Method of designing a building for maximum compatability with modular forms

• US 6,438,922 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patrick Delefevre
• Original Assignee: Patrick Delefevre
• Inventors: DeLeFevre, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARNER, STEVE M
• Application Number:
  US09/405,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 703/1, 703/7, 703/6, 706/921, 706/923
• US Class Current: 52/741.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 11/02 for rooms as a whole by which walls and floors are cast simultaneously, whole storeys, or whole buildings
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 17/001 Corner fastening or connecting means for forming or stiffening elements forms for rooms as a whole E04G11/02; forms for vertical ducts E04G11/06; forms for columns E04G13/02
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 17/002 Workplatforms, railings; Arrangements for pouring concrete, attached to the form
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 17/047 simultaneously tying two facing forms
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 17/14 Bracing or strutting arrangements for formwalls; Devices for aligning forms E04G25/00 takes precedence; connecting and aligning E04G17/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 9/10 with additional peculiarities such as surface shaping, insulating or heating, permeability to water or air

Abstract

A method is provided for specifying parameters for modular formworks from construction documents which define an original structure, in which the construction documents are either scanned or a CAD version is read out. From the scanned drawings or the CAD information, various elements of the structure to be built are identified and selected in an order specific to a particular modular construction system. After identification and selection, reference numerals are assigned for the selected parts or components, with the numbers representing a component of the building such as what floor is intended, walls, ceilings, and other structural components down to the placement of light switches, HVAC vents, drainage, sinks, and plumbing valves. Thereafter, the components defined by the numbering system are analyzed for discrepancies in the original design defined by the construction documents, and modifications are applied to account for dimensional discrepancies, drawing discrepancies and violations of particular building code guidelines. Thereafter, the dimensions of the various building components are revised to conform to the available modules, whereupon instructions are generated as to how to build the original structure from the available modules.

Claims

1. A method for assisting in the construction of a building structure utilizing formworks made up of modular components comprising the steps of:

providing original construction drawings having building components and the dimensions thereof specified thereon,

applying an ordered set of reference materials to the building components, with the numerals specifying all the necessary information with respect to the building components,

modifying the numerals so as to alter the dimensions of the building components specified by the numerals such that the building components are formable through the use of the modular components used to make the formworks, and

providing instructions to an artisan how to erect the formworks from the selected modular components corresponding to the altered dimensions from the modifying step, the instructions being coded to specify the modular component intended.

2. The method of claim 1, and further including the step of automatically checking the original construction drawings for errors by comparison of the drawings to predetermined parameters and correcting the drawings in terms of changes to the numerals representing a building component.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the error is one that relates to a building code violation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the error is one that relates to information on the original set of construction drawings which is not in conformity with the predetermined parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying step includes the step of specifying shape and functional design alternatives for the building structure described by the original construction drawings.

6. The method claim 1, wherein the modifying step includes the step of providing additional information other than different dimensions to be used in the modifying step.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step includes the step of automatically scanning the original construction drawings and ascertaining from the original construction drawing the building components specified thereby.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the original construction drawings are carried as a CAD file that specifies the building components for the structure to be built and the dimensions thereof;

and wherein the step of automatically scanning includes scanning of the CAD file.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the coding is alpha/numeric coding.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the coding is color coding.