SYSTEME MODULAIRE

MODULAR SYSTEM

Abrégé français

La présente invention concerne un système modulaire qui crée des modules despace cuboïde carré pouvant être ajoutés, retirés ou relocalisés dans une grille carrée tridimensionnelle à laide de quatre types de selles, chacune étant configurée pour chaque coin dun tel module, afin de créer trois pochettes de raccord permettant de connecter des poteaux et des poutres. Lesdites selles sont préfabriquées à partir de feuilles dacier, et neuf plaques sont soudées de façon continue aux jonctions. Pour créer un espace libre exempt de poteaux, quatre modules adjacents peuvent être fusionnés de façon structurale en retirant une grappe centrale constituée de quatre poteaux principaux. De plus, les extensions de poteaux de parapet peuvent être insérées pendant la construction initiale ou pendant les altérations et ajouts subséquents, sans modifications structurales, afin de supporter des dispositifs de suivi solaires à axe double, des mini-éoliennes ou des dispositifs de communication.

Abrégé anglais

The present invention consists of a modular system, which creates square
cuboid space
modules that can be added, removed, or relocated within a three-dimensional
square grid,
by using four types of saddles, each one configured for every corner of such a
module, to
create three connection pockets to connect posts and beams, wherein these
saddles are
prefabricated from steel sheet, with nine plates continuously welded at the
seams. In order
to create a larger clear space without posts, four adjacent modules can be
structurally
merged by removing a central cluster of four main posts. Furthermore, parapet
post
extensions may be inserted during the initial construction, or during
subsequent alterations
and additions, without structural modifications, to support dual axis solar
tracking devices,
or mini wind turbines, or communication devices.

Revendications

CLAIMS
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are
defined as follows:
1. A modular building connection system, which creates square cuboid space
modules, by
using four types of saddles, each one configured for either the north-west
(04a), the north-
east (04b), the south-east (04c) or the south-west (04d) corner of a space
module, wherein
each saddle connects a lower main post (07), an upper main post (07), a
primary beam (05),
and a secondary beam (06), and wherein each saddle is prefabricated from nine
steel plates
to create three connection pockets; a square pocket, which is open downward to
secure a
saddle on top of a lower main post (07), which said square pocket is created
by a front-side
vertical plate (8), a right-side vertical plate (5), a left-side vertical
plate (6), a vertical plate
(9) placed between, perpendicularly to, and near the mid-length of the right-
side and left-
side vertical plates (5 & 6), and a horizontal square plate (1) placed
between, perpendicularly
to, and near mid-height of the right-side and left-side vertical plates (5 &
6); a stepped pocket,
which is open upward to support a primary beam (05) and an upper main post
(07), which
said stepped pocket is created by right-side vertical plate (5), left-side
vertical plate (6), front-
side vertical plate (8), vertical plate (9), and a horizontal plate (3) placed
between the bottom
edges of, and perpendicular to right-side and left-side vertical plates (5 &
6); a U-shaped
pocket, which is open upward to support a secondary beam (06), which said U-
shaped
pocket is created by a right-side vertical plate (7), a left-side vertical
plate (10), and a
horizontal plate (4).
2. A modular building connection system as defined in Claim 1, wherein the
horizontal plate
(1) has a round hole (2) to allow the vertical transfer of electric cables
from solar photovoltaic
panels.
3. A modular building connection system as defined in Claims 1 & 2, wherein in
order to
create a clear space without posts, four adjacent square cuboid space modules
can be
structurally merged by removing a central cluster of four main posts (07), and
by joining and
reinforcing the primary beams (05) which were supported by the four main posts
(07) to be
removed.

4. A modular building connection system as defined in Claims 1, 2 & 3, wherein
the roof
parapet incorporates parapet post extensions (09), which in addition to
supporting
guardrails, may also support pole-mounted dual axis solar tracking devices
(17) with PV
solar panels, pole-mounted mini wind turbines (28), or pole-mounted
communication
devices (30), without interfering with the use of the rooftop terrace.
5. A modular building connection system as defined in Claims 1, 2, 3 & 4,
wherein the square
cuboid space modules are independent and stand-alone, and can be added,
removed, or
relocated within a square three-dimensional rectangular grid, without
disturbing the adjacent
square cuboid space modules.
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Description

CA 02843797 2016-03-18
DESCRIPTION
(a) The Title of the Invention: MODULAR SYSTEM
(b) Technical Field: Connection systems between the structural posts and beams
in
buildings.
(c) Background Art: Current conventional connection systems between the
structural steel
posts and steel beams in buildings are inflexible, do not facilitate
prefabrication, and are
difficult and expensive to modify for adaptation, expansion, or disassembly.
The present modular system provides a solution to this problem by introducing
a novel
connection system that facilitates prefabrication, helps achieve flexible
growth, adaptation
or relocation, and can help create building modules that can function as
living architectural
organisms. These modules, like living cells in the natural world, can create
building blocks,
which can grow, shrink, or be moved. Furthermore, the present invention
facilitates the
incorporation of solar panels and mini wind turbines to achieve energy self-
sufficiency of
buildings.
The idea behind the present modular system has originated from Nicholas
Varias's winning
design in Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's FlexHousing TM Design
Competition
of 1995, a model of which was built at the Canadian Centre for Housing
Technology in
Ottawa. The concept is made easy to understand by Amanda's story, which was
edited and
published by CMHC as "The Circle of Life" in FlexHousing: Homes that Adapt to
Life's
Changes. c1999, ISBN: 0660174114.
There currently exist several patents for modular systems, and structural
connection
systems, which are modular, or demountable. However, the present invention is
uniquely
novel by introducing a specially configured saddle to connect posts and beams,
and facilitate
the erection and installation of the structural frame for each module, and its
disassembling,
relocation, and/or reuse, as needed. Thus, independent stand-alone modules are
created.
They can be added, removed and relocated, without disturbing the structure of
adjacent
modules.

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(d) The Technical Problems and the Solutions:
The present invention solves the following problems:
i) How to facilitate the prefabrication of buildings for efficient and
economic
transportation, and for fast assembly or disassembly:
The present invention facilitates the design and manufacturing structural
building
components for easy transportation, and for their fast assembly or
disassembly, with
minimum manpower and equipment (fig 5).
ii) How to achieve building flexibility, adaptability, reuse and relocation:
The present invention can create stand-alone structural modules, which can be
added within
a three-dimensional grid, or demounted and relocated as needed, without
disturbing the
adjacent modules (fig 6, 7, 8, 9).
In order to create a larger clear space without columns, four adjacent modules
can be
structurally merged by removing the central cluster of four posts and saddles,
and by joining
and reinforcing the beams (fig 7).
iii) How to achieve efficient installation, demountability and reuse of the
building
components:
The present invention provides four different types of steel saddles for the
installation and
connection of posts and beams (fig 1, 2, 3), for accommodating each corner of
the module.
iv) How to install pole-mounted solar panels, mini-wind turbines and
communication
devices on a rooftop terrace, without affecting the usable outdoor space, at
any time
during the life of the building:
The saddles (04a, 04b, 04c, 04d) used at the roof parapet, can accommodate
parapet post
extensions (09), which may be incorporated during construction or after
completion, and, in
addition to supporting the guardrails around the rooftop terrace, may also
support pole-
mounted solar panels, mini wind turbines, or communication devices, which are
elevated
overhead. (fig 4, 5).
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e) Description of figures:
The figures illustrate the configuration, the purpose and the various benefits
that the present
modular system can bring in the construction of prefabricated modular
buildings, whose aim
is to be flexible and adaptable in space and time, and also environmentally
sustainable.
Figure 1 illustrates the design of a saddle type 04a, in an isometric view
(a), view from above
(b), view from below (c), side view from a primary beam (d) and side view from
a secondary
beam (d). The saddle is prefabricated from nine steel plates to create three
connection
pockets; a square pocket, which is open downward to secure a saddle on top of
a lower
main post (07), which said square pocket is created by a front-side vertical
plate (8), a right-
side vertical plate (5), a left-side vertical plate (6), a vertical plate (9)
placed between,
perpendicularly to, and near the mid-length of the right-side and left-side
vertical plates (5 &
6), and a horizontal square plate (1) placed between, perpendicularly to, and
near mid-height
of the right-side and left-side vertical plates (5 & 6); a stepped pocket,
which is open upward
to support a primary beam (05) and an upper main post (07), which said stepped
pocket is
created by right-side vertical plate (5), left-side vertical plate (6), front-
side vertical plate (8),
vertical plate (9), and a horizontal plate (3) placed between the bottom edges
of, and
perpendicular to right-side and left-side vertical plates (5 & 6); a U-shaped
pocket, which is
open upward to support a secondary beam (06), which said U-shaped pocket is
created by
a right-side vertical plate (7), a left-side vertical plate (10), and a
horizontal plate (4).
Figure 2 illustrates a cluster of four post/beam connections using four
saddles (04a, 04b,
04c & 04d), and also shows the corresponding primary beams (05), secondary
beams (06)
and main posts (07).
Figure 3 illustrates a cluster of saddles (04a, 04b & 04e) located at the left-
side of an
entrance porch, which connect three crawl space posts (03), two main posts
(07), two
primary beams (05), two secondary beams (06) and an entrance porch beam (06a).
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Figure 4 illustrates the insertion of two parapet post extensions (09) into
two saddles (04b
& 04c), which connect two main posts (07), two primary beams (05) and two
secondary
beams (06).
Figure 5 illustrates how the present modular system permits the insertion of a
parapet post
extension (09) into a saddle (04c) to support guardrails (10) and also a pole-
mounted dual
axis solar tracking device with four photovoltaic solar panels. This can be
achieved during
construction, or after the building was completed, as the need may arise.
Figure 6 illustrates an example of a square cuboid building module that can be
created by
using the present modular system for the main structural elements. The
following building
elements are show in order to illustrate the purpose of the present invention:
footings (01),
piers (02), helical foundations (02a), which pending soil conditions, could be
used in lieu of
footings (01) & piers (02), crawl space posts (03), saddles (04a, 04b, 04c &
04d), primary
beams (05), triangular braces (05a), secondary beams (06), main posts (07),
parapet post
extensions (09), parapet guardrails (10).
Figure 7 illustrates how a saddle connection allows the removal of a cluster
(al -a2) of main
posts and the reinforcing the primary beams (b1 & b2), in order to create a
larger open area.
Figure 8 illustrates the three-dimensional expansion of a building with
structural cuboid
modules. The present modular system provides rigid moment connections between
posts
and beams, allowing the assembly of structural cuboid nodules to be made on
the ground
and then, their placing at higher levels to be done with a crane.
Figure 9 illustrates an example of applying the present modular system to
construct a one-
storey building block with four cuboid modules and the addition of a stair &
greenhouse
module, which provides access to the rooftop terrace. The following building
elements are
show in order to illustrate the purpose of the present invention: footings
(01), piers (02),
helical foundations (02a), which pending soil conditions, could be used in
lieu of footings
(01) & piers (02), crawl space posts (03), saddles (04a, 04b, 04c, 04d, 04e &
04f), primary
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beams (05), triangular braces (05a), secondary beams (06), main posts (07),
parapet post
extensions (09), parapet guardrails (10), greenhouse (13), stair (14),
elevator structure (15),
dual axis solar tracking devices (17), mini wind turbines (28), communication
devices (30).
The saddles at the roof parapet can accommodate the incorporation of parapet
post
extensions (09), which can support dual axis solar tracking devices (17), mini
wind turbines
(28), or communication devices (30), which are mounted on poles and do not
interfere with
the use of the rooftop terrace.
f) Plan to implement the invention:
Phase 1: Business Plan & Financing: Create a partnership, or joint venture,
with a developer
and/or builder for developing modular housing units, using the present
invention.
Phase 2: Model Unit: Build a model housing unit, which will incorporate the
present
invention.
Phase 3: Promotion and marketing: Exporting the intellectual property of the
present
invention in Canada and abroad.

Dessin représentatif