Transportable Wall Components for Custom Modular Building Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional construction methods, such as stick-built and modular housing, face limitations in customization and compliance with transportation regulations, leading to increased costs and restricted route options due to oversize load requirements.

Innovation Solution

Factory-fabricated wall, floor, and ceiling components that can be assembled into structures suitable for occupancy, allowing for on-site customization and configuration while adhering to transportation dimensions, thus avoiding the need for oversize permits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If modular housing is constructed in a factory and shipped to the site, then construction efficiency is improved, but customization flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction efficiencyVSAvoidcustomization flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The modular house is divided into multiple separate modules (e.g., kitchen module, bedroom module, bathroom module) that can be independently manufactured in a factory and then assembled at the construction site. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for factory production while enabling flexible combination and customization at the site to meet different customer requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular housing system incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that allow the structure to be modified after assembly. Walls, partitions, and fixtures can be repositioned or reconfigured to adapt to changing needs, providing dynamic customization capability while maintaining the initial factory-built efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of stationary object

If modular housing dimensions are increased to provide more living space, then functionality is improved, but transportation compliance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliving spaceVSAvoidtransportation regulation violations
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is divided into multiple smaller modules that each comply with standard transportation dimensions. These modules can be shipped using conventional trucks without requiring oversize load permits, and then assembled on-site to create a larger total living space, effectively bypassing transportation size restrictions while achieving the desired volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Smaller modular units are nested or stacked within larger structural frameworks during transport, allowing maximum utilization of available cargo space while maintaining compliance with dimensional restrictions. The nested configuration enables efficient transportation of multiple modules in a single load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Volume of moving object

If oversize load permits are obtained for transporting modular housing, then transportation of larger structures is enabled, but cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportable structure sizeVSAvoidtransportation permit requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The overall housing structure is segmented into multiple standard-sized modules that can be transported using conventional permits and routing. This eliminates the need for complex oversize load permits, escort vehicles, and route restrictions, while still achieving the desired total housing volume through assembly of multiple modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transporting one large module that exceeds size limits, the solution transports multiple smaller modules that each stay within standard size limits. The cumulative volume of these partial modules achieves the required housing space without triggering oversize transportation regulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3692220B1Customizable transportable structures and components therefor
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 BUILD IP LLC
  • EP3692220B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3692220B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3692220B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A wall component and other components for a building structure wherein the wall component has a spanning beam spanning the length of the wall component, one or more structural column assemblies positioned between the spanning beam and a floor plate which are structured to carry structural weights and loads received from the spanning beam. The structural column assemblies are separated by a longitudinal distance so as to define an intercolumnar region which is greater than a width of a member selected from the group consisting of a door assembly and a window assembly, and there is an exterior panel fastened between the first and second structural column assemblies that defines a generally continuous and uninterrupted planar surface over the intercolumnar region.