GB2159552A

GB2159552A - Building structure of blocks having apertures and locating rods

Info

Publication number: GB2159552A
Application number: GB08513745A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Hunter Millar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-06-01
Filing date: 1985-05-31
Publication date: 1985-12-04
Also published as: GB2159552B; GB8513745D0

Abstract

There is described a building structure comprising building blocks aligned in courses one above another. The blocks 1a and 1b in each course define apertures in the courses and are disposed so that the apertures in adjacent courses intercommunicate. Elongate locating members 4 extend within and bridge between the apertures of adjacent courses. There is also described a method of constructing such a building structure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Building structure This invention relates to a building structure and to a method of constructing same.

Walls have traditionally been constructed by means of building blocks aligned horizontally and vertically and held together by mortar or other curable material, but such construction requires skill and is time-consuming with regard to the mixing and setting of the mortar.

According to the present invention there is provided a building structure comprising building blocks aligned in courses one above another, the blocks in each course defining apertures therein and being disposed so that the apertures in adjacent courses intercommunicate, and elongate locating members extending within and bridging between the apertures of adjacent courses.

The structure is preferably of dry construction in that no further fixing medium such as mortar is required. In this case particularly, the opposing faces of the adjacent blocks are preferably complementary in profile so as to form an effective seal between them; if necessary, pointing or other sealing means can be applied to the joint between the blocks.

A suitable building block for use in a building structure of the invention is generally cuboidal and has a bore and/or recesses extending in parallel through the block. The bores and recesses are preferably disposed regularly along the block so that a staggered construction of blocks results in the apertures of adjacent courses being vertically aligned; for example two bores may be provided through each block, the bores being parallel to an end face of the block and spaced onequarter and three-quarters of the distance along the block from said face. Preferably also the bores are central of the width of the block.

End faces of adjacent blocks in a course may be recessed in complementary manner so that they form together an aperture between them.

A standard block preferably has its length as a multiple of its breadth, for example twice as long to facilitate construction, particularly in forming return junctions and header courses.

The locating members may be of bar or tube, and are preferably a loose push fit within the apertures. Additional reinforcement for the structure, for example mild steel reinforcing rods, may be disposed within tubular locating members if necessary.

Special blocks may be provided for particular uses, for example half-blocks for bonding purposes, lengthened blocks for wallhead closers on cavity walls, corner blocks for external leaves in cavity walls and double length blocks for reducing the number of locating members needed in base courses and plain long walls.

In some cases additional apertures may be provided horizontally directed, in which case foundations may be formed where both horizontal and vertical location of blocks is desirable.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a building structure of the invention using blocks as shown in Fig. 2(a); Figs. 2(a) to (d) are each a plan view, end elevation and perspective view of a standard building block, half block, corner/scuntion/ sill/lintel block and alternate course scuntion block respectively of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a part of a building structure of the invention; Fig. 4 is a side section through a window sill in a structure of the invention; Figs. 5(a) to (d) are plan views of alternative forms of building blocks to those of figs. 2(a) to (d), being a standard block, corner/scuntion/sill/lintel block, wallhead cavity closer and double block/foundation block respectively.

Referring to the drawings, the building structure of Fig. 1 is constructed of blocks 1 shown in Fig. 2(a), each of which is 300 mm long, 1 50 mm high and 1 50 mm wide, with two bores 2 passing through it. The bores 2 are of circular crosssection and are 38 mm in diameter, and are directed parallel to the end faces 3 of the block 1. The bores 2 are disposed centrally of the width of the block and 75 mm from each end face 3. The faces of the block 1 are planar and at right-angles to each adjacent face.

To form a building structure such as that depicted in Fig. 1, a flat and level base is prepared and accurately set out, and a first course of blocks 1 a laid or secured on the base. A second course of blocks 1 b is then laid on the first course la with the blocks of each course staggered as shown, and the bore 2 of the blocks in each course are aligned.

Dowelk 4 of 32 mm plastics tube are inserted vertically through the bores 2 so as to extend into both the first and second course blocks.

Further courses (not shown) can then be added by threading the blocks 1 over the dowels 4. The provision of two spaced dowels 4 extending through each block 1 gives positive location for the blocks, while the clearance of the dowels 4 in the bore 2 allows slight movement of the blocks 1 relative to one another in response to thermal expansion and other stresses on the blocks.

The tubular nature of the dowels 4 allows reinforcement bars to be inserted within them if necessary, and also allows electrical cable, heating pipes and other services to be passed along the dowels 4. Further, the dowels 4 can be used as conduits for flexible hawsers secured to a flat roof of the structure, for anchoring the hawsers at the base of the structure for maximum security.

The blocks 1 may be fair faced to obviate the need for an applied external or internal finish. For aesthetic purposes the blocks 1 can be provided with mitred or rebated edges, and mastic pointing can be applied to inter-block joints to enhance weatherproofing.

In general the weight of the structure itself retains the stability of the structure and the dowels 4 serve as locating members during construction as well as providing additional lateral stability for the structure.

A wide range of structures can be built using the blocks of these embodiments of the invention; particular application can be found in garden and retaining walls which can be assembled without special skills being required. Piers and weepholes can be incorporated and coping blocks, having blind bores, located on the top of the wall. In addition, lower courses of blocks in retaining walls can be built to extend under the soil being retained, so as to provide an anchorage for the wall.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, alternative forms of block are: a half block 5 (fig. 2(b)) for bonding purposes, this block being 1 50 mm X 150 mm X 150 mm with a single bore 2 centrally through it; a corner/scuntion/sill/lintel block 6 (Fig. 2(c)) which is 350 mm in length and 200 mm at its widest part, and which is generally L-shaped for various purposes hereinafter described; and an alternate course scuntion block 7 (Fig. 2d).

The corner block 8 is 50 mm wider than the standard block 1 and can be used as shown in Fig. 3 to form a corner for a cavity wall. The inner and outer walls 8, 9 are built with a 50 mm gap between them, and the corner block 8 is used at the corner of the outer wall 9 to maintain the gap. The inner wall continues with standard blocks 1.

Corner blocks 8 can also be used in the construction of sills and lintels, the blocks being arranged side-by-side with their bores 2 communicating. Steel tubes are passed through the bores and post-tensioned against the outermost blocks to provide a load-bearing assembly.

When used as sills, the face 10 of each corner block may be inclined so that the block tapers towards the end face 3, and the block used with the face 10 uppermost so that rainwater runs along the inclined face away from the structure, as shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 5(a) to (d) show alternative building blocks to those of Figs. 2(a) to (d). In Fig. 5 the blocks are recessed with grooves 11 of semi-circular profile in each end face. Further bores 2 are provided through the blocks so that on fitting a course of the blocks on a lower course in staggered relationship the bores 2 of one course communicate with circular-section apertures formed by the grooves 11 of adjacent blocks in the other course.

The structures described above can be dismantled as desired, and the blocks generally re-used, since the structures are built dry without the need for mortar.

Ground floors can be built off the normal scarcement or corbel and the structure lends itself to the formation also of honeycombed sleeper walls. Upper floors can be suspended from hangers with vertical fixings.

Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A building structure comprising building blocks aligned in courses one above another, the blocks in each course defining apertures therein and being disposed so that the apertures in adjacent courses intercommunicate, and elongate locating members extending within and bridging between the apertures of adjacent courses.

2. A building structure according to Claim 1, wherein at least some of the apertures are provided as bores in the blocks.

3. A building structure according to Claim 1, wherein at least some of the apertures are provided by co-operating recesses in abutting faces of adjacent blocks in a course.

4. A building structure according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least some of the apertures extend through the entire height of a course.

5. A building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the apetures are of circular cross-section.

6. A building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the elongate locating members are tubular.

7. A building structure according to Claim 8, wherein at least some of the elongate locating members have reinforcement rods within them.

8. A building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the elongate locating members are a loose push fit within the apertures.

9. A building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein abutting faces of adjacent courses are of complementary profile.

10. A building structure according to Claim 9, wherein said abutting faces are planar.

11. A building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least some of the blocks each have a length which is a multiple of their breadth.

1 2. A building structure according to Claim 11, wherein said blocks have a length which is twice their breadth.

1 3. A building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least some of the apertures are provided at onequarter and three-quarters of the distance along the length of the blocks.

14. A building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least some of the apertures are provided between adjacent blocks in a course and half-way along the length of the blocks.

1 5. A building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least one of the courses has apertures directed horizontally through the blocks.

1 6. A building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein service pipes and/or cables extend through the apertures of adjacent courses.

1 7. A building structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of constructing a building structure according to any one of the preceding Claims, comprising laying said building blocks in side-by-side abutting relationship to provide a first course having defined apertures therein, laying further said building blocks in side-by-side relationship on said first course to provide a second course having defined apertures therein, and providing elongate locating members within and bridging between corresponding apertures of the first and second courses.

1 9. A method of constructing a building structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 17, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings