Moment resistant building column insert system and method

• US 8,468,775 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Willaim B. Vaughn
• Original Assignee: Willaim B. Vaughn
• Inventors: Vaughn, Willaim B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIGGS, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US11/801,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20070261356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 528/31, 528/35, 528/38, 526/493, 526/551, 526/569, 522/52, 522/53, 522/72, 521/671, 527/02, 522/89, 528/34, 528/43, 522/69, 403/200, 403/201, 403217-219, 403169-178
• US Class Current: 52/843
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/34 Foundations for sinking or earthquake territories building constructions with protection arrangements against earthquakes E04H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/24 the supporting parts consisting of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2415 Brackets, gussets, joining plates
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2418 Details of bolting
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2445 Load-supporting elements with reinforcement at the connection point other than the connector
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2454 Connections between open and closed section profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2463 Connections to foundations
• 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 3/30 Columns; Pillars; Struts not designed for end loading E04C3/02; posts, masts, as independent structures E04H12/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/32 of metal E04C3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 9/01 Welded or bonded connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 9/02 Detachable connections F16B9/05 – F16B9/09 take precedence

Abstract

A moment resistant building column insert system is provided that enables the erection of beams to columns, and the installation and pretension of connection bolts possible in a single stop to each beam-column joint in the field. Included is a building column insert with pre-hardened structural filler inside, and a pattern of through-holes transverse to the insert length, where the insert has threaded elements disposed inside and concentric to erection holes in the pattern. The insert is disposed inside a building column. Erection bolts installed to the erection holes to hold the beam in place against the column with the holes in the beam mounting plate, the column and insert aligned. Connection through-bolts are installed and pretensioned to provide the connection strength needed to make a beam-column moment joint rigid. Without the pre-hardened structural filler in the insert the column would deform or crush due to the bolt pretensioning.

Claims

1. A moment resistant building column insert system, comprising:

a. a building column, wherein said building column is generally tubular shape having at least one pattern of through-holes transverse to a length of said tube;

b. an building column insert having column of generally tubular shape comprising;

i. a pre-hardened structural filler disposed within said insert;

ii. at least one said pattern of through-holes transverse to a length of said insert and through said structural filler;

iii. at least one threaded element incorporated to an inner wall of said insert and disposed concentric to at least one of said insert through-holes;

iv. a threaded element cover disposed over said threaded element; and

v. an insert positioning element disposed axially along said insert, wherein said positioning element enables alignment of said insert through-hole pattern with said column through-hole pattern, whereby said insert is sized to fit within said column;

c. at least one beam, wherein said beam comprises a mounting plate attached to a beam end, whereby said mounting plate comprises mounting plate through-holes arranged in said pattern, whereas said mounting plate abuts an outside wall of said column;

d. at least one erection connector, wherein said erection connector comprises an erection bolt, whereby said erection bolt spans through said mounting plate, through a wall of said column, through a wall of said insert and into said threaded element, whereas said beam is desirably positioned on said building column;

e. at least one set of mounting plate connector hardware, wherein said mounting plate connector hardware comprises;

i. a mounting plate through-bolt;

ii. a mounting plate nut; and

iii. a mounting plate washer;

wherein when said pattern of mounting plate through-holes are aligned with said pattern of column through-holes said erection connector is secured to said threaded element, wherein said mounting plate through-bolts are inserted through said mounting plate holes, said column holes, said insert through-holes, said filler through-holes, and into said mounting plate nuts, wherein said mounting plate connector hardware is pre-tensioned through said pre-hardened structural filler in said insert, wherein deforming or crushing of said column is prevented by said pre-hardened filler during said pre-tensioning.

2. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 1, wherein said tubular building column has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular tubular, rectangular tubular, square tubular and polygonal tubular.

3. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 1, wherein said tubular column insert has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular tubular, rectangular tubular, square tubular, and polygonal tubular.

4. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 1, wherein said threaded element is a threaded through-hole in said insert.

5. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 1, wherein said column insert is a threaded nut.

6. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 1, wherein said column insert in a plate having at least one through-hole and a threaded nut attached to said plate, whereby said threaded nut is concentrically aligned to said through-hole.

7. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 1, wherein said structural filler is selected from a group consisting of concrete, grout, plastic, epoxy and compression resistive material.

8. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 1, wherein said insert positioning element is a hole for receiving a hoist end there through.

9. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a plate attached to a top of said building column when said beam is attached near said building column top.

10. A moment resistant building column insert system, comprising:

a. a first column of generally tubular shape having a first column top end and a first column bottom end;

b. a second column of generally tubular shape having a second column top end and a second column bottom end, wherein said second column bottom end has through-holes arranged in a pattern that are transverse to a length of said tube;

c. a column insert, wherein said insert is sized to fit within said building columns, whereby said insert has a top half having through-holes arranged in said pattern and a bottom half inserted to said first column top end and welded thereto; and

d. insert connectors, wherein said insert connector comprises;

i. a threaded element incorporated to an inside wall of said insert and concentric to said column insert through-hole; and

ii. a connection bolt;

wherein said insert top end is inserted to said second column bottom end and said second column hole pattern is aligned with said insert hole pattern, wherein said connection bolts are inserted through said building column through-holes, through said column insert though holes and into said threaded elements and pre-tensioned thereto, wherein deforming or crushing of said first column and said second column is prevented by said pre-hardened structural filler during said pre-tensioning.

11. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 10, wherein said threaded element is a threaded through-hole in said insert.

12. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 10, wherein said threaded element is a nut attached to said insert.

13. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 10, wherein said threaded element is a nut cage attached to said insert.

14. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 10, wherein said tubular building column has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular tubular, rectangular tubular, square tubular and polygonal tubular.

15. The moment resistant building column insert system of claim 10, wherein said tubular insert has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular tubular, rectangular tubular, square tubular and polygonal tubular.

16. A moment resistant building column insert, comprising:

a. an insert column of generally tubular shape;

b. a pre-hardened structural filler disposed within said insert column;

c. a pattern of through-holes transverse to a length of said insert column and through said pre-hardened structural filler;

d. at least a pair of erection through holes disposed through a wall of said insert column;

e. at least a pair of threaded elements incorporated to an inner wall of said insert column and disposed concentric to said pair of erection holes;

f. a threaded element cover disposed over each said threaded element, wherein said threaded element cover is surrounded by said pre-hardened structural filler, wherein said threaded element cover forms a cavity around said threaded element within said pre-hardened structural filler, wherein said threaded element cover is disposed to protect said threaded elements from contamination by said structural filler; and

g. an insert positioning element disposed axially along said column, wherein said insert positioning element comprises a positioning through-hole disposed for receiving a hoist end there though.

17. The moment resistant building column insert of claim 16, wherein said insert tubular column has a cross-section selected from a group consisting of circular tubular, rectangular tubular, square tubular and polygonal tubular.

18. The moment resistant building column insert of claim 16, wherein said threaded element is a threaded through-hole in said insert.

19. The moment resistant building column insert of claim 16, wherein said threaded element is a nut attached to said insert.

20. The moment resistant building column insert of claim 16, wherein said insert positioning element is a hole for receiving a hoist end there through.

21. The moment resistant building column insert of claim 16, wherein said structural filler is selected from a group consisting of concrete, grout, plastic, epoxy and compression resistive material.