METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BUILDING BY ASSEMBLY STRUCTURES AND PROTECTION OF STRUCTURES AGAINST TIME, NATURAL, AND MAN-MADE ELEMENTS

Abstract

Building by assembly structures and paths enable protection from and withstand time, natural and man-made damage. The structures and paths are highly effective and efficient with respect to materials, construction and environmental impact.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/393,636, filed Oct. 15, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/430,679, filed Jan. 7, 2011, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter relates to building by assembly structures and paths that enable protection from and withstand time, natural and man-made damage. The structures and paths are highly effective and efficient with respect to materials, construction and environmental impact.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview, and is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

A first aspect of the present subject matter is building by assembly structures. In accordance with a first aspect, a method for building by assembly structures using common factory produced steel products is provided, comprising: boring a hole into the ground; inserting a pile into the hole; lowering a first pipe into the hole to rest on the pile; lowering a damper, configured to absorb vertical movement, into the first pipe; lowering a coiled sheet roll having a hollow onto the damper; inserting a first pipe having a flange into the hollow of the coiled sheet roll; lowering a plate onto the flange; placing an adjoining pipe, onto the plate, about the flange of the first pipe; inserting a second pipe having a flange, having a same outer diameter as an inner diameter of the adjoining pipe, into the adjoining pipe; placing an expandable floor forming structure on the plate; preparing to expand the floor forming structure; and expanding the floor forming structure to form a floor.

By building structures by assembly as described herein it would be possible to build said structures in a very short time with a handful of skilled large crane operators and a few non-skilled construction workers. The material(s) used for construction would be mostly material readily available from existing steel manufacturing plants manufactured for use in existing thriving industries such as ship, automobile, and oil and gas industries. Material used for building structures by assembly as described herein is also readily transportable because its size is within the dimensions necessary for shipment by ocean, land and rail transport. This makes building structures by assembly an ideal method for constructing tall buildings in under-developed countries. Material from modern steel plants in developed countries can be sent efficiently to the underdeveloped countries for installation as building by assembly.

Incidentally, most (large) underdeveloped countries, for example “the BRICs” (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), already have the steel plants necessary for production of material needed for building by assembly, and actually already export considerable quantities to the “modern” developed countries.

These structures may, for example, range in height from 25 to 100 meters, withstand earthquake and remain useable for many, many decades because 100 percent of the structure employed for this method of construction is done with steel.

By utilizing building structures by assembly as described herein, the reverse activity of dismantling the structure (deconstruction) is made easy, safe and cost-efficient. Dismantling structures built by assembly would also be environmentally friendly as dismantling produces little or no noise and dust, compared to traditional methods such as demolition, and debris from the structure would be nearly all re-useable, and if not, 100 percent recyclable. As 95 percent of a structure built by assembly stands above earth's surface before and after construction, when the structure is dismantled and “taken away,” land on which the structure stood for many, many decades retains the same characteristics as before the structure was constructed at that location. Additionally, such a design helps protect the structure from the effects of catastrophic flooding by enabling water under and near the structure to quickly dissipate and seep into the earth.

The structure built by assembly also permits flexibility in terms of dimension, configuration, exterior and internal design, and utilization. The structure built by assembly may incorporate curtain walls, for example to keep out rain, wind, noise, cold, heat, sun, etc., or may incorporate elements of fabric architecture. As building and building materials science advance in the years to come, the structure built by assembly will be able to adapt to new materials and new building technology, including covering the structures with woven, transparent, metal, or conductive fabric having bio, conductive, photo-voltaic, transmittive, emittive, responsive, protective, solar or wind energy capturing qualities.

In accordance with another aspect, a method of connecting building by assembly structures is provided, comprising: placing expanded floor forming structures adjacent to each other; holding the bases and tops of each floor forming structure with plates; draping sides of adjacent stretched floor forming structures about the bases and tops of the plates; and connecting each pair of adjacent floor forming structures with a “U” shaped device.

Another aspect of the subject matter is a building assembly and method of building by assembly that enables building of dual usage new structures by combining the structure with monuments from antiquity slated for preservation. Only the roof of the structure from antiquity needs to be removed to allow for the insertion of floors and building peripherals such as elevators and stairwells and the pillars of steel which support them and thereby render the structure earthquake resistant.

Building by assembly allows for construction of a new structure within the monuments or proximity of the monuments because the method allows for construction of tall buildings without vibrations occurring from and during the construction process. This quality of construction without vibration and requiring only the removal of the roof of any extant old buildings to give the old building a brand new “inside” also makes building by assembly the ideal method for re-building or redevelopment of extant buildings and blocks of buildings along a street or streets in modern cities and towns.

In accordance with another aspect, a building by assembly structure is provided, comprising: a bored foundation having vertical dampening components; a plurality of flanged pipes about which plates rest; adjoining pipes securing the flanged pipes and plates; and at least one floor forming structure expanded between parallel sets of plates, wherein the building by assembly structure components comprise common factory produced steel products, and the number of floors in the built structure is further configurable, through the addition or removal of floors and related components.

A further aspect of the subject matter is building by assembly implemented to or about an existing or new transit path.

In accordance with another aspect, a method of building by assembly useful for the construction of at least one transit path is provided, comprising: boring a hole into the ground; inserting a pile into the hole; lowering a first pipe into the hole to rest on the pile; lowering a damper, configured to absorb vertical movement, into the first pipe; lowering a coiled sheet roll having a hollow onto the damper; inserting a first pipe having a flange into the hollow of the coiled sheet roll; lowering a plate onto the flange; placing an adjoining pipe, onto the plate, about the flange of the first pipe; and inserting a second pipe having a flange, having a same outer diameter as an inner diameter of the adjoining pipe, into the adjoining pipe.

For example, a bi-directional divided roadway and/or rail tracks may be configured using building by assembly. Rail systems may be used with the foundation and the roadway may comprise conventional, developing or to be developed surfaces, and optionally covered with protective and/or complementary technology materials. Other complementary components of building by assembly, including elevator and stairwell components of the building by assembly, may be configured for the construction of train tracks, railcar(s), station(s), roadways and rest area(s). Using the foundation described herein minimally stresses the earth, due to the relatively small footprint of the foundation, while effectively bearing various loads as seen herein and other possible envisionable configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of example 1 of the present subject matter, in which a hole is bored into the ground.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a pile inserted into the bored hole of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a step wherein a crane lowers a seamless pipe with a sealed bottom into the hole shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a step wherein a damper is lowered with a crane into the seamless pipe of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a step wherein a coiled steel sheet is inserted to rest on the damper of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a step wherein a seamless steel pipe with a flange near the top of the pipe is inserted into the coiled steel sheet of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a step wherein a steel plate is placed on the flange shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a step wherein a short steel pipe is placed on the steel plate of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a step wherein a second seamless steel pipe with a flange near the top is inserted into the short steel pipe of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view of a floor forming structure in its folded state placed on the steel plate.

FIG. 11 is a view of the floor forming structure of FIG. 10, in a stretched position.

FIG. 11A is a partial perspective view of the floor forming structure, with a hydraulic system set in place to raise a lower rung of the floor forming device.

FIG. 11B is a partial perspective view of the floor forming structure, showing use of the hydraulic system to raise the lower rung of the floor forming device.

FIG. 12 is a view of two stretched floor forming structures set next to each and having tops and the bottoms held in place by edges protruding from the steel plates.

FIG. 13 is an alternative view of two stretched floor forming structures set next to each other.

FIG. 14 is a top-down view of two sets of floor forming structures and the position of the seamless steel pipes corresponding to each floor forming structure.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of four seamless steel pipes connected to each other and the corresponding floor forming structures for each set of connected steel pipes.

FIG. 16 is a top-down view of the four seamless steel pipes and corresponding steel plates, supporting the bases of four floor forming structures of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the seamless steel pipe assembly, including a vertical movement absorbing damper, steel coiled sheets for absorbing horizontal movement, and a seamless steel pipe with flange for insertion into the first seamless steel pipe.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a damper for damping and connection of the seamless steel pipe to other seamless steel pipes with a handcuff-like attachment.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the damper attached with the handcuff-like attachment to the seamless steel pipe atop the short steel pipe.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of four floor forming structures each with a seamless steel pipe near its center.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of two identical sets of floor forming structures with a girder spanning the extent between them at each side of the two sets of floor forming structures.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the steel plate on the flange at the top end of the seamless steel pipe.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of tracks in-laid with ball-bearings placed on the floor forming structures.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a floor forming structure with an elevator and stairwell structure.

FIG. 25 is a view of a stacked configuration of the elevator and stairwell structure from the “X” side of the floor forming structure.

FIGS. 26 and 27 are views of an alternate stacked configuration of and stairwell structure(s) from the non-“X” side of the floor forming structure.

FIG. 28A is a partial perspective view of an example configuration of foundation components of the building by assembly, as configured for the construction of train tracks and roadways.

FIG. 28B is a perspective view of an example configuration of foundation, elevator and stairwell components of the building by assembly, as configured for the construction of train tracks, railcar(s) and roadways.

FIG. 29A is a perspective view of an example configuration of how a building by assembly structure could be constructed with/about antiquity sphinx.

FIG. 29B is a perspective view of an example configuration of how a building by assembly structure could be constructed with/about antiquity temple structures, such as the Parthenon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

EXAMPLE 1

A non-limiting example method for assembly comprises:

• • (I) Boring a hole into the ground;
  • (II) Inserting a pile into the hole;
  • (III) Lowering a seamless pipe with a sealed bottom, for example with a crane, into the hole to rest on the pile;
  • (IV) Lowering a (three-dimensional) damper designed to absorb vertical movement into the seamless pipe with a sealed bottom;
  • (V) Lowering a coiled steel sheet roll with an opening in the middle of the roll into the seamless pipe to rest on top of the damper;
  • (VI) Inserting a seamless steel pipe having a flange near the top of the pipe and having a sealed bottom into the opening in the coiled steel sheet roll;
  • (VII) Lowering a steel plate having an up-facing edge and with a hole measuring the same as the outer diameter of the seamless steel pipe onto the flange;
  • (VIII) Placing a (relatively) short steel pipe with an inner diameter measuring the same as the outer diameter of the seamless steel pipe onto the steel plate;
  • (IX) Inserting a seamless steel pipe with a flange near the top having the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the short steel pipe into the short steel pipe;
  • (X) Placing and preparing to stretch a floor forming structure on the steel plate, including:
    • i. Placing a floor forming structure, in its folded state, on the steel plate with two up-facing edges;
    • ii. Placing a second steel plate, having two down-facing edges and two up-facing edges on the flange of the seamless steel pipe flange;
    • iii. Placing a second short steel pipe with an inner diameter measuring the same as the outer diameter of the seamless steel pipe on the steel plate (up-facing edge side);
    • iv. Inserting a second seamless steel pipe into the second short steel pipe;
  • (XI) Stretching the floor forming structure, during which the base and the top of the floor forming foundation are held in place by the steel plates with up-facing edges for the base of the floor forming structure and by the steel plates with down-facing edges for the top of the floor forming foundation;
  • (XII) Placing two stretched floor forming structures next to each other, holding the bases and tops of each floor forming structures with steel plates having up-facing edges and down-facing edges respectively; and
  • (XIII) Draping the two stretched floor forming structures with curtain-wall supports, on hooks from the sides of the floor forming structures and connecting the two floor forming structures with a “U” shaped device.

This non-limiting method of assembling a building by assembly is illustrated in the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates Step (I), in which a hole 101 has been bored into the ground 100. FIG. 2 illustrates Step (II), in which a pile 102 has been inserted into the hole 101. FIG. 3 illustrates Step (III), in which a crane 103 lowers a seamless pipe 104 with a sealed bottom 104B into the hole 101 to rest on the pile 102. The seamless pipe 104 is suspended and supported by cables 103A from the crane 103.

Next, in Step (IV) as shown in FIG. 4, a (three-dimensional) damper 105 designed to absorb vertical movement is lowered with a crane into the seamless pipe 104 with a sealed bottom 104B. Again, a crane 103 and cables 103A are used to lower the damper 105 into the seamless pipe 104, and place the damper 105 on top of the sealed bottom 104B.

FIG. 5 illustrates Step (V), wherein a coiled steel sheet roll 106 is lowered by the crane 103 and cables 103A to rest on top of the damper 105. The coiled steel sheet roll 106 has an opening in the middle of the roll and is designed to absorb horizontal earthquake movement. This additional damping supplements the damper 105, designed to absorb vertical earthquake movement.

In Step (VI) a further seamless steel pipe 107 is inserted into the opening of coiled steel sheet roll 106. The further seamless steel pipe 107 has a flange 108 near the top of the pipe and a sealed bottom. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, a steel plate 109 is placed on the flange 108, again using the crane 103 and cables 103A. The steel plate 109 has an up-facing edge and a through-hole whose diameter matches the outer diameter of the further seamless steel pipe 107. FIG. 8 illustrates placement of a short steel pipe 110, on the steel plate 109. The (relatively) short steel pipe 110 has an inner diameter measuring the same as the outer diameter of the further seamless steel pipe 107. FIG. 9 illustrates placement of another seamless steel pipe 108 (with a flange near the top) into the short steel pipe.

The specific length of the short pipe 110 depends on the material used to make the pipe 110. For example, if chromium is added to a “mix” of steel to strengthen the steel, and a short pipe 110 is made from such a mixture, an example relationship of pipe lengths may include a short pipe 110 connecting two 25 meter length seamless pipes 107 (each having a flange), at about three meters from the top of the first (lower) pipe 107, and connected to the second (higher) pipe 107. In such an example, the (relatively) short pipe 110 could be 6 meters in length.

FIG. 10 shows seamless steel pipe 104 containing the steel coil and damper forming the foundation is shown protruding from the ground 100. The crane 103 positions and places a floor forming structure 111 (in its folded state) on the steel plate 109 with two up-facing edges 109A. After the floor forming structure 111 has been stretched by the crane 103, a steel plate 109′, having two down-facing edges 109B and two up-facing edges (109A), is placed on the seamless steel pipe 107 held down with a short steel pipe 110 and having another seamless steel pipe 107 inserted into the short steel pipe 110. As depicted in FIG. 10, the steel plate(s) 109, 109′ are shown resting on the flange 108 anchored by short pipe 110 and seamless steel pipe 107 inserted therein. The crane cable 103A is shown in position to raise the floor forming structure 111.

The floor forming structure is stretched with a crane and the base and the top of the floor forming foundation is held in place by steel plates with up-facing edges for the base of the floor forming structure and by steel plates with down-facing edges for the top of the floor forming foundation. In this manner the floor forming structure may be held by its own weight on the up-facing and down-facing edges of the plates, aided by the effects of gravity, and possibly by the additional weight of additional weighted components (i.e. other, higher, floor forming structures with steel plates that are stacked on top of the floor forming structure). The size of the up-facing and down-facing edges of the may be increased or reduced accordingly. For example, in some configurations, a ‘longer’ edge may be preferred, i.e. if the floor forming structure is thicker or heavier, to provide more support, and at least the vertical dimension of the up-facing and down-facing edges may be increased accordingly.

FIG. 11 shows the floor forming structure 111, in expanded form, after stretching by crane 103. The base of the floor forming structure 111 is held in place by the steel plate 109, through the locking of the bottom-most exterior floor forming structure edges 111A of floor forming structure 111 and steel plate 109 up-facing contact edges 109A. Similarly, the top of the floor forming structure 111 is held in place by the steel plate 109′ through the locking of the top-most exterior floor forming structure edges 111A of floor forming structure 111 with down-facing contact edges 109B. In such a manner the interior floor forming structure edges 111B are also in turn stretched to their expanded state(s).

EXAMPLE 2

Alternatively, the floor forming structure may be stretched in an automated fashion, for example, through the addition of a hydraulic system built into the floor forming structure or complementary to the floor forming structure so that the hydraulic system raises the bottom rung(s) of the floor forming structure.

FIG. 11A is a partial perspective view of the floor forming structure 111, with a hydraulic system prepared to raise the lower rung of the floor forming device. FIG. 11A shows a floor forming structure 111 (in its folded state) placed on the steel plate 109 with two up-facing edges 109A, awaiting expansion by an optional hydraulic system 125. A hydraulic stem 125A and lifting bracket 125B connect to exterior floor forming structure edges 111A near a bottom rung to stretch the floor forming structure 111 towards steel plate 109′.

FIG. 11B is a partial perspective view of the floor forming structure, showing use of the hydraulic system to raise the lower rung of the floor forming device. Upon expansion, as shown in FIG. 11B, the floor forming structure 111 expands so that each of the top- and bottom-most exterior floor forming structure edges 111A abut down-facing edges 109B or up-facing edges 109A, for maximum expansion against steel plates 109′ and 109. In this example the hydraulic system 125 comprises a telescoping stem 125A and lifting bracket 125B.

EXAMPLE 3

A plurality of stretched floor forming structures may be placed next to each other. As depicted in FIG. 12, two floor forming structures 111 are set next to each other, in expanded stretched form. The tops and bases of each floor forming structure are held in place with steel plates 109′, 109 having down-facing and up-facing contact edges 109B, 109A, respectively.

Curtain-wall supports with hooks are draped from the sides of the floor forming structures. The two floor forming structures are connected with a “U” shaped device draped over the two floor forming structures.

FIG. 13 shows two stretched floor forming structures 111 placed next to each other. Curtain-wall supports 112 having hooks 112A are draped from each side of the floor forming structures 111. Additionally, the two floor forming structures 111 are connected with a “U” shaped device 113, draped at a top connection point over the adjoining floor forming structures 111.

EXAMPLE 4

A plurality of adjoined stretched floor forming structures may be used to construct structures of greater scale. For example, a structure could be made from adjoined stretched floor forming structures placed in a “2 by 2,” “2 by 3,” “2 by 4,” etc. grid. In this manner building structures of variable size, length and width, may be constructed.

FIG. 14 depicts a top view of a sample structure 160 made with floor forming structures 111 placed in two sets of “2 by 5” grids 130. The lines 140 at the outer rim depict the total structure, while the opening between the two gridded sets 130 of floor forming structures 111 depicts the atrium 150 of the sample total structure consisting of two gridded sets 130 of floor forming structures 111. A seamless steel pipe 107 is positioned slightly offset from and near the middle of each floor forming structure 111.

EXAMPLE 5

A sample structure may be made using any of a plurality of sets of seamless steel pipes 107, floor forming structures 111 and connecting materials. FIG. 15 provides a birds-eye (perspective) view of a sample structure 160 having four seamless steel pipes 107 connected vertically to each other and having for each set of connected seamless steel pipes 107, corresponding floor forming structures 111 comprising a gridded set 130. For simplicity, additional materials and connecting components as shown and described herein are not illustrated in FIG. 15. As in FIG. 14, the lines at the outer rim depict the total structure, i.e. “the building” 140; the vacuum within the lines corresponds to the “atrium” 150. The building 140 may also have a courtyard 120.

EXAMPLE 6

For further clarification, some aspects of a sample total structure are discussed. As shown in FIG. 16, for a “2 by X” grid structure, a partial view from the top shows four seamless steel pipes 107. Each pipe 107 has a corresponding flange with each pipe having a flange 108 and two steel plates 109 supported on the flanges with each steel plate 109 having up-facing edges 109A supporting the bases of four floor forming structures 111. The exterior floor forming structure edges 111A and the interior floor forming structure edges 111B are supported by the steel plates 109. Two steel plates 109 having up-facing edges 109A on each side of the plates 109 are depicted. Four sets of floor forming structures set next to each other with bases held in place by the four up-facing edges on the steel plates are depicted.

EXAMPLE 7

An example sequential construction process of a foundation for a building by assembly is illustrated in FIG. 17. A vertical movement absorbing (three-dimensional) damper 105 is inserted into seamless steel pipe 104. Next, steel coiled sheets 106, for absorbing horizontal movement, are inserted, and a seamless steel pipe 107 having a flange 108 is inserted into the first seamless steel pipe. A steel plate 109, having up-facing edges 109A, is placed on the flange 108.

Next, a short pipe 110 is placed on the steel pipe 107 and the steel plate 109. In order to achieve a smooth fit, the inner diameter of short pipe 110 is the same as the outer diameter of seamless steel pipe 107. After the foundation has been completed, additional seamless steel pipes 107 with flanges 108 may be placed, and the process involving steel plates 109 and short steel pipes 110 is repeated.

Combinations of the components described above can be configured in infinite ways to build structures of varying heights and sizes. Variations may be made in the number of seamless steel pipes used, or the length of each seamless steel pipe; accordingly, the number and dimension of mating flange, short pipe, steel plate and subsequent seamless steel pipe components should be adjusted, with care taken to choose an appropriate length and diameter of the foundation components (seamless steel pipe 104, vertical movement absorbing damper 105 and steel coiled sheets 106) for maximum support. This provides great flexibility in assembly of structures using available components, and to meet potential needs or changing conditions.

For example for a 23-story building, i.e. having 23 floors, where each floor is to measure 5 meters from floor to ceiling, the foundation seamless steel pipe 104 containing the damper 105 and steel coil 106 should be considerable in length for appropriate support. Four additional seamless steel pipes 107 measuring 30 meters would be connected to each other with short steel pipes 110 at each end, making the building height 120 meters, or having 23 floors.

EXAMPLE 8

Additional support for the foundation may be provided by additional dampers. In one embodiment, a damper is provided for placement between the seamless steel pipes. The damper acts in two-dimensions. The damper is attached to the seamless steel pipes with a handcuff-like attachment consisting of three parts. In this manner, when connected with the damper(s), the seamless steel pipes will have additional earthquake-resistance capability.

FIG. 18 shows a damper 114 having a handcuff-like attachment of support ring 114A and folding cuffs 114B and 114C. The damper is designed to reinforce the foundation comprising foundation seamless steel pipe 104 planted in ground 100, with steel coil 106 and steel pipe 107 inserted concentrically therein. Steel plate 109 rests on flange 108 of steel pipe 107, and short steel pipe 110 connects second steel pipe 107 thereto. As shown in FIG. 19, the damper 114 is attached with the handcuff-like attachment 114A, 114B and 114C to the seamless steel pipe 107 atop the short steel pipe 110. The bottom end of the damper 114 fits against the top of short steel pipe 110.

EXAMPLE 9

Various methods for connecting the floor forming structures described and shown herein may be utilized. In one embodiment, each floor forming structure has a seamless steel pipe near its center and are held in place at the top and bottom of the structure with steel plates having up-facing edges, down-facing edges or both up- and down-facing edges. Two floor forming structures next to each other may be connected with “U” shaped devices draped over adjoining edges. Dampers ‘cuffed’ about the seamless steel pipes of floor forming structures may be spanned between the seamless steel pipes of a first floor forming structure to a damper ‘cuffed’ about the seamless steel pipe of another floor forming structure.

Curtain-wall supports with hooking elements may be placed on each floor forming structure. A girder may be spanned between two floor forming structures at the “X” sides, to provide increased connection and enable placement of the curtain-wall supports.

FIG. 20 shows four floor forming structures 111, each with a seamless steel pipe 107 near its center. The floor forming structures are held in place at the top and bottom with steel plates 109′, 109 having up-facing edges 109A and/or down-facing edges 109B. The floor forming structures 111 next to each other are connected with “U” shaped devices 113 draped over adjoining edges of the floor forming structures 111.

Dampers 114 are shown spanned between the seamless steel pipes 107 connecting the dampers 114 with handcuff-like attachment 114C to the seamless steel pipes 107. In this embodiment, the top end of the dampers 114 connected with the handcuff-like attachment 114C below the flanges of the seamless steel pipes 107. The bottom end of the dampers 114 are connected at above the short steel pipes 110. For some seamless steel pipes 107 there are two dampers 114 connected to it below the flange, each damper spanned in a different direction, for optimal damping support.

Curtain-wall supports 112 with hooking elements 112A have been placed on each floor forming structure 111. A girder 119 spans the floor forming structures 111 at the “X” sides, and enables additional curtain-wall supports 112 to hook on the “X” sides of the floor forming structures 111.

EXAMPLE 10

Additionally, sets of assembled floor forming structures may be further connected. For example, two identical sets of floor forming structures, with each set consisting of five pairs of floor forming structures may be connected. Each floor forming structure has at its near-center a seamless steel pipe. Each of the floor forming structures is attached to another floor forming structure as explained in FIG. 20 and other figures. Two girders for the purpose of supporting curtain-wall supports span the extent between the two sets of floor forming structures on each side. The two sets of floor forming structures are connected with dampers. The dampers connect floor forming structures opposite to each other. The space that exists between the two sets of floor forming structures is the atrium.

FIG. 21 shows two identical sets of floor forming structures with a girder 119 spanning the extent between them at each side of the two sets of floor forming structures. Dampers 114 connect each pair of floor forming structures in the two sets of floor forming structures opposite to each other. The space between the two sets of floor forming structures is the courtyard 120. The floor forming structures are held in place at the top and bottom with steel plates 109′. The floor forming structures next to each other are connected with “U” shaped devices 113 draped over adjoining edges of the floor forming structures. Curtain-wall supports 112 have been placed on each floor forming structure.

EXAMPLE 11

The seamless steel pipes at the top of the building by assembly are interconnected to each other with steel plates having down-facing edges.

At the interconnection, one steel plate is placed on the flange of the seamless steel pipe. Another steel plate is placed in a perpendicular direction on top of the steel plate already in place. The two steel plates are then held down with the short steel pipes.

FIG. 22 shows the steel plate 109″ on the flange 108 at the top end of the seamless steel pipe. The steel plate 115 is placed on steel plate 109″ perpendicularly to steel plate 109″. Short steel pipes 110 are placed on top of steel plates 115 to hold down steel plates 115 and 109″ at the flanges 108. The floor forming structures next to each other are connected with “U” shaped devices 113 draped over adjoining edges of the floor forming structures. Curtain-wall supports 112 have been placed on each floor forming structure. Dampers 114 connect each pair of floor forming structures in the two sets of floor forming structures opposite to each other.

EXAMPLE 12

Optionally, the floor forming structures may be supplemented with tracks, which in one embodiment are inlaid with ball-bearings. Downward-facing clips enable the tracks to grip on to the floor forming structures. Floor plates may be placed on the tracks and made to slide from one end of the floor forming structures to the other end of the floor forming structure. If there are several floor forming structures placed next to each other, several floor plates may be pushed one after the other, to adjoin each other.

FIG. 23 shows tracks 116 inlaid with ball-bearings 116A placed on the floor forming structures 111, clipped to exterior and interior floor forming structure bars 111A, 111B. Floor plates 117 may be overlaid on the tracks 116 and pushed in the direction of the arrows, as shown in FIG. 23. Although the tracks 116 and the floor plates 117 may sit on any of the rungs, in FIG. 23 the placement of tracks 116, having ball-bearings 116A, and floor plates 117 is shown for all of the floors of the floor forming structure; alternatively only one or several of the rungs may be fitted. In this manner, floor plates may abut the steel plates 109, 109′, about the steel pipes 107 and secured by short steel pipes 110.

In one example of such an arrangement, the floor forming structure may be 30 meters in height, having a distance of 5 meters between each floor 117 to comprise a rung, and the distance from the bottom rung to the top rung being 30 meters, with each floor forming structure having seven rungs.

With reference to FIG. 15, 4 connected steel pipes 107 and 23 tracks in-laid with ball-bearings 116 could be used, with each steel pipe 107 measuring 30 meters in length. Thus, the building would be 120 meters tall. Each floor forming structure would have 6 floors, i.e. 6 tracks 116 would make up each floor of the floor forming structure.

EXAMPLE 13

The structures may also be modified to include stairwell(s) and/or elevator(s). A structure containing an elevator and/or a stairwell may be placed on the “X” side of the floor forming structure. This structure is held in place with a cable extending from the seamless steel pipe above the elevator and stairwell structure to below the elevator and stairwell structure. The cable runs down a trough in the elevator and stairwell structure, past rollers at the upper and lower ends of the elevator and stairwell structure.

A similar cable to the one holding the elevator and stairwell structure against the “X” side of the floor forming structure is spanned from the upper end of the seamless steel pipe down the side of the floor forming structure that is not the “X” side and secured at the lower end of the seamless steel pipe.

Due to the attachment of the elevator and stairwell structure to the “X” side of the floor forming structure, the curtain-wall supports on either of the elevator and stairwell structure are necessarily considerably narrower than the curtain-wall supports on the non-“X” side of the floor supporting structure.

FIG. 24 shows a floor forming structure 111 with the addition of elevator and stairwell structure 121. A trough 121A runs down the middle of elevator and stairwell structure 121, enabling operation of rollers 121B, 121C thereabout. The trough 121A may be deep at the top and bottom of the elevator and stairwell structure, but shallow in other areas, i.e. most of the length of the elevator and stairwell structure. As such, the trough does not affect the function of the elevator and stairwell structure. The rollers 121B enable the cable to make a smooth turn from the top of the elevator and stairwell structure to the bottom.

A first cable 123 is looped/suspended from a ring of and held by a cable suspension cuff 122 locked about the seamless steel pipe, above damper 114. The cable 123 runs over rollers 121C, down trough 121A and is attached at the other end to another cable suspension cuff 122 held at the lower end of the seamless steel pipe. A second cable 123A runs down the non-“X” side of the floor forming structure behind the curtain-wall supports 112. The cable 123A is attached at its upper and lower ends to additional rings of the cable suspension cuffs 122A locked near the bottoms of a second and first seamless steel pipe, respectively. The cable(s) 123A serve as protective element(s) against earthquake(s) for the building.

FIG. 25 is an alternative side view of the elevator and stairwell structure 121 from the “X” side of floor forming structure 111. A second elevator and stairwell structure 121 placed on top of the elevator and stairwell structure 121 described with respect to FIG. 24 is shown in outline only.

FIG. 26 shows the elevator and stairwell structure 121 of FIGS. 24 and 25 from the non-“X” side of the floor forming structure 111. The outline of another elevator and stairwell structure 121 placed on top of the existing elevator and stairwell 121 is shown. Curtain-wall supports have been omitted from FIGS. 25 and 26.

As seen in FIGS. 24, 25 and 26, once expanded, the floor forming structure comprises four outer horizontal bars (most easily seen in FIG. 26) and three horizontal connection bars therein between, about the connection vertices of the floor forming structure (shown ‘behind’ the elevator and stairwell structure of FIG. 25). Each of the horizontal bars may provide a base for a single floor when the tracks and floors are placed.

In the case of a 23-story building measuring about 120 meters in height, it is anticipated that four elevator and stairwell structures may be needed to provide upwards and downwards movement of people and machinery between the 23 floors. The stacked elevator and stairwell structures are held in place by cables attached at the upper and lower end of the elevator and stairwell structures to the seamless steel pipe(s) of the floor forming structure(s). In the same configuration, the distance from each (top or bottom) horizontal bar to a horizontal connection bar would be 5 meters.

FIG. 27 depicts four stacked elevator and stairwell structures 121-1, 121-2, 121-3 and 121-4, from the non-“X” side of floor forming structures 111-1, 111-2, 111-3 and 111-4. Two cables 123, 123A, contribute to supporting each elevator and stairwell structure: a first cable 123 suspends the elevator and stairwell structure against the floor forming structure 111—with a first end attached at a top end to a cable suspension cuff 122 locked about the seamless steel pipe 107, below flange 108 (not labeled), over rollers 121C, and at a bottom end to a cable suspension cuff 122 locked about the seamless steel pipe 107 between two short steel pipes adjacent to a steel plate and a damper 114, for each set of floor forming structure and elevator and stairwell structures; a second cable 123A provides protection to the elevator and stairwell structures against horizontal movement, i.e. earthquakes, by spanning from a cable suspension cuff 122A locked about the top of the topmost seamless steel pipe 107 (atop structure 111-4), over rollers 121B, and to a cable suspension cuff 122A locked about the bottom of the bottommost seamless steel pipe 107 (below structure 111-1).

EXAMPLE 14

The described “building by assembly” steps could be implemented to or about an existing building without significantly affecting an existing structure. In the scenario where one wishes to make use of land adjacent to an antiquity structure by building a new building next to it, the building by assembly method described and shown herein may be used without significant further modification.

If one wishes to build (completely) over the antiquity structure, modifications to the building by assembly method may be needed. The building by assembly can be used to build dual usage new structures. In one embodiment of a dual usage of new structure concept and preservation, the antiquity structure may be for example, a Roman theater found in parts of Italy, Spain, Adriatic countries, etc. with walls, stage and seating still extant, i.e. the Colosseum in Rome. Selection of locations for boring holes for the base should be made with attention to where the holes would least affect the antiquity structure; the holes may be bored both interior and exterior to the antiquity structure, and by following the other steps for a building by assembly, the antiquity structure is reinforced.

In one embodiment the building by assembly method may be used to construct a new structure, in addition to, or on top of, the antiquity structure. For example, a building by assembly could be constructed as a three or four-story cultural center and museum above the reinforced “whole” antiquity structure, and/or as a (bird's eye-view) observation area. Depending on the design of such a new structure, the atrium could serve as additional protection to guard the antiquity structure against damage from man-made or natural elements, i.e. rain, wind.

If designed thoughtfully, the newer building by assembly structure can be such that even in the case of an antiquity structure as large as the Colosseum, tourists will still be able to see the antiquity structure from far away independently from, and unobstructed by, the newer (building by assembly) structure. For example, the building by assembly structure could be glass-walled and rising well above the antiquity structure.

In conjunction or substitution of the methods described above, the antiquity structure can be protected from falling and other natural or man-made impacts by one or more techniques including encrusting, injecting, coating, etc. the antiquity structure with substances, for example plastic(s), epoxy, resin and the like.

If one wishes to build (partly covering) over the antiquity structure, it would be possible to do so by excluding the floor forming structure from one (antiquity structure) side of the new structure. The building by assembly would otherwise be constructed as described and shown herein.

FIG. 28A is a perspective view of an example configuration of a building by assembly structure constructed with/about antiquity sphinx A building by assembly structure 160 spans across and around the antiquity sphinx 300.

FIG. 28B is a perspective view of an example configuration of a building by assembly structure constructed with/about antiquity temple structures, such as the Parthenon. A building by assembly structure 160 has been constructed to the side of, and extended as a roof over the antiquity Parthenon 310.

FIGS. 28A and 28B show only two of the infinite applications possible of the building by assembly structure(s) to antiquities. Additionally, the building by assembly structures may be configured with/about various antiquity structure(s) for use in numerous configurations. For example, the building by assembly structure could be configured as visitors' center, museum, shop(s), observation deck, restaurant, laboratories, office(s), lecture hall(s), etc.

EXAMPLE 15

The described “building by assembly” steps could be implemented to or about an existing or new transit path.

FIG. 29A is a partial perspective view of an exemplary configuration of foundation components of the building by assembly, as configured for the construction of train tracks and roadways. In this configuration, the foundation comprising foundation seamless steel pipe 104 planted in ground 100, optionally with steel coil 106 and steel pipe 107 or other stabilizing components inserted concentrically therein, support construction flange 192. Construction steel plate 190 rests on construction flange 192. As shown in FIG. 19A, a bi-directional divided roadway 170 and two rail tracks 180 are configured with steel pipe 107 serving as an intermediate divider. Exterior construction flanges 191 further lock the roadway 170 and rail tracks 180 in place on construction steel plate 190.

In one envisioned configuration, rail systems (electric, diesel, monorail, maglev, linear motorcar system, etc.) may be used with the foundation. The roadway may comprise surfaces such as asphalt, rubberized asphalt, concrete, reinforced concrete, composite surfaces, bituminous surface treatment (BST), thin membrane surface (TMS), granular pavement or other traditional road surfaces. The roadway may optionally be covered with solar cells and/or cells protecting the roadway from and complementing tires of traditional (linear) automotive vehicles, or of electric vehicles (EV). In this way the rail and road ways would be subject to minimum stress and the structure with the linear automotive vehicles and EV would reduce impact on the environment while also potentially being self-sustaining, due to the solar cells.

FIG. 29B is a perspective view of an exemplary configuration of foundation, elevator and stairwell components of the building by assembly, as configured for the construction of train tracks, railcar(s), station(s), roadways and rest area(s). In choosing the components needed for a desired configuration, factors to consider include desired length and width of roadway or track, desired additional structures such as stations or other buildings, whether the stations or other buildings need elevator and stairwell structures, and the natural elements affecting the construction. In the configured section seen in FIG. 29B, six steel pipes 107 and their complementary foundations 104 are planted in the ground 100 spaced at equal distances to support a divided roadway and track combination of bi-directional divided roadway 170 and two rail tracks 180, wherein a station 195 and attached elevator and stairwell structure 196 are provided on the rail tracks 180. It is to be noted that use of the foundation described herein minimally stresses the earth, due to the relatively small footprint of the foundation, while effectively bearing various loads as seen herein and other possible envisionable configurations.

What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of various embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described embodiments are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated to explain the nature of the subject matter, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principal and scope of the subject matter as expressed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for building by assembly structures using common factory produced steel products, comprising:

a. boring a hole into the ground;

b. inserting a pile into the hole;

c. lowering a first pipe into the hole to rest on the pile;

d. lowering a damper, configured to absorb vertical movement, into the first pipe;

e. lowering a coiled sheet roll having a hollow onto the damper;

f. inserting a first pipe having a flange into the hollow of the coiled sheet roll;

g. lowering a plate onto the flange;

h. placing an adjoining pipe, onto the plate, about the flange of the first pipe;

i. inserting a second pipe having a flange, having a same outer diameter as an inner diameter of the adjoining pipe, into the adjoining pipe;

j. placing an expandable floor forming structure on the plate;

k. preparing to expand the floor forming structure; and

l. expanding the floor forming structure to form a floor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the floor forming structure and preparing to expand the floor forming structure comprises:

placing the floor forming structure, in a folded state, on the plate;

placing a second plate on the flange of the second pipe;

placing a second adjoining pipe on the second plate; and

inserting a third pipe into the second adjoining pipe.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each floor forming structure is expanded between, and held by, parallel sets of plates.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein steps f-1 are repeated to construct a structure having a plurality of floors.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein structures measuring 120 meters tall or having up to 25 stories are constructed in a cost-effective, time-efficient and safe manner with little or no vibrations.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each floor of a structure measures a minimum of 5 meters from floor to ceiling.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying one or more stability mechanisms from the group consisting of: three-dimensional dampers, coils, two dimensional dampers, cuffed dampers and cables, to the pipes of the structure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein an assembled structure is protected from earthquakes with horizontal and vertical movement characteristics supplied by the steel coils and dampers, respectively.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein tall structures are constructed within, in the proximity of, and above monuments from antiquity slated for preservation and dual usage without adversely affecting the monument.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising placement of structure parts from above and by building by assembly or simply placing each part of the building on top or against each other whereby little or no vibration is caused during construction.

11. A method of connecting building by assembly structures of claim 1, comprising:

placing expanded floor forming structures adjacent to each other;

holding the bases and tops of each floor forming structure with plates;

draping sides of adjacent stretched floor forming structures about the bases and tops of the plates; and

connecting each pair of adjacent floor forming structures with a “U” shaped device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the floor forming structure may be expanded by an automated mechanism.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein hydraulic power is used to raise the floor forming structures.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising suspending an accessibility structure against the side of the structure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the accessibility structure is chosen from the group comprising a stairwell and an elevator.

16. A building by assembly structure comprising:

a bored foundation having vertical dampening components;

a plurality of flanged pipes about which plates rest;

adjoining pipes securing the flanged pipes and plates; and

at least one floor forming structure expanded between parallel sets of plates,

wherein the building by assembly structure components comprise common factory produced steel products, and the number of floors in the built structure is further configurable, through the addition or removal of floors and related components.

17. The building by assembly structure of claim 16, further comprising cuffed dampers.

18. The building by assembly structure of claim 16, further comprising at least one track placed on at least one of the floor forming structures.

19. The building by assembly structure of claim 18, further comprising at least one floor plate overlaid on the at least one track.

20. The building by assembly structure of claim 16, further comprising an accessibility structure, suspended by cable against the side of the structure.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the building by assembly structure may be dismantled in an easy and environmentally friendly manner, by reversing the building steps.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the majority of the parts from the dismantled structure are reusable or recyclable without significant processing.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the building process is environmentally friendly and minimally stresses the earth.

24. The method of claim 23, whereby the earth retains its original characteristics existing before the building had been constructed.

25. The method of claim 23, whereby water from floods or other natural events can optimally dissipate and seep into the earth.

26. A method of building by assembly useful for the construction of at least one transit path, comprising:

a. boring a hole into the ground;

b. inserting a pile into the hole;

c. lowering a first pipe into the hole to rest on the pile;

d. lowering a damper, configured to absorb vertical movement, into the first pipe;

e. lowering a coiled sheet roll having a hollow onto the damper;

f. inserting a first pipe having a flange into the hollow of the coiled sheet roll;

g. lowering a plate onto the flange;

h. placing an adjoining pipe, onto the plate, about the flange of the first pipe; and

i. inserting a second pipe having a flange, having a same outer diameter as an inner diameter of the adjoining pipe, into the adjoining pipe.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein one or more of the at least one transit path is chosen from the group comprising: roadways, highways, freeways, expressways, railways, light rail, and railcar tracks.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one railway is designed for the operation of a mechanized car of the technology selected from the group comprising: steam, electric, diesel, monorail, maglev, and linear motorcar system.