CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM FOR STEEL-FRAME BUILDINGS
A construction system for steel-frame buildings wherein steel shipping containers are used to furnish structural components of the building. A building includes a substantially horizontal deck and a plurality of substantially vertical columns, where the deck includes a base of a shipping container. A side wall of the shipping container is adapted to form a portion of the deck adjacent to the base. A plurality of shipping containers may be arranged in a stacked configuration so that the base of each container forms part of one deck in a multi-story building. The multi-story building may include an elevator contained in an elevator shaft and attached to the building; the elevator shaft is formed from a shipping container standing on an end wall thereof.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/673,201, filed Apr. 20, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to multi-story building construction, and more particularly to construction of economical steel-frame buildings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONModular construction, in which portions of a building are fabricated in one location and then shipped for assembly at the building site, is well known. The underlying techniques used in conventional modular construction (e.g. framing, siding, roofing) often are little different from traditional (“stick-built”) construction. Although cost savings are realized from centralized fabrication of building modules, there are added costs involved in transporting the modules.
Shipping containers, made of steel according to ISO standards, are designed to be moved about by crane and loaded on oceangoing vessels (both above and below decks) and/or railroad cars and truck beds. They may be stacked on top of one another and can withstand extreme stresses.
There is a need for a multi-story building system which permits lower cost transport and more efficient on-site assembly of the building components. In particular, in view of their durability and ease of transport, it is desirable to adapt ISO shipping containers to multi-story construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention addresses the above-described need by providing a building construction system in which steel shipping containers are used to furnish structural components of the building. According to an aspect of the invention, a building includes a substantially horizontal deck and a plurality of substantially vertical columns, where the deck includes a base of a shipping container. A side wall of the shipping container is adapted to form a portion of the deck adjacent to the base. A plurality of shipping containers may be arranged in a stacked configuration so that the base of each container forms part of one deck in a multi-story building.
Furthermore, the multi-story building may include an elevator contained in an elevator shaft and attached to the building; the elevator shaft is formed from a shipping container standing on an end wall thereof.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for constructing a building. This method includes providing a shipping container having a base, side walls and end walls, where the side walls and end walls have hinged connections to the base. The shipping container is then opened using the hinged connections so that the base, the side walls and the end walls form a substantially horizontal deck. Vertical columns are then attached to the deck. Furthermore, a plurality of shipping containers may be stacked so as to form a plurality of decks, to form a multi-story building.
The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSOther aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals:
As shown in
Another container may now be placed on the top 11 of container 1. This container may also have its walls folded down and plates inserted into the corner spaces; these folded-down walls and corner plates will be supported by columns 33. This additional container thus forms the floor for a second story of the structure. It will be appreciated that each shipping container in a stacked configuration provides one story of a multi-story structure.
The columns supporting each floor (or story) are connected vertically to form continuous supports 55 (see
Although the structures shown in these embodiments are three to five stories, it will be appreciated that the extremely rugged construction of ISO shipping containers permits them to be stacked to build taller structures.
The exterior walls (and interior walls, if desired) of the structure are preferably formed using structural insulated panels (SIP).
Assembling the upright walls serves to fully enclose the structure. It will be appreciated that the vertical support columns may be embedded in the wall panels. Furthermore, the arrangement 70 of channel and SIP wall panels may be installed as desired in the interior space of the structure, to divide the space on a given floor in accordance with any need. Doors and windows may be cut into the SIP wall panels after they are installed, or may be set into the walls in predetermined locations. Plumbing, HVAC and electric service may be installed in the structure as needed. Other structures (e.g. catwalks, fire escapes) may be attached to the exterior.
It will be appreciated that the shipping containers used to construct a building according to the present invention may have all the required components (support columns, channels, wall panels, roofing material, etc.) of the building packed therein for transport to the building site. This effectively permits shipping of an entire building (or one story of a multi-story building) in a single durable container of a uniform size. As described above, a building constructed in accordance with the invention may be an open, solid frame and floor structure of steel or similarly strong material, and furthermore may be a multi-story structure to serve any desired purpose. Buildings constructed in accordance with the invention may easily be engineered to meet or exceed all applicable local building code standards, including wind, snow load and seismic standards.
While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the method and apparatus illustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A building comprising:
- a substantially horizontal deck; and
- a plurality of substantially vertical columns,
- wherein the deck includes a base of a shipping container.
2. A building according to claim 1, wherein a side wall of the shipping container is adapted to form a portion of the deck adjacent to the base.
3. A building according to claim 1, further comprising a foundation, and wherein the columns are attached to the foundation and support the deck.
4. A building according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of shipping containers, each having a base, are arranged in a stacked configuration so that each base forms part of one of a plurality of decks in a multi-story building.
5. A building according to claim 1, further comprising an exterior wall including a structural insulated panel (SIP).
6. A building according to claim 5, wherein at least one column is embedded in the panel.
7. A building according to claim 5, further comprising a channel affixed to the deck for receiving the panel.
8. A building according to claim 2, wherein the deck includes the base, two side walls and two end walls of the container, the side walls and the end walls being adapted to form portions of the deck adjacent to the base.
9. A building according to claim 4, wherein the multi-story building includes an elevator.
10. A building according to claim 9, wherein the elevator is contained in an elevator shaft, and the elevator shaft is formed from a shipping container standing on an end wall thereof.
11. A method for constructing a building, comprising the steps of:
- providing a shipping container having a base, side walls and end walls, the side walls and end walls having hinged connections to the base;
- opening the shipping container using said hinged connections so that the base, the side walls and the end walls form a substantially horizontal deck; and
- attaching substantially vertical columns to the deck.
12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of attaching plates at corner portions of the deck, thereby forming a substantially rectangular deck.
13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of shipping containers so as to form a plurality of decks;
- stacking the shipping containers so as to form a multi-story building.
14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:
- attaching an upper end of a column to one of the plurality of decks and a lower end of the column to another of the plurality of decks.
15. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of providing an exterior wall including a structural insulated panel (SIP).
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein at least one column is embedded in the panel.
17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising affixing a channel to the deck for receiving the panel.
18. A method according to claim 11, wherein the shipping container is an ISO steel container.
19. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of providing an elevator for the multi-story building.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the elevator is contained in an elevator shaft, and the elevator shaft is formed by standing a shipping container on an end wall thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 20, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 19, 2007
Inventors: Eric Ritter (Weeki Wachee, FL), Robert Kaplan (Yalaha, FL)
Application Number: 11/379,452
International Classification: E04H 6/00 (20060101); E04H 1/00 (20060101);