SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODULAR BUILDING CUBES SPINE
An umbilical corridor structure includes a plurality of hollow elongate corridor segments having a predetermined length. Each of the plurality of corridor segments includes a first end flange couplable to a complementary first end flange of an adjacent one of the plurality of corridor segments, a side flange couplable to a complementary end flange of an adjacent modular cube structure, and a plurality of service conduits extending from the end flange of the corridor segment to at least the side flange of the corridor segment.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/640,648, filed Mar. 9, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThis description relates to modularly constructible facilities and, more particularly, to umbilical and support structures for modularly constructible facilities.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONIn one aspect, an umbilical corridor structure includes a plurality of hollow elongate corridor segments having a predetermined length. Each of the plurality of corridor segments includes a first end flange couplable to a complementary first end flange of an adjacent one of the plurality of corridor segments, a side flange couplable to a complementary end flange of an adjacent modular cube structure, and a plurality of service conduits extending from the end flange of the corridor segment to at least the side flange of the corridor segment.
In another aspect, a method of coupling modular structures to form modular complexes includes providing a first flange of a first modular corridor segment wherein the first flange includes a plurality of flange members coupled together using one or more cube corner assemblies. The method also includes providing a second flange of a second modular corridor segment wherein the second flange is complementary to the first flange. The second flange includes a plurality of flange members coupled together using one or more cube corner assemblies. The method further includes coupling the first flange and the second flange in a flange face-to-flange face orientation, and coupling a plurality of service conduits extending from the first flange of the first modular corridor segment to at least the second flange of the second modular corridor segment.
In yet another aspect, a cube corner assembly includes a first structural plate including a first orifice extending therethrough, a complementary second structural plate including a second orifice extending therethrough. The second orifice is approximately aligned with the first orifice. The second structural plate is spaced-apart face-to-face from the first structural plate, and a plurality of structural members extend between the first structural plate and the second structural plate.
Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature of any drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings provided herein are meant to illustrate features of embodiments of the disclosure. These features are believed to be applicable in a wide variety of systems comprising one or more embodiments of the disclosure. As such, the drawings are not meant to include all conventional features known by those of ordinary skill in the art to be required for the practice of the embodiments disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the disclosure by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is contemplated that the disclosure has general application to construction of modular facilities in industrial, commercial, and residential applications.
The following description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which, in the absence of a contrary representation, the same numbers in different drawings represent similar elements.
Each of the plurality of corridor segments 104 also includes a plurality of service conduits (not shown in
A plurality of service conduits 216 may extend between the first end flange 110 and second end flange (not shown in
In the example embodiment, first structural plate 602 is approximately square or rectangular, or other shape. First structural plate 602 and second structural plate 604 are sized and aligned with respect to each other in a face to face orientation. A structural member 606 is positioned or formed in each corner or other predetermined location that facilitates corner cube assembly 214 having structural strength sufficient to perform the functions described herein. Structural members 606, if not formed in position, are welded or otherwise fixedly secured at both ends to first structural plate 602 and second structural plate 604. At least some of structural members 606 include apertures 608 therethrough that are configured to receive mechanical fasteners, such as, but not limited to bolts, to couple adjacent corner cube assemblies 214 together. In the example embodiment, first structural plate 602 and second structural plate 604 each include at least one orifice therethrough wherein the at least one orifice is aligned with respect to each other.
Optionally, the one or more cube corner assemblies include a coupling aperture and method 1200 includes coupling the first flange and the second flange in a flange face-to-flange face orientation using mechanical fasteners through complementary coupling apertures. Method 1200 may also include coupling the first flange and the second flange in a flange face-to-flange face orientation using a weldment. The plurality of service conduits may include at least one of an electrical supply conduit, a control and instrumentation signal conduit, a plumbing conduit, a sewer/waste liquid conduit, a heating conduit, a ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) conduit, and a security and surveillance signal conduit between the first flange of the first modular corridor segment to at least the second flange of the second modular corridor segment. The modular corridor segment may further include a side flange couplable to a complementary end flange of an adjacent modular cube structure wherein the method then includes coupling a plurality of service conduits extending from the end flange of the corridor segment to at least the side flange of the corridor segment.
The foregoing detailed description illustrates embodiments of the disclosure by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is contemplated that the disclosure has general application to construction of structures, in particular, modular structures. It is further contemplated that the methods and systems described herein may be incorporated into existing construction systems and structures, in addition to being maintained as a separate stand-alone structure.
It will be appreciated that the above embodiments that have been described in particular detail are merely example or possible embodiments, and that there are many other combinations, additions, or alternatives that may be included. While the disclosure has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it will be recognized that the disclosure can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about” and “substantially”, are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged, such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.
Also, as used herein, the terms “substantially” or “about” are intended to indicate a condition within reasonably achievable manufacturing and assembly tolerances, relative to an ideal desired condition suitable for achieving the functional purpose of a component or assembly. By way of an example, an assembly of components in “substantial” alignment to a common axis of rotation may deviate from perfectly co-axial alignment so long as all the components can rotate as intended for accomplishing the functional purpose of the assembly.
The above-described embodiments of an umbilical corridor structure provide a cost-effective and reliable means for providing a modular and expandable multi-use facility. More specifically, the umbilical corridor structure described herein facilitates assembling a variety of facilities from standard size modules having customizable interiors. In addition, the above-described modules facilitate assembling a facility having spaces matched to predetermined requirements while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of modular construction in a factory environment. As a result, the structures described herein facilitate expeditious build-out of a customized facility in a cost-effective and reliable manner.
Example structures and components for assembling a customized facility using factory-built modules are described above in detail. The structures illustrated are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of each may be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein. Each system component can also be used in combination with other system components.
This written description uses examples to describe the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Claims
1. An umbilical corridor structure comprising:
- a plurality of hollow elongate modular corridor segments having a predetermined length, each of said plurality of modular corridor segments comprising: a first end flange couplable to a complementary first end flange of an adjacent one of said plurality of corridor segments; a side flange couplable to a complementary end flange of an adjacent modular cube structure; and a plurality of service conduits extending from said first end flange of said corridor segment to at least the side flange of said corridor segment.
2. The umbilical corridor structure of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of hollow elongate modular corridor segments comprises a floor member and a roof member extending the predetermined length.
3. The umbilical corridor structure of claim 1, wherein, said plurality of corridor segments are couplable to each other end-to-end or side-by-side.
4. The umbilical corridor structure of claim 1, wherein said plurality of service conduits include at least one of an electrical supply conduit, a control and instrumentation signal conduit, a plumbing conduit, a sewer/waste liquid conduit, a heating conduit, a ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) conduit, and a security and surveillance signal conduit.
5. The umbilical corridor structure of claim 1, wherein at least some of said corridor segments include a second end flange opposite said first end flange, and wherein said plurality of service conduits extend between said first end flange and said second end flange.
6. The umbilical corridor structure of claim 5, wherein said first and second end flanges each includes a vertical flange member comprising a structural column member and a cube corner assembly fixedly coupled to at least one end of said structural column member.
7. The umbilical corridor structure of claim 6, wherein said cube corner assembly is formed into a unitary cube-shaped structural member.
8. The umbilical corridor structure of claim 6, wherein said cube corner assembly comprises a first structural plate and a complementary second structural plate spaced-apart face-to-face and a plurality of structural members extending between said first and second structural plates.
9. The umbilical corridor structure of claim 8, wherein said first structural plate and said second structural plate each comprise at least one orifice therethrough, said at least one orifice aligned with respect to each other.
10. The umbilical corridor structure of claim 8, wherein at least some of the plurality of structural members comprise at least one orifice configured to receive a mechanical fastener.
11. A method of coupling modular structures to form modular complexes, said method comprising:
- providing a first flange of a first modular corridor segment, the first flange comprising a plurality of flange members coupled together using one or more cube corner assemblies;
- providing a second flange of a second modular corridor segment, the second flange complementary to the first flange, the second flange comprising a plurality of flange members coupled together using one or more cube corner assemblies;
- coupling the first flange and the second flange in a flange face-to-flange face orientation; and
- coupling a plurality of service conduits extending from the first flange of the first modular corridor segment to at least the second flange of the second modular corridor segment.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more cube corner assemblies comprise a coupling aperture and wherein coupling the first flange and the second flange in a flange face-to-flange face orientation comprises coupling the first flange and the second flange in a flange face-to-flange face orientation using mechanical fasteners through complementary coupling apertures.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling the first flange and the second flange in a flange face-to-flange face orientation comprises coupling the first flange and the second flange in a flange face-to-flange face orientation using a weldment.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling a plurality of service conduits comprises coupling at least one of an electrical supply conduit, a control and instrumentation signal conduit, a plumbing conduit, a sewer/waste liquid conduit, a heating conduit, a ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) conduit, and a security and surveillance signal conduit between the first flange of the first modular corridor segment to at least the second flange of the second modular corridor segment.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the modular corridor segment comprises a side flange couplable to a complementary end flange of an adjacent modular cube structure, said method further comprises coupling a plurality of service conduits extending from the end flange of the corridor segment to at least the side flange of the corridor segment.
16. A cube corner assembly comprising:
- a first structural plate comprising a first orifice extending therethrough;
- a complementary second structural plate comprising a second orifice extending therethrough, said second orifice aligned with said first orifice, said second structural plate spaced-apart face-to-face from said first structural plate; and
- a plurality of structural members extending between said first structural plate and said second structural plate.
17. The cube corner assembly of claim 16, wherein a first and a second end flange each includes a vertical flange member comprising a structural column member and a cube corner assembly fixedly coupled to at least one end of said structural column member.
18. The cube corner assembly of claim 16, wherein said cube corner assembly is formed as a unitary cube-shaped structural member.
19. The cube corner assembly of claim 16, wherein an end flange or a side flange comprises a frame comprising a pair of vertical flange members, a pair of horizontal flange members, joined by a plurality of cube corner assemblies.
20. The cube corner assembly of claim 16, wherein at least some of said plurality of structural members comprise at least one orifice configured to receive a mechanical fastener.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 6, 2019
Publication Date: Sep 12, 2019
Inventor: Don Francis Ahern (Las Vegas, NV)
Application Number: 16/293,922