NZ617533B2 - Bearer arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

bearer arrangement for supporting a floor of a building is disclosed. The bearer arrangement comprising an elongate member (10) having an open section or a hollow section and a structural beam (40) positioned in the elongate member to strengthen the elongate member. The beam may be removably attached to the elongate member with bolts (42) or screws for example. Addition of an ISO lifting block to the beam is also disclosed so as to facilitate moving the building. hed to the elongate member with bolts (42) or screws for example. Addition of an ISO lifting block to the beam is also disclosed so as to facilitate moving the building.

Description

BEARER ARRANGEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a bearer arrangement. The present invention also relates to an underfloor construction incorporating the bearer arrangement, a method for constructing a floor structure of a building and to a method for constructing a building.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Many buildings have an underfloor structure in which a plurality of bearers are supported on foundation elements. The foundation elements may comprise piers, such as screw piers or screw piles, or footings, such as concrete footings. The bearers, in turn, may support a floor structure (such as floor panels, floorboards or floor cladding) or the bearers may support joists that form part of the floor structure. The bearers are typically large wooden beams or large steel beams.

Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" and its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have an inclusive meaning unless the context of use indicates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a bearer arrangement for supporting a floor of a building, the bearer arrangement comprising an elongate member having an open section or a hollow section and a beam positioned in the elongate member to strengthen the elongate member, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the open section or the hollow section, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the elongate member by use of bolts or screws.

Suitably, the beam is a structural beam.

The open section or hollow section elongate member may comprise a top hat section or a C-section. The open section or hollow section elongate member may be made from a lightweight material, such as a lightweight steel. Alternatively, the open section or hollow section elongate member may comprise a hollow section, such as a hollow rectangular or square section, that provides a closed cross-sectional surface but also includes a hollow region that can receive the structural beam.

The open section or hollow section member may include opposed sidewalls interconnected by a bottom wall. Transversely extending flanges may extend from the upper edges of the opposed sidewalls. The transversely extending flanges may extend outwardly or they may extend inwardly. The transversely extending flanges provide surfaces that facilitate connecting joists, panels or a floor structure to the open section or hollow section member.

The beam that is positioned within the open section or hollow section member may comprise a rectangular section beam, a square section beam, an I-section beam or a C- section or U-section beam. The beam may be a solid beam. The beam may be a hollow beam.

The beam suitably has dimensions that allows it to fit into the open section or hollow section member. The beam suitably is able to slide into the open section or hollow section member. This enables the beam to be positioned inside the member by simply sliding the structural beam into the member.

The bearer arrangement of the present invention provides a relatively lightweight open section or hollow section elongate member. In order to meet engineering requirements, a beam that will provide the required strength to the combined open section or hollow section elongate member and beam is positioned inside the open section or hollow section elongate member.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides an underfloor construction for a building comprising a bearer arrangement, said bearer arrangement supporting a floor of the building, characterised in that the bearer arrangement comprises an open section or a hollow section elongate member and a beam positioned in the open section or hollow section elongate member to strengthen the elongate member, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the open section or the hollow section, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the elongate member by use of bolts or screws.

The floor of the building will be supported on the open section or hollow section elongate member, with the beam providing additional strength to the open section or a hollow section elongate member such that the combined open section or hollow section elongate member and beam have sufficient strength to meet the required design strength for bearers required to hold the floor structure (and the remainder of the building located above the floor structure). The floor structure will normally be secured to the open section or hollow section elongate member, for example, by way of bolts, screws, rivets or other fixing means. However, it is also possible that the floor structure could be secured to the beam that is positioned within the open section or hollow section elongate member.

The floor structure could comprise joists that are connected to the bearer arrangement, with the joists supporting floorboards, floor panels or other flooring material.

Alternatively, floorboards or floor panels could be directly connected to the bearer arrangement.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for constructing a floor structure of a building comprising the steps of positioning a bearer arrangement on a foundation and using the bearer arrangement to support a floor, characterised in that the bearer arrangement comprises an elongate member having an open section or a hollow section, the elongate member having a beam positioned in the open section or hollow section member to strengthen the bearer arrangement, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the open section or the hollow section, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the elongate member by use of bolts or screws.

In one embodiment, the method of the third aspect of the present invention comprises fixing a floor structure to the bearer arrangement. This may comprise fixing the floor structure to the open section or hollow section elongate member. The beam can be inserted into the open section or hollow section elongate member. The beam may be inserted into the open section or hollow section elongate member before the floor structure is fixed to the open section or hollow section elongate member, or the beam may be inserted into the open section or hollow section elongate member after the floor structure is fixed to the open section or hollow section elongate member.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method for constructing a building in which bearers support a floor, the method including the steps of determining a required strength in a bearer, providing a bearer comprising an elongate member having an open section or a hollow section, determining a strength of a beam required to be placed in the elongate member such that the combined elongate member and beam meet the determined required strength in the bearer, providing a beam having at least the determined strength of the structural beam, placing the beam in the open section or hollow section of the elongate member and releasably connecting the beam to the elongate member using bolts or screws.

In some embodiments, the bearer arrangement is fixed to a foundation. For example, the bearer arrangement may be fixed to a pier, such as a screw pier, a screw pile or a concrete pier. The pier arrangement may be fixed to a foundation by positioning the bearer arrangement in a bracket or stirrup that is itself connected to or forms part of the foundation. The bearer arrangement may be bolted to the bracket or stirrup.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a beam may be positioned within a first open section or hollow section elongate member and within a second open section or hollow section elongate member, such that when the beam is fixed to the first open section or hollow section elongate member and the second open section or hollow section elongate member, the beam connects or holds together the first elongate member and the second elongate member.

In some embodiments, the beam may extend along substantially the entire length of the elongate member. In other embodiments, the beam may extend for a length that is less than a length of the elongate member. A plurality of beams may be positioned in an elongate member. Beams may be positioned such that they are located at or near regions where higher strength is required. For example, the beams may be located at or near stumps or piers or the beams may be positioned underneath other structural members in the building.

In some embodiments, beams of different strength may be used in different parts of the structure or building. For example, where higher strength is required, a higher strength beam may be used whereas beams of lower strength may be used in parts of the building or structure where lower strength is required. This can be achieved, for example, by providing beams of different wall thickness or weight or even by providing beams made from high strength material or lower strength material. In some parts of the building or struxcture where the bearer arrangement does not carry much load at all, it might even be possible to not have to use a beam inside the elongate member, in which case the elongate member will have sufficient strength without the beam to carry the load.

The bearer arrangement of the present invention may be used in the construction of fixed buildings and also in the construction of transportable buildings. Embodiments of the present invention where a beam is used to connect or hold together a first elongate member and a second elongate member are particularly useful in joining together or structurally linking two or more buildings or building segments. For example, transportable buildings may be constructed in two or more segments to facilitate transportation. In order to assemble the final building on site, the two or more segments of the building need to be structurally linked to each other. The present invention is particularly useful at expeditiously achieving this outcome.

In some transportable buildings, part of the floor structure is hinged to enable the floor structure to pivot upwardly or hinge upwardly to for a sidewall of a container to facilitate transportation of the building. In some embodiments, the beam that is positioned in and connected to the elongate member of the part of the floor that forms the sidewall of the container during transportation may have transportation connectors formed thereon or connected thereto such that the transportation connectors can be used to facilitate transport of the container. For example, the beams may have International Standard (ISO) lifting blocks attached to them, which lifting blocks enable the container to be easily lifted or moved on to a transport vehicle using container lifting apparatus. Alternatively, the beams may be provided with other arrangements that enable cranes or forklifts to lift and move the containers. The transportation connectors may be removably connected to the structural beams so that the transportation connectors can be removed from the transportable building once the floor sections have been folded flat. The transportation connectors may be permanently affixed to the beam.

In other embodiments, the bearer arrangement of the present invention can be used in multi-storey buildings or in single storey buildings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an elongate member of hollow section or open section suitable for use in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows the elongate member of figure 1 mounted to a foundation element and having a structural beam positioned inside the open and hollow section of the elongate member; Figure 3 shows a side view of a building that incorporates a bearer arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows an end view of a bearer arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 shows another end view of a bearer arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a bearer arrangement comprising an elongate member having a structural beam inserted therein in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 7 shows the bearer arrangement shown in figure 6 with a transportation connector affixed thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It will be appreciated that the accompanying drawings have been provided for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it will be understood that the present invention should not be considered to be limited solely to the features as shown in the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an elongate member having an open and hollow section that is suitable for use in a bearer arrangement in accordance with the present invention. The elongate member 10 shown in figure 1 is a top hat section. In particular, the elongate member 10 has two opposed sidewalls 12, 14 that are connected by a bottom wall 16 (throughout this specification, terms that indicate position or orientation, such as side, top and bottom, are given in the context of the apparatus of the present invention being present in the orientation that it would adopt in the in-use position). A transversely extending flange 18 extends from the top edge of sidewall 12. Similarly, a transversely extending flange 20 extends from the top edge of sidewall 14. As can be seen from figures 1 and 2, flanges 18 and 20 extend outwardly from their respective sidewalls 12, 14. Flange 18 is provided with a plurality of holes, some of which are shown by reference numeral 22. Similarly, flange 20 is provided with a plurality of holes, some of which are shown by reference numeral 24. Holes 22, 24 as used to bolt a floor structure, such as floor joists, flooring panels or floorboards, to the elongate member 10.

Figure 2 shows an elongate member 10 that is generally similar to the elongate member shown in figure 1 being mounted to a stirrup 30. Stirrup 30 is mounted via an adjustable screw-threaded post 31 to the top of a screw pile 33. This is an essentially conventional construction and need not be described further.

In order to strengthen the elongate member 10, a structural beam 40 is positioned in the open, hollow section elongate member 10. Structural beam 40 is dimensioned such that its outer dimensions are just slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of the open, hollow section that is defined by the sidewalls 12, 14, the bottom wall 16 and an imaginary line drawn across from the top edges of sidewalls 12, 14 of member 10. In this manner, the outer walls of the structural member 40 are positioned closely to the inner walls of the open, hollow section elongate member 10. Fixing bolts, one of which is shown at 42, are used to fix the elongate member 10 and the structural beam 40 together.

In order to fix the bearer arrangement to the screw pile, bolts 32, 34 are passed through the stirrup 30, the elongate member 10 and the structural member 40. This also acts to further tie the structural member 40 to the elongate member 10.

Figure 3 shows a side view of an elongate member 10 having a structural beam (not shown) positioned therein forming part of the underfloor structure of the building. Figure 4 shows an end view of figure 3. In figure 3, the elongate member 10 is joined near both ends to stirrups 30. Stirrups 30 are mounted to a top of screw piles 33 by adjustable posts 31, in a manner as shown in figure 2. A floor panel 50, which may comprise a composite panel or a sandwich panel in which a core of expanded polystyrene has metal sheets laminated to opposed faces thereof, is joined to the flanges 18, 20 by bolts 52, 54. Bolts 52, 54 also affix a channel member 56 to the floor panel 50. Channel member 56 is used to hold a wall panel 58 in position.

As shown in figure 4, the structural beam 40 can be a rectangular section beam (or a RHS section) 40A, a C-section beam 40B or an I-beam 40C. Other shaped structural beams may also be used.

Figure 5 shows a more detailed end view of the bearer arrangement, which includes the elongate member 10 and the structural beam 40, are attached to the flooring panel 50. As can be seen further in figure 5, fixing bolts 42 extends through both opposed sidewalls 12, 14 of the elongate member 10 and through both sidewalls of the structural beam 40.

In this manner, the elongate member 10 and the structural beam 40 are firmly tied together such that they act as a single structural unit.

Figure 6 shows an elongate member 10 having a structural beam 40 positioned in the open, hollow section of the elongate member 10. However, as can be seen from figure 6, structural beam 40 extends past the end of elongate member 10. In this arrangement, the end of structural beam 40 that extends out past the end of elongate member 10 may be positioned inside an adjacent elongate member of hollow, open section (which will normally be of the same construction as elongate member 10). Fixing bolts could then be used to fix the structural beam to both of the elongate members. In this manner, adjacent elongate members can be connected together.

As an alternative, the arrangement shown in figure 6 may also allow a transportation connector to be connected to the structural beam 40. In particular, in figure 6, the structural beam 40 has a hole 60 provided therein. This hole 60 may be used to bolt a transportation connector to the structural beam 40. This is shown in figure 7 where a transportation connector 70 has been attached to the end of structural beam 40. The transportation connector 70 may comprise an ISO lifting block that is essentially identical to ISO lifting blocks applied to standard shipping containers. This is particularly useful in instances where the bearer arrangement is used on a transportable building in which part of the floor structure can fold upwardly to form a side wall of a container when the transportable building is in a closed condition. In this configuration, the lifting block 70 will be located at the upper part of the container and this will allow the building/container to be easily transported using conventional lifting apparatus and moving vehicles and equipment. When the container/building reaches its final location, the sidewalls may be folded downwardly until the bearer arrangement is essentially parallel to the ground such that the bearer arrangement forms part of the underfloor structure of the building. In this configuration, the lifting block 70 may either be left on the end of structural beam 40 or the lifting block 70 may be unbolted from the structural beam 40 so that the lifting block 70 can be reused.

The ISO connector 70 can be permanently affixed to the beam 40 or the IS0 connector 70 can be removably affixed to the beam 40.. Combined beam 40 and ISO connector 70 can be slid in and out of the elongate member 10 as an aid for transportation or lifting or loading or stacking, particularly in transportable buildings. If the beam 40 is required to remain in the building, the ISO connector 70 can be unbolted from beam 40 so that the ISO connector can be reused. In this case, the beam 40 can be slid a little further into elongate member 10 so that it is flush with the end of the elongate member following removal of the ISO connector 70. If it is required to subsequently move the transportable building, the beam 40 can be slid a little further out of the elongate member 10 and the ISO connector 70 reattached to the beam 40 to facilitate reconfiguration of the transportable building and transport of the transportable building.

If the structural requirements of the building mean that the elongate member itself provides sufficient structural strength, the beam 40 can be removed from the elongate member.

The beam 40 can be slid into the elongate member 10 as required. The beam 40 can be in any form, shape or size in order to improve the transportation capability of the structure or building, or to improve the strength of the structure or building.

The bearer arrangement of the present invention, in some embodiments, comprises a standard elongate member having an open section or a hollow section. The elongate member will generally be a relatively lightweight member. A structural beam is inserted or slid into the elongate member as required to stiffen up the construction, load-bearing capacity, transportable capability, etc. The structural beam will generally be a rectangular shaped section to match the internal size of the section of the elongate member (normally with 1 to 2 mm clearance all around). The thickness of the walls of the structural beam will depend upon the load requirement, as specified by the engineer. Typical wall thicknesses for structural beams that may be used in the present invention included 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm thick walls. Thus, the bearer arrangement comprises a universal housing section and interchangeable inserts that are selected in accordance with the structural requirements of the particular application. The structural beams can also serve to structurally link two or more buildings or universal housing sections together.

The bearer arrangement of the present invention envisages using either a single beam that extends substantially along the length of the elongate member, or the use of one or more shorter beams in an elongate member. The present invention also envisages the use of two or more beams in an elongate member. Indeed, the beams could be segments located near stumps or piers or as joiners where elongate members join or intersect. Beams of differing thicknesses or strengths may be used throughout the building, depending upon the diversity of load points required or present in different places in the building. For example, thick, strong beams could be slid into places where heavy loads occur whereas thinner or less strong beams can be slid into less loaded areas, or even no beams may be required in the elongate members in very low load areas. Therefore, the strength of the bearer arrangement can be controlled to meet the required strength requirements of the building. This provides great flexibility in using beams.

If open or hollow beams are used, the open ends of the beams may be closed, for example, by use of welded plates or inserts, to provide greater strength and enhanced aesthetics. Of course, solid beams may also be used in the present invention.

In some embodiments, the beams are provided with holes to enable the beams to be connected to the elongate members. The holes suitably receive bolts. The holes may comprise a plurality of spaced holes in each beam. The holes may be regularly spaced along the length of the beam. Similarly, regularly spaced holes may be formed in the side walls of the elongate members such that the holes in the beams can come into alignment or register with the holes in the elongate members.

The present invention may be used in single-storey buildings, in transportable buildings and in multi-storey buildings. The bearer arrangement may be used in various parts of the building, and not just in the floor structure of the building.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It will be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

Claims (18)

1. A bearer arrangement for supporting a floor of a building, the bearer arrangement comprising an elongate member having an open section or a hollow section and a 5 beam positioned in the elongate member to strengthen the elongate member, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the open section or the hollow section, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the elongate member by use of bolts or screws. 10

2. A bearer arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the open section or hollow section elongate member comprise a top hat section or a C-section or a hollow rectangular or square section that provides a closed cross-sectional surface but also includes a hollow region that can receive the structural beam. 15

3. A bearer arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the open section or hollow section elongate member includes opposed sidewalls interconnected by a bottom wall, and transversely extending flanges extending from the upper edges of the opposed sidewalls. 20

4. A bearer arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the beam that is positioned within the open section or hollow section member comprises a rectangular section beam, a square section beam, an I-section beam or a C-section beam or U-section beam.

5. A bearer arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the beam is positioned in the elongate member by sliding the beam into the open section or hollow section elongate member.

6. An underfloor construction for a building comprising a bearer arrangement, said bearer arrangement supporting a floor of the building, characterised in that the bearer arrangement comprises an open section or a hollow section elongate member and a beam positioned in the open section or hollow section elongate member to strengthen 5 the elongate member, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the open section or the hollow section, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the elongate member by use of bolts or screws.

7. An underfloor construction as claimed in claim 6 wherein the floor of the building is 10 supported on the open section or hollow section elongate member, with the beam providing additional strength to the open section or hollow section elongate member such that the combined open section or hollow section elongate member and beam have sufficient strength to meet the required design strength for bearers required to hold the floor structure.

8. An underfloor construction as claimed in claim 7 wherein the floor structure is secured to the open section or hollow section elongate member or to the beam that is positioned within the open section or hollow section elongate member. 20

9. An underfloor construction as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the floor structure comprises joists that are connected to the bearer arrangement, with the joists supporting floorboards, floor panels or other flooring material, or the floor structure comprises floorboards or floor panels directly connected to the bearer arrangement. 25

10. A method for constructing a floor structure of a building comprising the steps of positioning a bearer arrangement on a foundation and using the bearer arrangement to support a floor, characterised in that the bearer arrangement comprises an elongate member having an open section or a hollow section, the elongate member having a beam positioned in the open section or hollow section member to strengthen the 30 bearer arrangement, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the open section or the hollow section, the beam being releasably fixed to or connected to the elongate member by use of bolts or screws.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 comprising fixing a floor structure to the bearer 5 arrangement.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 comprising fixing the floor structure to the open section or hollow section elongate member 10

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the beam is inserted into the open section or hollow section elongate member before the floor structure is fixed to the open section or hollow section elongate member, or the beam is inserted into the open section or hollow section elongate member after the floor structure is fixed to the open section or hollow section elongate member.

14. A method for constructing a building in which bearers support a floor, the method including the steps of determining a required strength in a bearer, providing a bearer comprising an elongate member having an open section or a hollow section, determining a strength of a beam required to be placed in the elongate member such 20 that the combined elongate member and beam meet the determined required strength in the bearer, providing a beam having at least the determined strength of the beam, placing the beam in the open section or hollow section of the elongate member and releasably connecting the beam to the elongate member using bolts or screws. 25

15. A bearer arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein a beam is positioned within a first open section or hollow section elongate member and within a second open section or hollow section elongate member, such that when the structural beam is fixed to the first open section or hollow section elongate member and fixed to the second open section or hollow section elongate member, the structural beam 30 connects or holds together the first elongate member and the second elongate member.

16. A bearer arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the bearer arrangement forms part of a transportable building in which part of a floor structure is hinged to enable the floor structure to pivot upwardly or hinge upwardly to form a 5 sidewall of a container to facilitate transportation of the building and the beam that is positioned in and connected to the elongate member of the part of the floor that forms the sidewall of the container during transportation has a transportation connector formed thereon or connected thereto such that the transportation connector can be used to facilitate transport of the container.

17. A bearer arrangement as claimed in claim 16 wherein the transportation connector comprises an International Standard (ISO) lifting block.

18. A bearer arrangement as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the transportation 15 connector is removably affixed to the beam such that the transportation connector can be removed from the beam when the transportable building has been placed in an erected configuration, or the beam is removed from the elongate member when the transportable building has been placed in an erected configuration.