Modular Pin-Connected Building Posts for Manual Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building systems require extensive machinery and a large number of workers for construction, making them inefficient and costly, particularly in the use of prefabricated walls which lack flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A building system utilizing posts with end pins and head frames arranged at a grid spacing, allowing for manual assembly without machines, where posts are individually placed into pin holes and head frames, and ceiling beams are supported by edge beams, enabling flexible and cost-effective construction with minimal labor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If prefabricated walls are used for construction, then construction speed and standardization are improved, but the requirement for heavy machinery and large number of workers increases, reducing flexibility and increasing cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction speedVSAvoidmachinery requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The building system is divided into modular wall units, each consisting of a foot sill, multiple posts with pins, a head frame, and an edge beam. These standardized modules can be manufactured independently and assembled on-site by simply connecting the pins of one module to the pin holes of adjacent modules, enabling rapid construction without heavy machinery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wall modules are pre-assembled with all necessary components (posts, pins, head frames) before reaching the construction site. The pins are pre-positioned on the posts, and the head frames are pre-configured with pin holes at grid spacing, allowing for immediate assembly without requiring on-site fabrication or complex machinery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional prefabricated wall systems are used, then structural stability is achieved, but construction flexibility and adaptability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidconstruction flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system between wall modules is designed to be adjustable and adaptable. The head frame can accommodate posts at different positions within the grid spacing, allowing the wall configuration to be modified during assembly to adapt to different building layouts while maintaining structural stability through the rigid pin-to-pin-hole connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Strength

If complex prefabricated wall assemblies are used, then structural integrity is improved, but the number of workers and construction time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The wall modules are designed to be self-assembling through their inherent pin-and-pin-hole connection system. The posts have pins that automatically align with and engage into the pin holes of the foot sill and head frame, requiring minimal manual intervention and no specialized fastening operations, thereby reducing both labor requirements and construction time while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3488058B1Building system, in particular residence or office building
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 TER HUURNE ANDRE
  • EP3488058B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3488058B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3488058B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a building system, in particular an apartment building or work building, comprising outer walls which are constructed on a base (9) and the support structure of which is made of posts (12) between the base and the ceiling, said posts being arranged substantially with a pitch spacing. The foot ends of the posts have protruding first pins (15) which engage into first pin holes of a sill plate (11) which is arranged on the base at the edges, the pin holes being formed in the sill plate (11) with the same pitch spacing. The head ends of the posts have second pins (16) which are inserted into a top plate (13) which is arranged on the ceiling at the edges and which has second pin holes formed in the top plate (13) with the same pitch spacing. The head ends of the posts (12) have a shoulder (23) which is oriented towards the building interior and on which an edge beam (18) is placed in order to receive ceiling beams (20) of the ceiling.