AU663577B2

AU663577B2 - A building element, unit and method for forming structures therefrom

Info

Publication number: AU663577B2
Application number: AU36760/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alessandro Bellocchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-17
Filing date: 1993-04-05
Publication date: 1995-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-05
Also published as: AU3676093A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: ALESSANDRO BELLOCCHI ALESSANDRO BELLOCCHI r C, et I C *D 4 CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

Invention Title: A BUILDING ELEMENT, UNIT AND METHOD FORMING STRUCTURES THEREFROM Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos. PL2987 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: y -Ir

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2 THIS INVENTION relates to a novel building element, a building unit comprising a pair of the building elements in an opposed relationship and a method for forming structures from the building elements.

Structures such as walls, floors, ceilings, fences and the like, have been made from discrete bricks or blocks or from concrete panels. With bricks and blocks, it is a requirement to mortar the bricks or blocks into place. With concrete panels, it is necessary to tie or bolt the panels together. In both instances, the forming of the required structure is labour-intensive and requires precise alignment of the blocks or bricks.

,A second factor is that bricks and blocks have an yeso extremely high compressive load bearing ability and in most circumstances, walls made from bricks or blocks are much S stronger than is required.

A further consideration is that, in the event of an earthquake, walls made from bricks, blocks or concrete panels can crumble or fall, resulting in large chunks of material being dislodged which may be injurious or fatal to S pedestrians.

Structures made from concrete masonry blocks are required to be filled with concrete in order to lock the blocks together. Usually, each concrete masonry block is divided into two partitions and once a wall has been assembled, concrete is poured through the top of the wall.

Again, to efficiently lock all the masonry blocks together, all the passageways must be filled with concrete which results 3 in an extremely heavy wall and again the possibility of large chunks of materiaJ. becoming dislodged in an earthquake.

I have now developed a building element and method for forming structures therefrom which may overcome some of the above disadvantages or provide the public with a useful or commercial choice.

In my system, I can use building elements which can be locked together adjacent their edges by a settable material. The remainder of the building element can be substantially hollow. This can provide a light-weight yet extremely strong wall structure and in the event of an earthquake, the wall can fracture into fairly small chunks which are less injurious to passers by.

I oI 4 15 Therefore, in one form, my invention resides in a building element comprising a panel member having an t t outer face and an inner face in use, and a plurality of II spacing members extending from the inner face of the panel member, at least some of the spacing members 20 forming part of a core wall such that when a plurality of jj9 spacing members are arranged together a core is formed, and a settable material can be poured into the core, the spacing members being inclined at an ang3- of between 200 0.

and 80° with respect to the inner face of the panel member such that when the settable material has set, the building element is locked to the settable material.

This system can be used for building vertical walls, horizontal walls, and i3 also suitable for fences and the cilike. i -i p ii 7I 3a Suitably, a pair of spacing members are provided on the panel member. The pair of spacing members may extend adjacent opposed edges of the panel member. and are suitably 4 4 .444 *4 9 4 4# 4,4.4. I 9t t 44 4 44 4 a9 o a 4 e 0 494 4 40~ 4 44 4 .4 94 9. *0 9 4 -f 4 4 4' 9.

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substantially parallel relative to each other when viewed from the front. This arrangement results in ease of manufacture of the particular building element.

The spacing members suitably comprise continuous flanges or walls. These flanges or walls suitably extend along the inner face of the panel member and preferably extend continuously between opposed edges.

In this manner, the building elements can be stacked vertically with the spacing members stabilising an upper building element.

Preferably, a pair of spacing members extend from adjacent opposed edges of the panel member and are substantially parallel to each other and are inclined generally towards the respective opposed edge.

The acute angle preferably is about 45 Alternatively, the spacing members may include j a projection to provide the member with the desired configuration to lock it to the set material poured into the core.

The panel member may be substantially planar when viewed in plan and may also be substantially rectangular in configuration.

The outer face of the panel member may include a decorative finish. The decorative finish may include a false brick configuration, a textured finish, a marbled finish and the like.

In another form, the invention resides in a

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building unit, the building unit comprising a pair of building elements

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0 0I 0 4 0 0 a 4 rt i t Of oft 0 r tt t 4 64f 0000 :IV 0 OEJ 0 0 *0 04 0 00 0 0 4I~i 4 0 0 40 000 0 004 0 0*, as described above in an opposed relationship and whereby at least somie of the spacing members abut to define at least part of a core wall in which a settable material can be poured.

The spacing members and panel members may be similar to that described above with reference to the building element.

In another form, the invention resides in a method of building a structure such as a wall, the method comprising abutting a pair of building units together along their edges to define an internal passageway and adding a settable matrix into the passageway whereby upon setting of the settable material, the panel members cannot be removed. Suitably, the building unit is that as described above. I The invention will be better described and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment as shown *4 *4 fit in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates a building element according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a building unit or a pair 2 of building elements and also showing how the unit or elements can be keyed together; Figure 3 is a plan view showing a corner joint.

Figures 4A-F illustrate alternative embodiments.

Figure 5 illustrates a reinforced beam.

Referring to the drawings, and especially Figure 1, there is shown a building element 10. Building element comprises a panel member 11 having an outer face 12 and an inner face 13 in use.

p. r 6 Panel member 1' may be formed from concrete or like material although this is not essential. If necessary, panel element 11 may be reinforced with reinforcement mesh or rods 14. Panel member 11 may be substantially rectangular when viewed in plan and the dimensions are not important. That is, panel member 11 may be substantially longer or narrower than illustrated in Figure 1. Typically, the panel member has a length of about 1 metre and a thickness of about 50 mm although this may vary to suit. The weight of the panel member may be in the order of 80 kilograms per square metre but again this may vary to suit.

Outer face 12 may be textured or patterned (not I shown) depending on the particular use. For instance, outer I face 12 may have a false brick type configuration if desired.

Inner face 13 is provided with a pair of spacing S members 15, 16. Spacing members 15, 16 extend adjacent side edges 17, 18 of panel member 11. Spacing members 15, 16 also define an acute angle relative to side edges 17, 18. That is, spacing members 15, 16 and generally inclined towards the respective side edge. The acute angle may be substantially 450 although other angles may also be used if desired.

Spacing members 15, 16 suitably have a height of approximately 70 80 mm although this may vary to suit. The spacing members in the embodiment comprise continuous flanges extending from adjacent upper edge 19 to lower edge 20. This arrangement is advantageous as it will allow building elements to be stacked on top of each other with the building elements being supported by abutment of respective spacing members and

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7 respective edges.

Figure 2 illustrates a building unit formed from a pair of building elements 20, 21. Each building element 21 is similar to that illustrated with respect to Figure 1 and the building elements are arranged in a spaced opposed parallel relationship as shown. Respective spacing members 22, 23 and 24, 25 are arranged such that they abut each other when the building elements are opposed to form an angled partition. It can be seen that in this arrangement as illustrated in Figure 2 the building unit has a substantially hollow core 26. The hollow core lowers the weight of the building structure without compromising its strength and the hollow core if desired can be filled with insulation such as ItII heat insulation or sound insulation and is also an area where electrical and plumbing conduit may pass.

I I Figure 2 also illustrates how the building units can be locked together with adjacent building units. As illustrated, pairs of opposed building elements 20, 21, 27, 28 and 29, 30 can be assembled and abutted together along their edges as illustrated. In this manner, there is formed a passageway 31, 32 defined by the particular angled partition walls and the respective portions of the inner face of the panel members.

Into this passageway can be poured a settable material such as concrete or grout as illustrated in Figure 2 and if necessary, reinforcement rods 33 may also be placed into this area.

It can be seen that once the concrete or grout has I 8 set, it is impossible to remove or peel off any respective building element 20, 21, 27 30 due to the arrangement of the angled spacing members.

Figure 3 shows a right angle joint. In this figure, opposed building elements 35, 36, 37, 38 are arranged together and opposed side edges are abutted together as shown. Again, the angled spacing members provide angled partition walls 39, and a settable matrix such as concrete and grout can be poured into the formed passageway 41, with reinforcement if necessary, and it can be seen that when set it is again impossible to remove the respective building elements.

*Figures 4A-F illustrate alternative embodiments, and S, in each case, the building elements 45-50 are locked to the cement (not shown) when poured into the formed cores 51-56.

The configuration of cores 51-56 illustrates the wide range of possible configurations of the spacing members which form the core walls.

Figure 5 illustrates a reinforced beam where the spacing members 60 are connected by wall 61. Wall 61 can function to prevent concrete from passing between members while still allowing concrete to ppss on top of the wall 61.

In practice, it is preferred that the building elements are manufactured symmetrically such that a wall, floor, fence and the like can be made from one type of building element which results in a savings in assembly costs and manufacturing costs. The building elements can be preformed with fittings for power points, plumbing and electrical wiring and the like, if desired.

II I I_1_l HI I I II a I I I I I II 1 HI l:' Registered Aitn Attorney TO: THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS

AUSTRALIA

9 Furthermore, by having the substantially hollow interior, should an earthquake occur and the wall collapse, only re'-tively small chunks of material are dislodged. The system can also be used to manufacture swimming pools if desired.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

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Claims

2. The building element as claimed in claim 1, 15 wherein the spacing member is inclined at an angle of approximately
3. The building element as claimed in any one of I the preceding claims, wherein the spacing member includes a portion which can contact the settable material, and 20 aSsist or cause the building element to be locked to the set material.
4. The building element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the portion includes a projection or protrudence. A building unit comprising a pair of building elements as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the pair of building elements being in an opposed relationship and whereby at least some of the spacing members abut to define at least part of a core wall in CO which a settable material can be poured. f I I I I. 11
6. The building unit as claimed in claim wherein a pair of building units are abutted together in a side by side relationship, with a core being formed upon abutment of the building units, such that when a settable material is poured into the core, and has set, ,the building units, and the building elements forming the building units, are locked to the set material.
7. The building element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel member includes an outer face having a decorative finish.
8. A building element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. A building unit substantially as hereinbefore 15 described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ,I DATED this 16th day of March, 1995 ALESSANDRO BELLOCCHI l By his Patent Attorneys 20 CULLEN CO. 4 *N i i SI A II- ii -I 1- (.~1~~-111114 ABSTRACT A building element comprises a panel member having a pair of spacing members. Two, or four of such building elements can be abutted together, with the spacing members forming a core into which cement can be poured to lock the building elements together. The spacing membc are configured such that when the cement is set, the -iding elements cannot be removed. (4 C c I I I CCr i C; t I, r Ci1 Ii t lit iit. C iri i