Modular construction system for the erection of buildings

Hollow-core construction blocks are superposed without intervening mortar. The hollow-core construction blocks are provided with vertical, longitudinally spaced cylindrical apertures. Vertical slots having the same spaced relationship are interposed between the vertical apertures. Both the vertical apertures and the vertical slots open at one side of the block in a longitudinal channel having an at least approximately semi-circular cross-section. These building components permit forming arbitrarily high walls by the "dry", i.e. without mortar, superposition of the construction blocks and pouring concrete into the cylindrical vertical apertures of an upper row of blocks. The concrete flows downward, perhaps with the aid of a vibrator, and spreads out in lateral direction through the longitudinal channels. The vertical slots provide a means of escape for the displaced air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention concerns a modular construction system for the 
erection of buildings in which hollow-core construction blocks are 
superposed upon one another without intervening mortar and are intended to 
be filled with concrete. 
For the erection of economical buildings, especially residential buildings, 
so-called hollow-core construction blocks are often employed instead of 
solid brick or hollow-core concrete construction blocks. The hollow-core 
blocks of the invention are layed in layers without mortar joints and are 
then bonded by pouring them full of concrete. 
This method of construction is often problematical, especially with respect 
to filling the concrete into the openings provided therefor without 
entrapping air pockets or forming voids. For this reason the erection of a 
wall usually proceeds in steps in which erection or laying work is 
interrupted by concrete pouring or filling work. Heretofore known 
hollow-core construction blocks also seldom permit practical corner joints 
for abutting walls or the convenient anchorage of an interior partition 
wall to an exterior wall. Furthermore, the erection of floors or roofs 
must usually be done in a conventional manner. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, with the foregoing in mind it is a primary object of the present 
invention to provide a new and improved design of a modular construction 
system for the erection of buildings of the aforementioned type which does 
not have associated with it the aforementioned drawbacks and shortcomings 
of the prior art constructions. 
Another and more specific object of the present invention aims at providing 
a new and improved construction of a building system of the previously 
mentioned type permitting a considerably more rational and more economical 
erection of buildings while satisfying all requirements of structural 
stability and resistance. 
These and other objects of the invention are fulfilled according to the 
invention by providing the substantially quadrangular or rectangular 
hollow-core construction blocks with substantially vertical apertures or 
through-bores of substantially circular cross section arranged in 
predetermined spaced relationship in the longitudinal direction of the 
block. These vertical apertures are proximate to vertical openings or 
slots analogously spaced. These vertical apertures or throughbores and 
vertical openings or slots open into a channel formed longitudinally in 
the block at either its upper or its lower side and having an at least 
approximately semi-circular cross section. 
This configuration of the construction blocks makes it possible to first 
erect arbitrarily high walls by piling or superposing hollow-core 
construction blocks according to the invention dry, i.e. without mortar, 
and only then to pour fluid concrete into the circular vertical apertures 
of the uppermost layer of the hollow-core construction blocks. The fluid 
concrete then flows, perhaps under the influence of an auxiliary tool such 
as a vibrator, both vertically downward and laterally into the 
longitudinal channels, the vertical slots providing unhindered and 
complete exhaustion of the displaced air. 
When all of the air has been displaced the same vertical slots serve as 
upward conduits or risers and also fill with concrete. This has the 
particular advantage of enabling an intimate connection between the narrow 
ends of adjacent blocks. 
It is further advantageous that the vertical apertures and the longitudinal 
channels form a concrete grill of very high strength. Additionally, the 
vertical apertures and the longitudinal channels can be exploited to 
accommodate reinforcing means for the concrete or utility conduits or both 
before the concrete is poured. 
The vertical slots can be formed to have vertical bore portions at both of 
their ends for the accommodation of positioning or locating pins to assure 
plumbness in spite of rapidly progressing construction. Such an 
arrangement of positions or locating pins is also particularly well suited 
for the anchorage of transverse walls or interior partitions. 
This configuration of the vertical slots also provides an optimum means of 
accurately halving or quartering the blocks. 
A further embodiment of the invention permits an advantageous mutual 
interconnection of the hollow-core construction blocks at their narrow 
ends by providing four vertical apertures in each construction block in 
proximate relation with vertical slots at both sides thereof. The slots at 
each of the narrow ends of the hollow-core construction blocks are formed 
with one long side open to cooperate with a corresponding such slot in the 
narrow side of an adjacent hollow-core construction block and form fully 
surrounded or complete vertical slots. 
A further substantial rationalization in the erection of a building with 
the system of the invention is achieved by providing structural floor 
members of predetermined width and predetermined free span length for the 
formation of floor and roof structures. These structural floor members are 
supported at their narrow ends in the finished building upon the 
hollow-core construction blocks forming the load-bearing wall of the 
building or upon special lintel members. 
In order to fulfill the most stringent structural requirements, it is 
advantageous to provide the structural floor members with a U-shaped or 
channel cross section and to subdivide it into structural fields or bays 
separated by transverse ribs such that the upper surface of the structural 
floor member displays a series of open rectangular or channel-shaped cells 
or basins arranged longitudinally. It is further advantageous to provide 
the structural floor member with reinforcing means. 
It is also advantageous to provide the structural floor members at their 
exterior edges with reservations or steps which cooperate with 
corresponding reservations or steps in adjacent structural floor members 
to form grooves or channels which can be filled with concrete to produce 
an effective interconnection of the structural floor members with one 
another and with the support or anchorage. 
In completion of the entire modular construction system it is practical to 
provide floor panel elements for covering the open cells or basins of the 
structural floor members and to further provide cover panel elements for 
covering the narrow ends of structural floor members supported on a 
load-bearing wall or lintel. 
It is further practical to make the hollow-core construction blocks and the 
structural floor members of a structural material having a good insulating 
value, such as light weight concrete or rigid wood wool, in order to 
provide a light construction with adequate thermal insulation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The modular construction system for the erection of buildings according to 
the invention as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of hollow-core 
construction blocks 1 laid up in the manner of masonry blocks or bricks 
but without mortar and then filled with a pourable, curable building 
material like, for example, concrete, as well cellular structural floor 
members 2 which, in the embodiment of the invention shown, are supported 
on a special lintel member 1' formed by an intermediate layer in the 
layered wall erected of such hollow-core construction blocks 1. So-called 
cover panel elements 30 serve to cover the narrow ends of cellular 
structural floor members 2 supported on the lintel member 1' and may be 
formed by concrete panels or similar construction elements. Finally, the 
cellular structural floor members 2 are covered by suitable floor panel 
elements 26 made of structural tile material or of a cement product. In 
the following description, the elements of the system will be explained in 
more detail. 
As shown in detail in FIG. 2, substantially quadrangular, for instance 
rectangular hollow-core construction blocks 1 are provided with 
substantially vertical apertures or through-bores 11 of circular or round 
cross-section arranged in predetermined mutual spaced relationship along 
the length of the block. The substantially vertical cylindrical apertures 
11 are also arranged in proximate relationship to substantially vertical 
openings or slots 12 which are arranged in an analogous mutual spaced 
relationship along the length of the block 1. The block 1 is provided with 
a longitudinal channel at either its upper or its lower face having an 
least approximately half-round or semi-circular cross section. Both the 
vertical apertures 11 and the vertical slots 12 open into this 
longitudinal channel 13. 
It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that the vertical slots 12 have vertical 
cylindrical bores 14 formed at both of their ends for the accommodation of 
positioning or locating pins or dowels 15. It has also proven practical to 
provide each hollow-core construction block 1 with four such vertical 
apertures 11 in proximate relationship to vertical slots 12 at each side 
and to form the vertical slots at both narrow ends of the block to be open 
at one side and therefore to form substantially one half of a slot to 
cooperate with a further such half of a slot provided in the narrow end of 
an adjacent block and thereby form a single, completely enclosed or 
surrounded substantially vertical slot. 
The hollow-core construction blocks 1 are preferably and substantially 
uniformly made of an easily obtained material such as light weight 
concrete, cemented wood wool, or the like and preferably have the external 
dimensions of 25 centimeters by 25 centimeters by 100 centimeters which 
results in a hollow-core construction block of modular proportions which 
is easy to handle and universally applicable. 
In this relation, the hollow-core construction blocks 1 according to the 
invention can be accurately modularly subdivided at the regions of the 
interior vertical slots 12. 
As can be seen from FIG. 2, the construction blocks 1 according to the 
invention can be first erected in layers to form arbitrarily high walls or 
a predetermined wall structure by stacking or superposing them "dry" i.e. 
without intervening mortar layers, and then to pour concrete into the 
circular or round vertical apertures 11 of the uppermost layer of 
hollow-core construction blocks. The fluid concrete then, optionally under 
the influence of a vibrator, flows vertically downward and also spreads 
laterally outward into the channels 13. The vertical slots 12 and bores 14 
provide unhindered and complete exhaustion of the displaced air. When all 
air has been displaced and exhausted, the vertical slots 12 and bores 14 
act as vertical conduits or risers and also fill up with concrete. This 
has the particular advantage of permitting an intimate interconnection 
between adjacent narrow ends of the blocks 1. 
A further advantage of the invention is that the flow-communicating system 
composed of the vertical apertures 11 and the vertical slots 12 and bores 
14 and the longitudinal channels 13 after the pouring operation causes the 
formation of a concrete grill or network of very high strength. 
Additionally, the vertical apertures 11 and the longitudinal channels 13 
are well suited for accommodating reinforcing members for the concrete or 
utility conduits or both before the concrete is poured. 
It can be further be seen from FIG. 2 that an accurately plumb and rapid 
erection of a wall using the hollow-core construction blocks 1 of the 
invention is considerably facilitated by the employment of the positioning 
or locating pins or dowels 15. Normally three pins 15 are employed in each 
joint. These locating pins or dowels 15 can be be made of cement, plastic 
or similar material and can be conically drafted. A transverse wire or rod 
15' can serve as a limit stop for the installation depth. 
As can be further construed from FIG. 2, the hollow-core construction 
blocks 1 of the invention also permit the ready connection of transverse 
abutting walls as corner connections, T-connections or cross connections 
in which the half-slots 12', 14' in the narrow ends of the hollow-core 
construction blocks 1 permit a concreted connection. Such connections can 
be further improved by laying the hollow-core construction blocks of the 
abutting walls with alternating gaps to form an interleaving or dovetailed 
connection. 
The cellular structural floor members 2 described above can be employed for 
any desired floor or roof structures. The cellular structural floor 
members 2 have a predetermined width and a predetermined free span length 
and are preferably and substantially uniformly made of the same material 
as the previously described hollow-core construction blocks 1. The 
configuration of the cellular structural floor members 2 as well as their 
use in the structure can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. 
In order to be able to fulfill the strictest structural requirements with 
these cellular structural floor members 2, they are provided with a 
substantially U-shaped or channel cross section and in longitudinal 
section, they are formed by adjacent substantially U-shaped cells or 
structural fields 22 and are furthermore provided with a reinforcing 
armature 23. 
The cellular structural floor members 2 are provided at their outer edges 
with recesses or steps 25 which cooperate with further such recesses 25 in 
adjacent floor members 2 to form reservations or channels 24 for the 
effective connection of the cellular structural floor members to one 
another and to the support structure 1', as best can be seen in FIG. 5. 
As already mentioned above, the cells or basin-shaped structural fields 22 
of the cellular structural floor members 2 are covered at their open tops 
with suitable floor panel elements 26. 
It will be understood that the cellular structural floor members 2 are also 
suited to the accommodation of various electrical and sanitary 
installations. 
The measures and arrangements described above therefore produce a modular 
construction system for the erection of buildings which satisfies all 
modern technical and economical requirements. 
While there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the 
invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not 
limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced 
within the scope of the following claims.