Modular construction system involving fitting and locking parts together

Abstract

A modular construction system which uses a set of parts joined together by fittings and fixed to plates provided with bands in order to form a building wall structure to be used with or without infill, providing a lower cost building system for modular construction, with stable walls which are easy and quick to assemble, dispensing with the use of any additional fixing elements.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present innovation belongs to the field of civil construction, more specifically dry construction with modular structures, where a modular construction system that uses a set of parts that are joined together by means of fittings, fastening to form the structure of walls or facades.FUNDAMENTALS OF INNOVATION

[0002] The search for efficiency in construction processes is an ongoing activity in civil construction, which in some countries is still based on the artisanal method of stacking bricks to build walls.

[0003] In this wake, modular construction is being developed, joining sections or modules that have been manufactured in a certain location and then transported and assembled in the desired location, using resistant and light materials, making it possible to erect walls, floors, ceilings and roofs simultaneously.

[0004] The advantages include shorter construction times, fewer problems with defects, the possibility of enlarging the building, adding sections or modules once it is finished, less impact on the neighborhood and the possibility of moving it to other places, since it can be placed on any floor, provided it is sufficiently compacted.

[0005] However, these systems still present some difficulties, including the construction stages, which involve the association of materials or components of the construction system in a specific way, the realization of which requires not only dexterity, but also appropriate machinery and facilities, demanding very restrictive conditions for its achievement, coupled with another critical factor for the installation of these parts, which is the incorrect use of fixing elements, such as screws or rivets, since they can generate instability.

[0006] Thus, in order to present a more practical and intuitive way of constructing a building, the innovation proposed here arises, where a construction system is made up of parts that can easily be associated with each other, by means of fittings and couplings, providing a basic modular structure that can then be used with or without filling with structuring materials, such as mortar, concrete, stones, with insulating materials, such as Styrofoam, foam, plaster, rock wool or any other materials appropriate to the purpose of the building.DISCUSSION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

[0007] WO2003102325 discloses a wooden structural element for the production of flat buildings, comprising rectangular support plates that are aligned parallel to each other and whose areas are equal, and elongated rod-like supports that have the shape of profiled cylinders, are arranged in a hollow space that is located between said plates, and are connected in a direct and fixed manner to the inner surfaces of the support plates along their peripheral sides.

[0008] Document WO2007068267 presents a wooden construction element for the production of flat constructions, especially for the construction of the vertical walls of a building with structural wooden boards held by perpendicular supports spaced apart from each other, in which the support comprises grooves.

[0009] WO2009033201 relates to components and assemblies that are adapted for use in forming building walls, wherein they comprise a connector for joining the building component to the second building component, further comprising a plurality of coupling elements arranged integrally in the side walls and at spaced intervals along their length.

[0010] In WO2010047570 a wall element is seen, especially for wooden houses, consisting of a plurality of parallels, one above the other, a wall forming wooden beams and at least one as a trained support bearing static loads, which is on one longitudinal side by a joint joining with sections.

[0011] The teachings of WO2009070830 show a method of constructing a wall including providing first and second wall portions spaced apart to receive a filler material wherein each wall portion includes at least one rail on a support, and which includes a concave top surface that allows reinforcing bars to be positioned therein.

[0012] Patent U58252137 explains a structural panel that has a core and outer coverings formed by a stack of layers of building material, such as plywood, where each strip is expanded to form the core and the panel can be cut to the desired size, where other supports can be connected to the panel by means of connections arranged at the edges; where these connections are elongated elements and extruded metal (such as aluminum) in the form of a rail with bands for anchoring the connection.

[0013] The innovation proposed in WO2018094468 discloses a panel for use in construction comprising opposed surfaces extending between first and second opposed ends and a plurality of parallel protrusions (e.g. sawtooth), wherein ribs are provided on at least one of the opposing surfaces and extend along and adjacent to a first of the opposing ends of the panel for at least a portion of the length of the panel, further having webs that are configured to be connected as couplings between the surfaces and the coupling formations take the form of one or more slotted claws where each coupling is located adjacent to a respective serrated edge arrangement and the web comprises flap formations to be connected to the slotted coupling.

[0014] It can be seen in AU2020230343 a modular wall structure adapted to be erected on site and to be filled with concrete, including a first wall cladding panel and a second wall cladding panel and a plurality of web stud elements attached to each of the first wall cladding panel and the second wall cladding panel.

[0015] The solution described in CN111851898 describes a wall body calcium silicate veneer dry mounting system, in which a calcium silicate plate is arranged on a wall panel dry mounting component fixed to a wall, where a mounting piece is used as a means of fixing the walls and pin elements are installed vertically between the first and second walls, being fastened in a cavity.

[0016] WO2004033809 provides a polymeric panel system and method for its production and use, enabling the rapid construction of a building foundation wall or other structure and, in particular, a below grade foundation, where the walls include two parallel faces separated by a series of ribs are fixed to the inside of the faces by bonding agent or adhesive.

[0017] The Brazilian patent BR102019015543-4 refers to a modular construction system where each element is associated to fit and lock together to form structural elements, generating an alternative to “steel-frame” and “woodframe” systems, where a panel formed by the association between flat closing plates, elongated structuring elements and a fitting base interact with each other in fitting and locking, forming a single resistant and fillable assembly, whose conformation and association is variable according to the intended use.

[0018] As can be seen, none of the aforementioned references has the differential of connecting a plurality of plates aligned in parallel to be fixed and locked together by means of structuring profiles, making it possible to form panels (walls) of modular constructions, where the fitting of the plates to the structural profiles is carried out by a locking system that makes the locking profile coupled in the recess of the plate interact with the structuring profiles, dispensing with the use of additional fixing elements.

[0019] Thus, one of the objectives of the invention is to provide a building system for modular construction, at a lower cost, stable walls, easy and quick to assemble and without screws.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows an exploded side view (1A) and a side view of the wall (1B) formed by the structure which is the subject of this innovation, showing the vertical plates (1) with the fitting edges (2), the horizontal structural profile (8), the horizontal band (6), the use base (14) and the filling space (E).

[0021] FIG. 2 shows an exploded top view (2A) and a top view of the wall (2B) formed by the structure which is the subject of this innovation, showing the vertical plates (1), the vertical band (4), the vertical structuring profile (7), the attachable profile (5) and the filling space (E).

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a section of the wall formed by the structure which is the subject of this innovation, showing the vertical plates (1) and the alternative configurations of the vertical structuring profile (7a) and the attachable profile (5a) with the lateral projections (10).

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a section of the wall formed by the structure that is the subject of this innovation, showing the vertical plates (1) and the alternative configurations of the vertical structuring profile (7b) and the attachable profile (5b) with the internal lock (12).

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the plate (1) of the present innovation, where its inner face (1b) shows the vertical (4) and horizontal (6) bands.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows the exploded view of the set of elements of the present innovation to form the wall, showing the plates (1) with horizontal bands (6) and the attachable profile (5), as well as the structure formed by the vertical (7) and horizontal (8) structuring profiles.

[0026] FIG. 7 shows the perspective view of the wall assembly using the structure of the present innovation, showing the lateral approach between the structures to crimp the edges (2).

[0027] FIG. 8 shows the exploded view of the association of the plate (1) with the vertical structuring profile (7), in which we can see the vertical band (4) in top view, which is formed by the recess (3) and the notch (3a), the attachable profile (5), equipped with lateral projections (10) and locks (11), and the vertical structuring profile (7), equipped with protrusions (9).

[0028] FIG. 9 shows an optional type of connection between the vertical profiles (7a) in a “T” shape, where an attachable profile (5a) provides the connection between two profiles (7a) through the interaction of the internal lock (12) with the cavity (15) and is inserted into the band (17).

[0029] FIG. 10 shows the side view of the horizontal structuring profile (8) with serrated couplings (13).

[0030] FIG. 11 shows a detail of the horizontal structuring profile (8) and its serrated couplings (13) in a position of approximation with the horizontal serrated band (6) of the plate (1).

[0031] FIG. 12 shows a first view of the plates (1) in a distant position (12A) and a second view of them already connected (12B), where their inner (1b) and outer (1a) faces can be seen, the edges of which have a set of coincident protrusions and recesses.

[0032] FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of the assembly of a building using the structure of the present innovation, where the various structures are superimposed, fitting together at the edges (2).DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The proposed construction system makes it possible for a plurality of plates (1), preferably rectangular, to be aligned in parallel, both vertically and horizontally, to be fixed and locked together by means of structuring profiles (7 and 8), making it possible to form walls or facades for modular constructions more easily and quickly on the construction site itself, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 13.

[0034] This interlocking interaction of the plates (1) together with the profiles (7 and 8) forms spaces (E) that can be filled with concrete or any other desirable material to achieve more load-bearing walls.

[0035] Thus, the aim of the innovation proposed here is to be an alternative to the construction systems known as “steelframe” and “woodframe”, which respectively use metal or wood structures to form a “skeleton” into which panels are fitted to form the walls.

[0036] Thus, the present system uses plates (1), preferably made of wood, but which can be made of fiber components or any other material suitable for the purpose, which have an external face (1a), an internal face (1b) and fitting edges (2) that allow the interlocking between the pieces fitted together. On the inner face (1b) there are recesses (3) and notches (3a) that form a vertical band (4) to allow the attachable profile (5) to be attached, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, as well as a horizontal band (6) to fit the horizontal structuring profile (8), as shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 11.

[0037] This attachable profile (5) is built in such a way as to have lateral projections (10) for fitting and locking into the vertical band (4) by means of crimping with the notch (3a). At the ends of the profile (5) there are external lateral protuberances which constitute locks (11) for coupling with the corresponding protrusions (9) on the sides of the vertical structuring profile (7), as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8.

[0038] Another way of realizing the attachable profile (5a) features an additional central toothed internal lock (12), capable of being fitted into the cavity (15) of the corresponding vertical structure (7a), as seen in FIG. 4.

[0039] In addition, on the inner face (1b) of the plate, elongated horizontal recesses are arranged and spaced apart, forming the horizontal bands (6) for crimping the horizontal structuring profile (8), as shown in FIG. 11.

[0040] The constructive structure proposed in this innovation uses two types of structuring profiles, the vertical (7) and the horizontal (8), both presenting themselves as an elongated and essentially rigid element, as illustrated in FIG. 6. These profiles are interconnected, forming a rigid matrix that supports the building structure, the object of this innovation.

[0041] The vertical profile (7) plays the role of the central column and, in a preferred configuration, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8, its lateral ends are built with a plurality of protrusions (9) to be attached to the locks (11), whose interaction promotes self-locking. In another way of realizing the vertical profile (7a), shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, there is an internal cavity (15) for connection to the toothed internal lock (12), thus reinforcing the lock.

[0042] The horizontal structuring profile (8), in turn, is arranged between the spacings of the vertical structuring profile (7) and, at its lateral ends, comprises serrated couplings (13) similar to tabs, which provide the crimping with the grooves of the horizontal band (6), whose coinciding serrations promote a firm crimping to keep the structure connected.

[0043] In an optional modality, particularly referring to the design of the corner of a modular wall, structuring profiles (7a) are coupled to each other to ensure the “T” formation and are then coupled to the plates (1) for finishing. In this modality, the attachable profile (5a) is fitted into the band (17) of the structuring profile (7a) so that a second structuring profile (7a) is locked perpendicularly, as shown in FIG. 9. The optional modality is not limited to the combination of the structuring profiles (7a) and the attachable profile (5a).

[0044] Thus, in order to build the wall structure for modular constructions incorporating the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 13, the following steps are envisaged:

[0045] a. allocation of the structuring profile (7 and 8) on the basis of the place of use (14);

[0046] b. positioning of the first plate (1) next to the structural profiles (7 and 8);

[0047] c. fitting the plate (1) to the structural profiles (7 and 8);

[0048] d. closing the panel with the second plate (1) parallel to the first plate (1) and pressing it against the structural profiles (7 and 8) already fitted;

[0049] The vertical structuring profiles (7) are arranged on a base (14) to form columns aligned in a row and spaced equally from each other. These distances are determined by the size of the horizontal structuring profiles (8), which are fitted between these spacings, forming a support web together with the vertical profiles (7), as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Subsequently, plates (1) are fitted side by side by means of the fitting edges (2) to form the surface of the built wall, fitting into the structural profiles (7 and 8), as shown in FIG. 6.

[0050] The plates (1) fit with the vertical profile (7) on its inner face (1b), where the recess (3) containing the attachable profile (5) connects with the vertical structuring profile (7), sliding mechanically until it is locked by the locks (11). The horizontal structuring profile (8), in turn, is coupled and locked by means of the serrated coupling (13) next to the horizontal bands (6).

[0051] Thus, it can be seen that the present invention discloses a new arrangement of elements for forming a building panel that can be used to form a wall structure that has load-bearing capacity that can be quickly assembled.

[0052] This innovation is not limited to the representations commented on or illustrated here but must be understood in its broad scope. Many modifications and other representations of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art to which this innovation pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing descriptions and accompanying drawings. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form disclosed, and that modifications and other forms are understood to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used only in a generic and descriptive manner and not for the purpose of limitation.

Claims

1. A modular construction system by fitting and locking parts comprising;a structure including an attachable profile (5),a vertical structuring profile (7),a horizontal structuring profile (8) with a plate (1) having a vertical band (4) and a horizontal band (6) on an internal face (1b) for crimping, respectively, with said vertical structuring profile (7) and said horizontal structuring profile (8), said attachable profile (5) equipped with lateral projections (10) for fitting and locking with said vertical band (4) and locks (11) at its ends for coupling with the corresponding protrusions (9) on the sides of said vertical structuring profile (7), which includes a column with at least one protrusion (9) on each face for crimping with said locks (11), said horizontal structuring profile (8) comprising serrated couplings (13) at its lateral ends, capable of interacting with the horizontal profile (6).

2. The modular construction system according to claim 1, wherein it's the horizontal structuring profile (8) is arranged between the spacings of the vertical structuring profile (7).

3. The modular construction system according to claim 1, wherein said attachable profile (5a) has a central toothed internal lock (12).

4. The modular construction system according to claim 1, wherein said vertical profile (7a) comprises an internal recess (15) for connection with the toothed internal lock (12).

5. The modular construction system according to claim 1, further including multiple T-shaped structuring profiles (7a), in which the attachable profile (5a) fits into the band (17) of said structuring profile (7a).

6. A method of fitting and locking a modular construction system by fitting and locking of parts, the method comprising the steps of:allocating structuring profiles (7 and 8) on the basis of the place of use (14);positioning of a first plate (1) next to the structural profiles (7 and 8);fitting of the first plate (1) to the structuring profiles (7 and 8), forming columns aligned in a row and equally spaced from each other, where this distance is determined by the horizontal structuring profile (8) fitted between these spacings, said fitting of the plates (1) to the vertical profile (7) occurring on the inside face (1b), where the attachable profile (5) connects with the vertical structuring profile (7) by sliding mechanically until it is locked by the locks (11), said horizontal structuring profile (8) being coupled and locked to said plate (1) by means of the serrated coupling (13) next to the horizontal bands (6); andclosing the panel with a second plate (1) parallel to the first plate and pressing it against the structural profiles (7 and 8) already fitted, said plates (1) being fitted side by side by means of the fitting edges (2), so as to form the surface of the built wall, fitting into the structural profiles (7 and 8).

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