Abstract:
In an assembly of structural elements such as beams, columns, walls and floors, one selects materials such as wood which is resistant to compression. Beams placed side by side, or one on top of the other are retained by a network of steel bands installed between and through the beams. Bands with an array of teeth on both sides or winches applying tension to the steel bands, counterbalance the tensile and shear forces created in the assembly through loading and they behave in the same way as steel rods in reinforced concrete. The strategic positioning of the network of bands in the apparatus serves in grouping and reinforcing the structural elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a system of building which groups elements of an assembly and reinforces them by means of a network of steel bands. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    The present invention refers to a previous invention by the same author &lt;&lt;STRENGTHENING ASSEMBLY ENCLOSED IN CONSTRUCTION&gt;&gt; for a mechanical apparatus which maintains the structural integrity of an assembly even when undergoing changes in volumetry. 
         [0003]    In that first invention flexible bands act perpendicularly, on an assembly of wooden beams, in order to keep the wooden elements tightly together, as the wood dries and diminishes in volume. 
         [0004]    In the present invention, the inventor introduces the notion of a flexible band placed between and parallel to the wooden elements in order to reinforce the assembly. 
         [0005]    In wood, for example, beams of rectangular section are subjected to an effort which creates a compression in the top fibers and tension in the bottom fibers. It is therefore desirable to introduce a flexible band and located it near the bottom fibers, in order to resist the tensile forces created by the bending of the beams through loading. 
       OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0006]    There is always a need in the market and more precisely in the field of architecture and engineering for a system which provides an improved resistance to an assembly of elements. 
         [0007]    A general objective of this invention is to create large construction assemblies from smaller elements by using, first, a network of flexible bands which maintain the elements together and second, a network of flexible bands which reinforce the group of elements at strategic points. 
         [0008]    A more specific objective of this invention is the construction of structural elements by overlapping, regrouping or aligning elements such as wood or other materials resistant to compression, using a device including a pair of components which apply a force, in opposite directions. Between these two components, a steel band is put in tension by the action of two opposite forces applied by the pair of components. 
         [0009]    The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an armed wooden beam. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an armed concrete beam. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective of a device placed within a wall. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective of a rectangular armed column. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective of an armed slab. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective of an armed I-beam. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6B  is a section according to line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 6A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective of an armed I-beam. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    In the following description and in the accompanying drawings, the numeral numbers refer to identical parts in the various Figures. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a face view of a wooden armed beam  120  comprising seven slats among which bottom slats  124  and top slats  126 . The whole of superimposed slats form a beam  120 . The beam  120  has a top face  132 . The beam has a center  134 . A first end  128  of the beam is supported by a first post  130 , a second end  138  is also supported by a second post  140 . The application of a load in the center  134  would create bending and would create tensile forces in the bottom  136 . In order to prevent failure of the apparatus, a first steel band  142  is installed between a first bottom slat  124 ′ and a second bottom slat  124 ″. A second steel band  144  is positioned between the second bottom slat and a third bottom slat  124 ′″. The two steel bands are tensioned, one by a first winch  150  mounted on a first plate  156  located at the first end  128  pulling the band against the second plate  152  and by a second winch  154  mounted on the second plate  152  at the second end  138  and pulling the second steel band against the first plate  156 . Furthermore, vertical bands  164  are placed at different locations in order to press tightly together the superposed slats, making them act as a whole. A concentrated or uniformly distributed load applied at the center  134  creates bending and tensile forces at the bottom slats. By tightening winches  150  and  154  tension is applied on the two bands,  142  and  144 , along the bottom slats  124 ′,  124 ″,  124 ′″ putting the beams in compression. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a concrete beam  158  of prior art, armed and supported at one end by a third post  160  and at the other end by a fourth post  170 . The steel rod  162 , incorporated in the concrete, reinforces the concrete where the tensile forces are the greatest when the structure is loaded. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a group of superimposed beams  20  which include a vertical band  222  positioned within the beam and which includes a blocking at a bottom  224  to which can be added a compression spring; the vertical link includes a ratchet  226  on a higher beam  225 . The assembly includes a pair of flexible bands  228  passing on either side of the vertical band  222 . The pair of flexible bands  228  can be made out of metal, stainless steel, Kevlar or any material having the same characteristics. Seals  244  may be inserted between the beams. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates in perspective a column of rectangular section. Flexible bands are placed at strategic places to prevent buckling. A rectangular column  250  of section  252  with a short section  254 , and a long section  256 , formed by three vertical beams, a near beam  258 , a far beam  260  and a middle beam  262 . Between each beam there is a slot  264  where a column band  266  is inserted. 
         [0023]    When a load is applied on a column, buckling can occur at its short section  254 . The installation, of a pair of slots  265  and  265 ′, and a pair of column bands  266  and  266 ′ will prevent the deflection of the column, on either side. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a wooden armed slab  270  including aligned beams  272  defining a width  274 , a length  276 , a height  278 , a bottom of the slab  280 , a top of the slab  282 , a joint of assembly  286  and a series of slots  284  being used to place longitudinal flexible bands  288  inside the beams to which one adds a means of tension resulting in a compression of the bottom of the wooden slab  270 . The position of the slot  284  is close to the bottom of the wooden slab  270  because it is in this area that the beams are put in tension when loading occurs. 
         [0025]    Transversal holes  290  permit the passage of flexible bands in order to keep the beams tightly together. Sealing joints of assembly  286  are found between the aligned beams. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6A  shows another method to arm an I-beam  271  including a top part  273 , a web  275  and a bottom part  277  called flange of the I-beam. At the bottom of the flange  277  an armed longitudinal band  289  with an array teeth or points pointing towards the top  287  and towards the bottom  287 ′ are intended to reinforce the bottom part of the I-beam. The band  289  is inserted between the upper surface of an additional flange  279  and the lower surface of the bottom of the flange  277  of the I-beam. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6B  shows the drawing of the section  3 - 3  of the  FIG. 6A  in which two flanges  277  and  279  are held together by the teeth  287  and  287 ′ which are encrusted in the two flanges. Means of screwing  291  or glue make it possible to fix together the flanges  277  and  279 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows another method to reinforce an I-beam  271  including a top flange  273 , a web  275  and a bottom flange  277 . At the bottom of the flange  277  a longitudinal band  288  intended to reinforce the bottom of the I-beam is placed on the upper surface of an additional flange  279  intended to be affixed against the lower surface of the bottom of the flange  277 . One integrates to the band  288  a means of tension which will result in the compression of the bottom of the I-beam. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The armed structural components can be beams, columns, walls, slabs, made out of composite materials, plastic, wood, concrete and in general any material resistant to compression. The use of flexible bands is intended to reinforce structural elements at their weaker points. The present invention provides a simple and esthetic solution to a technical problem. It is safety oriented, because it is inserted inside the beams, columns and slabs or inside the whole of the assembly in order to be protected from fire, and the natural elements, such as in the case of an apparatus made of solid wood. For example, the device can contain a winch, at the top of a column applying tension to a flexible band and completed by a blocking plate at the bottom of the column. The winch provides a constant force on the band. Using the winch, one manually rolls up the flexible band until one obtains the needed tension. 
         [0030]    A further objective is to provide a flexible structural solution to adapt to the requests of engineers in accordance to the efforts applied in an element of structure. Applications are infinite and inexpensive compared to current structural reinforcing solutions. The present invention maintains the integrity of the structural assembly by maintaining tightly together the beams, and more precisely by reinforcing the assembly in strategic points thus conferring a greater resistance to bending stresses. 
       In Brief: 
       [0031]    An assembly of structural elements placed one next to the other, which are intended to be subject to efforts resulting in a deflection of the whole assembly. The introduction of bands resistant to traction between and through the structural elements, counterbalance stresses created by the deflection of the assembly. 
         [0032]    The structural elements can be bottom slats  124  laid out under top slats  126 , the bottom slats being subjected to tension efforts, the introduction of a flexible band  142  among the bottom slats, the band including means of tension resulting in a compression of bottom slats thereby reducing the deflection. 
         [0033]    The assembly comprising moreover means of maintaining together the structural elements. 
         [0034]    It is to be clearly understood that the instant description with reference to the annexed drawing is made in an indicative manner and that the preferred embodiments described herein are meant in no way to limit further embodiments realizable within the scope of the invention. 
         [0035]    The matter which is claimed as being inventive and new is limited only by the following claims. 
       PARTS 
       [0000]    
       
           120  Armed wooden beam 
           124  Bottom slat 
           126  Top slat 
           128  First end 
           130  First post 
           132  Top face 
           134  Center 
           136  Bottom 
           138  Second end 
           140  Second post 
           142  First band 
           144  Second band 
           150  First winch 
           152  First plate 
           154  Second winch 
           156  Second plate 
           158  Concrete beam 
           160  Third post 
           162  Steel rod 
           164  Vertical band 
           170  Fourth post 
           220  Superimposed beams 
           222  Flexible band 
           224  Blocking at the bottom 
           225  Top beam 
           226  Top ratchet 
           228  A pair of flexible bands 
           244  Sealing joint 
           250  Armed wooden column 
           252  Rectangular section 
           254  Small section 
           256  Long section 
           258  Near beam 
           260  Far beam 
           262  Middle beam 
           264  Junction 
           265  Column slot 
           266  Column band 
           270  Armed wooden slab 
           271  I-beam 
           272  Aligned beams 
           273  Top flange 
           274  Width 
           275  Web 
           276  Length 
           277  Bottom flange 
           278  Height 
           279  Additional flange 
           280  Bottom of slab 
           282  Top of slab 
           284  Slot in slab 
           286  Joint of assembly 
           287  Teeth or points 
           288  Longitudinal band 
           289  Armed band 
           290  Hole 
           291  Means of screwing 
           292  Transversal band