Earthquake resistant building construction and method

Construction systems and methods are described for building structures including homes that can withstand vibration and earth movement caused by earthquakes. The construction system uses about 8-inch corrugated round steel pipes to create floor framing, wall framing, and ceiling framing that is resistant to destruction caused by earth movement and vibrations. The floor framing and wall framing can be connected together at right angles and supported by a foundation that features wood pilings with concrete caps. The plurality of pipes of the floor framing, wall framing, and ceiling framing can be connected together by welding, screws, or other fasteners to assemble the structure. Finished floor, material, and ceiling materials can be fastened to the frames to complete the structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to building construction. More particularly, the invention relates to building construction and construction methods that are resistant to damage caused by earthquakes.

BACKGROUND

Conventional home construction uses 8-inch thick masonry walls or wood frame walls and concrete or wooden floors. Such conventional construction produces a strong, inflexible structure that cracks, breaks, and falls apart when earthquakes occur.

A need exists for flexible home and building construction having framing that moves but retains or returns to its original shape and position after earth movement has occurred.

SUMMARY

The invention features construction systems and methods for building structures including homes that can withstand vibration and earth movement caused by earthquakes. The construction system can use corrugated steel pipes to create floor framing, wall framing, and ceiling framing that is resistant to destruction caused by earth movement and vibrations. The floor framing and wall framing can be connected together at right angles and supported by a foundation that features wood pilings with concrete caps. The concrete caps can include rubber pads mounted on their top surfaces to which the pipes of the floor frame and wall frame can be secured. The concrete caps of the pilings can also feature embedded steel straps to which steel strappings can be attached to secure the pipes of the floor frame to the foundation. The plurality of pipes of the floor framing, wall framing, and ceiling framing can be connected together by welding, screws, or other fasteners to assemble the structure. Finished floor, material, and ceiling materials can be fastened to the frames to complete the structure.

The construction systems and methods of the invention are advantageous because they provide a quick, efficient, inexpensive and sturdy means of constructing houses and other building structures that can withstand the vibrations and earth movement produced by earthquakes.

Accordingly, the invention features a construction system that can include a floor frame, a wall frame, and a ceiling frame. At least one of the floor frame, the wall frame, and the ceiling frame can be constructed from a plurality of pipes fastened together to create a building structure.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the floor frame being a plurality of pipes fastened together.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the wall frame being a plurality of pipes fastened together.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the ceiling frame being a plurality of pipes fastened together.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the plurality of pipes being corrugated pipes.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the plurality of pipes being corrugated steel pipes.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the wall frame pipes being attached at a bottom portion to the floor frame pipes at right angles and being attached at a top portion to the ceiling frame pipes at right angles.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the building structure including a foundation featuring a plurality of pilings to which the floor frame is secured.

In another aspect, the invention can feature each piling including a wooden pile featuring a top portion set into a concrete cap and a bottom portion suspended beneath the concrete cap that is installable in a substrate.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the concrete cap of each piling including reinforcing internal steel rebar.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the concrete cap of each piling including a rubber pad installed on its top surface.

In another aspect, the invention can feature at least one pipe of the floor frame being secured to the rubber pad installed on the concrete cap's top surface.

In another aspect, the invention can feature at least one pipe of the wall frame being secured to the rubber pad installed on the concrete cap's top surface.

In another aspect, the invention can feature each concrete cap including at least one steel strap embedded therein.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the steel strap being sized and shaped to receive a pipe of the floor frame to secure the floor frame to the foundation.

In another aspect, the invention can feature a floor including at least one corrugated metal sheet being fastened to a top surface of the floor frame.

In another aspect, the invention can feature a plurality of exterior walls of the building structure being attached to the wall frame. Each exterior wall can feature at least one corrugated metal sheet.

In another aspect, the invention can feature a plurality of trusses covered by a plurality of metal roof sheets being secured to the ceiling frame.

In another aspect, the invention can feature the plurality of pipes being welded together at joints.

A method of the invention can be used to construct a building structure that is resistant to damage and destruction caused by vibrations and earth movement caused by earthquakes. The method can include the steps of: (a) assembling a plurality of floor pipes to create a floor frame; (b) securing the floor frame to a foundation featuring a plurality of pilings embedded in a substrate; (c) assembling a plurality of wall pipes to create a wall frame; (d) securing the wall frame to the foundation and to the floor frame; (e) assembling a plurality of ceiling pipes to create a ceiling frame; (f) securing the ceiling frame to the wall frame; and (g) securing a floor to the floor frame, securing interior and exterior walls to the wall frame, and securing a ceiling and roof to the ceiling frame to create a building structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides a home construction10that is resistant to damage caused by earth movement such as earthquakes. The home construction10can include a floor framing12, a ceiling framing14, and wall framing16disposed and interconnected between the floor framing and the ceiling framing. Framing is also referred to herein as a frame. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the floor framing12, wall framing16, and ceiling framing14can be constructed from a plurality of pipes18,20, and22, respectively. The wall pipes20can be connected to the floor and ceiling pipes18and22at right angles. These components can be assembled together to create a building structure such as, for example, a house.

The pipes18,20, and22can be corrugated steel pipes. The pipes can also be constructed from galvanized steel and may be round in cross-section. In an exemplary embodiment, each pipe can be about 8 inches in diameter. In an exemplary embodiment, the pipes can be about 8 feet in length. The pipes can be constructed from 12 or 14 gauge steel. The pipes can be of the type that are used in water drainage.

The floor framing pipes18can be assembled into a desired shape. For example, as shown inFIG. 1, the floor framing pipes18can be assembled to form a floor frame12in the shape of a square. Joints24where two or more pipes of the floor framing join can be welded together. One or more corrugated steel sheets can be connected by screws or other fasteners to a top surface of the floor framing. A flooring material can be attached to a top surface of the corrugated steel sheets. In an exemplary embodiment, ⅝-inch plywood can be connected to the top surface of the corrugated steel sheets. Carpet or any other flooring can be installed over a top surface of the plywood.

A foundation26can be constructed from piles (or pilings)28. The floor framing12can be installed to rest upon the piles28, which are positioned on a substrate30. In an exemplary embodiment, each pile28can include a wooden portion32with a concrete cap34. The substrate30can be sand or any other substrate. The concrete cap34of each pile28can include reinforcing internal steel rebar36that is oriented in two directions, e.g., the rebar can be oriented within each concrete pile so that a first set of the rebar is oriented in a perpendicular orientation to a second set of the rebar. The rebar36can be ½-inch steel rebar. The wooden portion32of each pile can be about 6 inches in diameter and can be spaced apart about 6 feet on center and extend vertically from the bottom of each concrete cap34. In one embodiment, the concrete cap34of each pile28can be about 4 feet by 4 feet in width and about 3 feet in height.

In an exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 3, one or more steel straps40can be embedded in the concrete of each pile's concrete cap34. The steel straps40can be used to secure the floor pipes18to the piles28. A rubber pad38can also be installed between each floor pipe18and the concrete pile cap34. The rubber pad38can be about 2 inches thick.

In another embodiment, at least one steel strapping42can be connected to each steel strap40. The steel strapping42can be attached around pipes18of the floor framing12to secure the pipes18to the piles28.

The wall framing16can feature a plurality of pipes20connected perpendicularly to the floor framing and to the concrete piles28. Each wall frame pipe20can be positioned on a top surface of the rubber pad38mounted on top of the concrete piles28. The wall frame pipes20can be spaced apart about 16 inches on center in a vertical position for all outside walls. The finished exterior walls can have corrugated aluminum vertical siding fastened by screws or other suitable fasteners to the wall frame pipes.

All interior partitions or walls of the structure can be standard 4-inch steel studs. The steel studs can be about 8 feet high and spaced apart about 16 inches on center. Sheetrock, e.g., ½-inch sheetrock, can be fastened using screws or other suitable fasteners to the interior walls and ceiling of the structure.

The pipes18,20, and22used with this invention can include any of various types of connections such as, for example, corner joints, three-way connections, and any other suitable type of connection or joint. The joints or other connections between two or more pipes can be welded or screwed together. In exemplary embodiments, the joints24and other connections between pipes are welded together. Odd angle connections can be welded in the field when the frames are being assembled. In an exemplary embodiment, all pipe welds can be painted to prevent rust.

The plurality of pipes22of the ceiling framing14can also be spaced apart horizontally about 16 inches on center. A roof framing that is connected to the ceiling framing14can be constructed from 2-inch by 4-inch steel trusses that span the structure's exterior walls. The steel trusses can be spaced apart about 16 inches on center and can include corrugated aluminum roofing sheets fastened in place by screws or other suitable fasteners. The structure's exterior walls and ceilings can be insulated with insulation materials such as, for example, 4-inch batt insulation.

The invention also features methods in which the components described herein can be used to construct a building structure that is resistant to damage and destruction caused by vibrations and earth movement caused by earthquakes. The method can include the steps of assembling a plurality of floor pipes to create a floor frame and securing the floor frame to a foundation featuring a plurality of pilings embedded in a substrate. The method also features the steps of assembling a plurality of wall pipes to create a wall frame and securing the wall frame to the foundation and to the floor frame. The method can further include the steps of assembling a plurality of ceiling pipes to create a ceiling frame and securing the ceiling frame to the wall frame. Finally, the method can also include the step of securing a floor to the floor frame, securing interior and exterior walls to the wall frame, and securing a ceiling and roof to the ceiling frame to create a building structure.

Other Embodiments