METHOD OF MODULAR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

A modular building system and method of construction that includes the steps of: assembling a structure to create a framework as part of a series of modular assemblies; arranging at least one dome, where the at least one dome includes the modular assemblies, and wherein the framework supports the at least one dome; creating four quadrants within each dome which creates a domed hemisphere, wherein each quadrant shape consists of at least three equal edges in a 90-degree arc; designing a first chord factor, second chord factor and a third chord factor associated respectively with a first chord length, a second chord length and a third chord length for each quadrant, where the chords are edge lengths that determine a radius of each dome and said edge length equals a chord factor multiplied by a desired dome radius; and attaching modular connectors along edges of the modules and the modular connectors enable the connection of the modular assemblies, further where each of modular connector includes square openings positioned in the center of each modular connector.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a method of modular building construction that includes modular assemblies consisting of a frame, panels, insulation, panel connectors, and other varying attachments. These modular assemblies are then joined together by a fixed module connector system which allows for the quick and easy construction of buildings.

Description of Related Art

Building construction, as is well known, may be a costly and expensive endeavor. Many techniques have been developed to streamline the construction process. Building construction is an endeavor that requires extensive planning and design prior to actual construction. Most buildings are manufactured out of steel or wooden framing with walls and floors created within the framing to create the standing building.

Some buildings utilize modular techniques for construction. Typically, modular homes involve prefabrication of the building into sections that are created at a manufacturing facility. The sections are then joined together at the final site of construction. The modular homes are a quick efficient means to create residential homes. A typical modular home is transported to a construction site and then the modules are assembled onto a building foundation. The modular aspects of the building are prefabricated and therefore create an easy means for installation at the construction site. Many modular components are constructed indoors in an assembly line manner and then transported by truck to the home site. It would be advantageous to have a modular system for on-site construction that provided a means to create buildings that could be easily resized, reshaped, and even expanded in a simple manner using the capabilities associated with the modular system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for constructing a modular building system that includes the steps of: creating modular assemblies of various shapes and sizes that are connected to each other with modular connectors to form a structure. Various structural shapes include rectilinear assemblies compatible with conventional construction methods (box shapes), and other configurations such as vaults, cylindrical, and domes. The domes of this system are designed to be compatible with conventional construction systems. They can be divided into 90-degree quadrants, half hemispheres, or wrapped around an outside corner of an existing building 270-degrees. All outer edges of these domes are equal and can be interfaced with other modules to form a continuous integrated structure. There two engineered dome sizes which each have their own unique geometry. One dome has 3 equal edges in a 90-degree arc, the other having 6 equal edges in a 90-degree arc. The edge lengths of these dome modules are defined by “chord factors” which is the ratio of the edge length to the radius of the dome. This a modular construction system, capable of creating a wide variety of interconnectable geometric shapes, and a compatible interface with existing conventional building construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a modular frame in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an interior surface of a portion of the modular frame according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 provides a rendition of a modular building constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 provides a prospective view of the rendition of the modular building in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts two triangular modular assemblies connected with the modular connectors.

FIG. 6 depicts an exploded view of a triangular modular assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a modular connector that is used in conjunction with the present invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a 90-degree dome quadrant consisting of 3 edges in a 90-degree arc, with the 3 edges being equal in length.

FIG. 9 depicts a 90-degree dome quadrant consisting of 6 edges in a 90-degree arc, with the 6 edges being equal in length.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a modular building system that provides a system for simplified construction, expansion and renovation of buildings. The modular system of the present invention creates a system that easily provides a framework for building construction. The modular system according to the present invention includes components that are manufactured and then erected at the construction site in an efficient manner. The modular system according to the present invention includes two basic components: 1) modular assemblies (modules), and 2) module connectors that connect the modules together, forming an entire structure. This modular system allows for a predictable, efficient, and simple method of quickly erecting structures, both for exterior and interior walls.

With respect to FIG. 1, a modular structure 100 is depicted in accordance with the present invention. The modular structure 100 includes a vertical wall framing 155 shown below a dome support framing 150. The wall vertical framing 155 connects a series of modular assemblies that creates the support system for the dome support framing 150. The internal framing of the modules may be manufactured of either wood or sheet metal and the framing assembly includes metal channels 620, shown in FIG. 600, that assist in the connection of the framing members during manufacturing.

FIG. 2 provides a view of another internal surface of a modular configuration assembly. A dome frame interior 252 includes a series of module connectors 230 over the interior surface of a dome 250. The module connectors 230 provide an attachment means for the connection of the modular assemblies throughout the structure in accordance with the present invention. Inserting solid panels is one method of providing the surface of the building however modified glass panels, or plexiglass may be installed through use of the same module connectors 230 provided on the inner surface of the frame interior 252.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict a modular rendition of a building system using the components according to the present invention. A modular rendition 300 is shown in FIG. 3, and a top prospective view of a modular rendition 400 is shown in FIG. 4. This rendition provides an example of the use of the framing depicted in FIG. 1, along with other various modules that are described below.

FIG. 5 depicts the adjoining of two triangular modules 535 used in conjunction with the present invention. Each triangular module 535 includes the use of a series of module connectors 532 on the edges of the modules 535. The module connectors 532 connect modules together during construction of the modular building system. Each module has an outer surface 524 and a frame 522. A small gap 525 is shown that is filled after installation of all modules for additional structural support and insulation properties, with an appropriate material.

In reference to FIG. 6, an exploded view of a module used in conjunction with the present invention is depicted. This module shows a series of module connectors 632 along an outer perimeter of an inner surface 629 of the module. The inner surface 629 adjoins to a frame 623 shown in FIG. 600. An outer surface 621 is adjoined to the frame 623, which includes an insulation component 627 within the frame 623. At the center of the insulation 627 a panel connector 633 is provided. These components are adjoined and fixed together to create a modular assembly that is used in conjunction with the framing system depicted in FIG. 1. These triangular modules may be combined in any array of modules, for expanding a given structure. Further, this modular system is not limited to domes only. It can be used to form almost any imaginable shape. The triangular exploded module as shown in FIG. 6 adjoins to other modules by using the module connectors depicted in FIG. 7.

The module connector 632 that allows the means for connecting the modules together is shown in FIG. 7. The module connector 732 includes square openings 734a used to control the bend line. Along the top edge of the module connector 732 are a series of holes 738 and reciprocally at the bottom are bottom holes 731. Each corner 735 is chamfered as shown in FIG. 7. The module connector locations can vary in frequency as necessary for various applications. The module connector 732, in FIG. 7, is used in conjunction to create modular building systems that are utilized at a building site. The modular system provided in the present invention shows exemplary techniques that may be used to create various building shapes. Although dome ceilings and roofs are depicted, other components and shapes may be readily created using the modular system as described above, including window and door modules, and interior wall partitions.

The present modular construction system includes two exemplary designed dome shapes. (4) quadrants comprise a domed hemisphere. The first quadrant shape consists of (3) equal edges in a 90-degree arc. The second quadrant shape consists of (6) equal edges in a 90-degree arc. As a dome radius can vary, the edge lengths, called chords, will also vary. The constant of in each formula is the chord factor. These chord factors multiplied by the desired dome radius gives the chord lengths of a given module edge length. The advantages of these specifically designed dome shapes, are equal perimeter edges, and 90-degree quadrants allowing for a compatible interface with existing conventional construction methods. Quadrant 3 has (3) various chord lengths, and (3) different triangular modules. Quadrant 6 has (9) various chord lengths, E & J being equal, and (9) different triangular modules (some of these are mirrored). FIG. 8 depicts Quadrant 3 configuration 860 in accordance with the present invention. The chord lengths are depicted by a letter, the modules are depicted by a number. Although this dome radius can vary, the radius for the basic quadrant 3 of the modular construction system is 85.0015. In FIG. 8, the dome radius does not include the rectangular tangents along the edges. Additionally, the radius for the domes for this system can be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled and still be compatible with the modular construction system. The following chart shows these relationships and formulas for quadrant 3.

	Letter	Dome	Chord	Chord
	Quadrant 3	Radius 3	Factors 3	Lengths 3
	A	85.0015	0.51764	44.000
	B	85.0015	0.70711	60.105
	C	85.0015	0.65012	55.261

Chord Length=Dome Radius*Chord Factor

FIG. 8 shows triangular modules 861, 862 and 863, and chord factors A, B and C. Note the equal perimeter edge lengths of chord A.

FIG. 9 depicts Quadrant 6 configuration in accordance with the present invention. The chord lengths are depicted by a letter, the modules are depicted by a number. Although this dome radius can vary, the radius for the basic quadrant 6 of the modular construction system is 168.5485. In FIG. 9, the dome radius does not include the rectangular tangents along the edges. Additionally, the radius for the domes for this system can be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled and still be compatible with the modular construction system.

The following chart shows these relationships and formulas for quadrant 6.

	Letter	Dome	Chord	Chord
	Quadrant 6	Radius 6	Factors 6	Lengths 6
	A	168.5485	.26105	44.000
	B	168.5485	.36603	61.693
	C	168.5485	.29973	50.519
	D	168.5485	.36138	60.910
	E	168.5485	.32988	55.601
	F	168.5485	.30025	50.606
	G	168.5485	.35024	59.033
	H	168.5485	.34945	58.899
	I	168.5485	.30067	50.677
	J	168.5485	.32988	55.601

Chord Length=Dome Radius*Chord Factor

FIG. 9 shows triangular modules 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987 988, 989, and chord factors A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J. Note the equal perimeter edge lengths of chord A

This instance of the invention has been shown and described in what it considers to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A method for constructing a modular building system comprising the steps of:

a. creating a framework of modular assemblies, where the modular assemblies include modules;

b. implementing panels within the modules to create a building structure;

c. arranging at least one dome including the modular assemblies, and wherein the framework supports the at least one dome;

d. arranging four quadrants within each dome to create a domed hemisphere, wherein each quadrant shape consists of at least three equal edges in a 90-degree arc;

e. designing a first chord factor, second chord factor and a third chord factor associated respectively with a first chord length, a second chord length and a third chord length for each quadrant, where the chords are edge lengths that determine a radius of each dome and said edge length equals a chord factor multiplied by a desired dome radius; and

f. attaching modular connectors along edges of the modules and the modular connectors enable the connection of the modular assemblies, further where each of modular connector includes square openings positioned in the center of each modular connector.

2. The method of constructing a modular building system according to claim 1 further including the step of implementing metal channels into the framework used to adjoin members of the frame.

3. The method of constructing a modular building system according to claim 1 further including the steps of: defining an inner surface, an outer surface, insulation within the framework and a panel connector between the inner surface and the outer surface for each of the modules.

4. The method of constructing a modular building system according to claim 1 further including the steps of:

a. implementing a series of holes along a top edge of each modular connector; and

b. implementing a series of holes along a bottom edge of each modular connector.

5. The method of constructing a modular building system according to claim 1 further including the step of chamfering each corner of each modular connector.

6. The method of constructing a modular building system according to claim 1 further including the steps of creating two specific dome shapes for the modular building system.

7. A modular system for constructing a building comprising:

a. modules for a continuous structural framework for the building, wherein the modules consist of a frame, frame corner connectors, panels, panel connectors, and can contain windows, doors or other architectural elements;

b. two domes adapted to be compatible with the modular system and building construction;

c. creating four quadrants within each dome which creates a domed hemisphere, wherein each quadrant shape consists of at least three equal edges in a 90-degree arc; and

d. attaching modular connectors along edges of the modules and the modular connectors enable the connection of the modular assemblies, further where each of modular connector includes square openings positioned in the center of each modular connector.

8. The modular system according to claim 7, where the modules include metal channels into the framework and said metal channels are used to adjoin members of the frame.

9. The modular system according to claim 7, further including an inner surface, an outer surface and insulation within the framework and a panel connector between the inner surface and the outer surface for each of the modules.

10. The modular system according to claim 7 further including:

a. a series of holes along a top edge of each modular connector; and

b. a series of holes along a bottom edge of each modular connector.

11. The modular system according to claim 7 further including a chamfer on each corner of each modular connector.

12. The modular system according to claim 7 further including two specific dome shapes for the modular building system.