Tubular structure and modular building assembly using the same

• US 20040093825A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dae-Jun Lee
• Original Assignee: Dae-Jun Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Dae-Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/843
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/24 the supporting parts consisting of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2406 Connection nodes
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2415 Brackets, gussets, joining plates
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2418 Details of bolting
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2451 Connections between closed section profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2457 Beam to beam connections
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2463 Connections to foundations
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2472 Elongated load-supporting part formed from a number of parallel profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0413 being built up from several parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/043 the hollow cross-section comprising at least one enclosed cavity
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0439 the cross-section comprising open parts and hollow parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0452 H- or I-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0465 square- or rectangular-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/06 with substantially solid, i.e. unapertured, web E04C3/10, E04C3/11 take precedence honeycomb girders E04C3/083
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/32 of metal E04C3/36 takes precedence

Abstract

This invention relates to an elongated hollow non-deformable structure that can be used as beams and pillars of modular building structures. The structure includes first and second elongated C-shaped channels (20) with inwardly bent lips (25) and means for holding the two channels (20) together so that the lips (25) kiss each other. The fust and second C-shaped channels (20) may be formed without lips (25). L-shaped (42) and T-shaped (40) and H-shaped flanges of appropriate design are provided with holes in the flanges at predetermined locations to correspond to the holes in the end portions of the beams and pillars. There are plug-able holes (21) provided in the end portions of the beams and pillars so that workers can easily access inside the hollow space to use nuts (72), washers, and bolts (70) to couple the elongated hollow structures together. Instead of the C-shaped chanel (20) structure two identical L-shaped channels (20b) may be used.

Claims

1. A tubular structure comprising:

a first elongated C-shaped channel with lips along the length thereof,

a second elongated C-shaped channel with lips along the length thereof of the same design as said first rigid elongated C-shaped channel, and

means for holding the two channels together so that the lips of said first C-shaped channel kiss the lips of said second C-shaped channel,

wherein the lips of said first and said second C-shaped channels are respectively inwardly bent and the surfaces of the lips coming in contact with each other are planar and form airtight seal along the length thereof.

whereby a hollow elongated tubular structure is formed.

2. A tubular structure according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second channels are made of rigid material so that the tubular structure is substantially non-deformable.

3. A tubular structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said channels are made of steel.

4. A tubular structure according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said means for holding said first and said second C-shaped channels together comprises bolting means having a bolt with a head, threaded stem and a nut, detent means to maintain the spatial distance between the opposing inside faces of the two C-shaped channels a predetermined distance as the bolt is placed and the nut is rotated to couple and tighten said two C-shaped channels together.

5. A building assembly comprising hollow tubular structures according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of said structures are adopted for use as beams and as pillars selectively, means for anchoring the bottom ends of selected ones of said pillars on a support foundation for a building and means for coupling a second pillar on top of said first pillar end to end, and means for coupling said beams to said pillars, for building a framework of a modular building.

6. A building assembly according to claim 5, wherein said anchoring means comprises a flange of a predetermined design with a plurality of holes at predetermined positions, an end of the hollow tubular structures used as pillars provided with a plurality of holes at predetermined positions for alignment with the holes in the flange, and a plurality of nuts, washers and bolts for bolting the one end of the pillar to the flange and the other end of the flange to the foundation.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, including said anchoring means for the pillar including an L-shaped flange, with the “

_”

portion provided with holes for receiving threaded rod of bolts, the heads of which are embedded in a solid foundation for the building, the “

I”

portion having holes to align with holes provided through the sides of the bottom end of the pillar, nuts, bolt and washer means for bolting the end portion of the pillar to the “

I”

portion of the flange and for bolting the “

_”

portion of the flange to the foundation, for anchoring the pillar to the building foundation.

8. An Assembly according to claim 5, wherein the coupling means includes an H-shaped type flange of a size such that it fits inside the hollow space of the pillars and being positioned so that one thereof being fitted inside the top end portion of the first pillar, the other end thereof being fitted inside the bottom end of a second pillar, said H-shaped flange and the end portions of said first and second pillars are provided with a plurality of holes at predetermined positions, nuts, bolts and washer means for bolting the first and the second pillars to the H-shaped flange through the poles.

9. An Assembly according to claim 8, wherein said H-shaped flange is positioned to provide continuity of empty space between the two pillars, whereby utility lines such as water pipe, communications or power supply cable lines can be run through the hollow spaces provided by the first and the second hollow tubular pillars, said H-shaped flange and said top end portion of first pillar and the bottom end portion of the second pillars are provided with holes at predetermined positions,

10. An Assembly according to claim 8, wherein said coupling means includes T-shaped flanges designed to fit inside the hollow space of the beam made of the pillar structure, wherein said T-shaped flanges and an end portion of the beam are provided with a plurality of holes at predetermined positions, nut, bolt and washer means for fastening the T-shaped flange to the H-shaped flange and to the beam through the plurality of holes provided therein for mounting the beam transverse to the pillar.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein the lips of the beam toward the end thereof are eliminated to accommodate the T-shaped flange being inserted into the hollow beam.

12. An assembly according to claim 8, comprising a pair of T flanges, each with a plurality of holes in its flanges at predetermined positions, said pair of flanges dimensioned and positioned so that their “

_”

portions are in parallel and the flanges meeting the inner surface at the end portion of the C-shaped channel, and. nuts, washers and bolt means for bolting together the beam end to the H-shaped member that couples two pillars.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein said beams and said pillars are provided with plug-able access holes adjacent the holes in the ends of the tubular means used as pillars and as beams for facilitating the access into the inner hollow space of the pillars and beams for facilitating the bolting operations for mounting the bolts and nuts and washers, to couple and tighten pillars to the building foundation, pillars to pillars, and beams to pillars, for facilitating the assembly of a building.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein an insulating means is inserted between the T flanges and the end portions of the two pillars such that the hollow space inside of the two pillars is insulated from the exterior.

15. A non-deformable elongated hollow structure useable as a pillar or as a beam, comprising a pair of substantially identical C-shaped channel, and means for mating and coupling the pair of the C-shaped channels into each other to form an hollow rectangular elongated structure.

16. An assembly comprising a plurality of the hollow elongated structure according to claim 15, wherein said structures are adopted to be the pillars and the beams of a modular building assembly structure, mean comprised of flanges and nuts and bolts and washers and a plurality of holes provided in the flanges and in the end portions of the tubular structures used as the beams and as the pillars, plug-able holes provided in the pillars and beams for facilitating the use of wrenches and pliers to couple the pillars and the beams into each other and to the foundation through the flanges to build a framework for an building.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, including means for reinforcing the way the two C-shaped channels are brought together by bolting the two channels with bolt, nut, washer means and a retainer for maintaining the space between the inner opposite walls as the nut is rotated to tighten the bolt against nut to hold the two opposing C-shaped channels.

18. An assembly structure according to claim 17, wherein to enforce the coupling strength the lip joint of the C-shaped channels meeting each other is spot-welded.

19. A non-deformable elongated hollow structure useable as a pillar or as a beam, comprising a pair of substantially identical L shaped channel, and means for mating and coupling the pair of the L-shaped channels into each other to form an hollow rectangular elongated structure.

20. An assembly comprising a plurality of the hollow elongated structure according to claim 19, wherein said structures are adopted to be the pillars and the beams of a modular building assembly structure, mean comprised of flanges and nuts and bolts and washers and a plurality of holes provided in the flanges and in the end portions of the tubular structures used as the beams and as the pillars, plug-able holes provided in the pillars and beams for facilitating the use of wrenches and pliers to couple the pillars and the beams into each other and to the foundation through the flanges to build a framework for an building.

21. An assembly according to claim 20, including means for reinforcing the way the two L-shaped channels are brought together by bolting the two channels with bolt, nut, washer means and a retainer for maintaining the space between the inner opposite walls as the nut is rotated to tighten the bolt against nut to hold the two opposing L-shaped channels.

22. An assembly structure according to claim 21, wherein to enforce the coupling strength the lip joint of the L-shaped channels meeting each other is spot-welded.