, these features can be separated from other features shown in the same figures, at least in terms of their different functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] EP load-bearing element L Housing M Sleeve 25 Reinforcement Crossbar 10 Longitudinal recess A Core B. Carrier block 8a Ridge 9a recess RL side reinforcement RC corner reinforcement material D Reinforcement profile F Internal reinforcement material 27 Reinforcement bracket 26 Assembly Brackets 260 support slots 21 Base for load-bearing element 210 Central base reinforcement 211 Base blade 28 End of profile for load-bearing element or bracket 281 Profile Bit Blade 6 hollow protrusion 11 Assembly opening 12 Assembly Inserts 13 Insert stop section 18 Joist fixing tabs 19 mortise 22 Beveled Wedges SP Internal Reinforcement Fixing Tab

Claims

1. A building construction system comprising assembled hollow load-bearing elements, including a plurality of hollow load-bearing elements (EPs) such as beams, columns, and joists, wherein each load-bearing element (EP) has a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped shape, extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends by defining a circumferential wall including at least four sides of a parallelogram shape, and at least two of the four sides include at least two longitudinal recesses (10) in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, the recesses (10) having an outer dimension of the circumferential wall smaller than the inner dimension of the circumferential wall to form a female means capable of accommodating a male means of another element of the construction system, and the load-bearing element (EP) includes at least one housing (L) extending from one open end to the other to form a sleeve (M) capable of accommodating at least one other structural or reinforcing element (EP, F, B, A, D) of the construction system.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (L) has a cross-section smaller than the dimensions of the load-bearing element (EP) and forms a parallelepiped sleeve (M) that defines the inner wall of the load-bearing element (EP) connected to the outer wall by a longitudinal transverse member (25).

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (L) forms a polyhedral sleeve (M), and its circumferential surface is divided by longitudinal transverse members (25) that connect the inner surface of one surface of the circumferential wall to the inner surface of another surface.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the housing (L) has an orientation rotated by an angle determined with respect to the orientation of the peripheral wall of the load-bearing element (EP).

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the housing of the load-bearing element (EP) has reduced dimensions for assembly with at least one other structural or reinforcing element (EP, F, B, A, D) of the construction system, and is open on one face or corner of the perimeter wall for accommodating another load-bearing element (EP) complementary to the dimensions of the housing (L).

6. The system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the open housing (L), rotated by a determined angle, is configured to receive a load-bearing element (EP) which can be assembled with at least one other structural or reinforcing element (EP, F, B, A, D) of the construction system, oriented according to the determined angle.

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the system includes at least one polyhedral, preferably parallelepiped, reinforcing profile (D) extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends defining a wall device having at least four sides in the form of a parallelogram, wherein at least one of the four sides has a longitudinal ridge having a shape and dimensions complementary to the shape and dimensions of the recess (10) of the load-bearing element (EP), and thereby the reinforcing profile (D) can be positioned alongside at least one of the load-bearing elements by sliding along the longitudinal axis to reinforce the system in at least one spatial direction.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that the reinforcing profile (D) includes at least one longitudinal recess having the same or identical shape and dimensions as the recess (10) of the load-bearing element (EP) on the surface opposite to the surface including the raised portion.

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the system includes at least one polyhedral, preferably parallelepiped, internal reinforcing member (F) extending along the longitudinal axis between two open ends, defining a peripheral wall having at least four sides in the form of a parallelogram.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the shape and dimensions of the internal reinforcing member (F) are complementary to the internal space present in the polyhedron of at least one housing (L) of at least one load-bearing element (EP), or at least one reinforcing profile (D) of the system.

11. The system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the internal reinforcing member (F) includes longitudinal transverse members (25) defining a fixing housing (LF) at each of the two open ends of the internal reinforcing member (F), the fixing housing (LF) is capable of receiving a fixing lug (PF) of an internal reinforcing member fixing tab (SP), and the internal reinforcing member fixing tab (SP) is configured to receive a tenon (19, 22) in at least one recess (10) of at least one load-bearing element (EP) that can fix the tab (SP) and the internal reinforcing member (F).

12. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least some of the structural elements or reinforcing elements (EP, F, B, A, D) of the construction system are filled with foamed foam, hardened soil, ceramics, mineral aggregates, reinforcing steel or non-reinforced concrete, or any material or combination of materials, during their assembly and during the construction of the building, and solidified to reinforce the whole.

13. A hollow and modular load-bearing element (EP) for a building construction system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, for example, a beam or a column, wherein the load-bearing element (EP) has a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped shape, extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends by defining a circumferential wall including at least four sides in the form of a parallelogram, and at least two of the four sides include at least two longitudinal recesses (10) in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, wherein the recesses (10) have an outer dimension of the circumferential wall smaller than the inner dimension of the circumferential wall to form a female means capable of accommodating a male means of another element of the construction system, and the load-bearing element (EP) includes at least one housing (L) extending from one of the open ends to the other to form a sleeve (M) capable of accommodating another element that can accommodate at least one other structural element (EP, F, B, A) of the construction system.

14. A hollow, assembleable load-bearing element (EP) for a construction system, such as a beam or column, wherein the load-bearing element (EP) has a polyhedral shape, preferably a parallelepiped shape, extending along a longitudinal axis between two open ends, defining a wall device including at least four sides in the form of a parallelogram, and at least two of the four sides include at least two longitudinal recesses (10) in the form of grooves extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between the two open ends, wherein the recesses (10) have an outer dimension of the perimeter wall smaller than the inner dimension of the perimeter wall, to form a female means capable of accommodating a male means of another element of the construction system, wherein at least two of the recesses (10) are symmetrically arranged on either side of the longitudinal centerline of the lateral face.

15. A method for manufacturing structural elements for a building construction system, which include multiple load-bearing elements (EPs) such as beams, columns, and joists, that are hollow and assembled together from a plastic material, At least one step of preparing a material by mixing PET and / or PEF, at least one filler, preferably fiber, and generally at least one additive, At least one step of selecting at least one profile whose shape is determined on the one hand according to the characteristics of the structural element and the density of the material, such that the weight of the profile is less than 15 kg per straight meter of profile, At least one blending step from the mixture by applying a vacuum of -30 to -90 kPa to obtain an MFI of less than 10, At least one step of extruding the compound and cooling it to obtain the structural element A method characterized by including the following.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the applied vacuum is on the order of -40 to -80 kPa, preferably -60 kPa, and the MFI is less than 8.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the filler is a mineral and includes glass and / or carbon and / or basalt.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the selection of the shape of the profile is carried out to obtain a weight of less than 10 kg per straight meter of material.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the compound extrusion step is performed at a processing rate of 800 to 1000 kg / h and a speed of 300 to 400 rpm.

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