BUILDING ELEMENTS AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING

Abstract: The moulded building shed has opposed side edges of increased thickness with respect to the general thickness of the sheet. The thicker edges each accommodate a rebate which extends along the respective side edges and into which the free ends of reinforcing wires project. The rebates and projecting portions of the wires together form joints for joining adjacent sheets together, the wires of one sheet been twisted into engagement with the wires of the other sheet. Preferably two building sheets are joined together by spacers to form a composite building panel.

Description: "BUILDING ELEMENTS" This invention relates to building elements and to a method of constructing a building employing said elements. At present, in many cases, the walls of buildings are constructed either of bricks Or of concrete appropriately restrained during setting by shuttering. In both these cases skilled labour is required either to lay the bricks Or to assemble the shuttering. Moreover, once the walls have been built the inside surfaces still need to be plastered to produce the desired interior finish. According to the present invention there is provided a moulded building sheet characterised by two opposed side edges which are thicker than the general thickness of the sheet and in which are formed one or more rebates. Preferably the walls of a building are constructed with a building panel consisting of two such building sheets spaced apart by suitable spacing means. Such a panel forms high quality permanent shuttering for a core material, the outer surfaces of the sheets producing the desired inner and outer Surfaces without the need for further plastering or finishing. Thus, the use of a building panel in accordance with the invention enables walling to be produced with unskilled labour. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a substantially rectangular building panel comprising two moulded sheets having confronting inner surfaces spaced apart by spacing means, and means on each of two opposed sides of the panel for connecting one panel to another, similar panel. Preferably the means for connecting one panel to another, similar panel comprises one Or more rebates along each of two opposed side edges of each sheet: and reinforcing wires which project into the rebates along the side edges of the sheet, the projecting portions of the reinforcing wires of a first building panel being interconnectable with the projecting portions of the reinforcing wires of a second building panel to connect the two building panels together. The invention also includes a method of constrycting the walls of a building-from such building panels comprising the steps of placing the panels in relative juxtaposition so that their side edges are abutting, and twisting together the reinforcing wires of one panel with the reinforcing wires of an adjacent panel to join adjacent panels to one another. In order to produce solid walling the method includes the additional step of filling the space between the spaced sheets of the panels with core material. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a building panel comprising two moulded sheets or skins in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the joint between two adjacent moulded sheets or skins; Figures 3a and 3b illustrate in plan different types of wall junctiqns in a building incorporating panels in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a junction between a panel and a window panel; Figure 5 illustrates the preferred method of forming corners; and Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of a single-storey building constructed with panels in accordance with the invention. In the drawings a preferred sheet 1 is moulded of cement based material and has inner and outer surfaces 2 and 3 defined by top and bottom edges 4 and side edges 5. The side edges 5 of the sheet 1 are of increased thickness and are moulded with a rebate 6 at the outer surface 3 of the sheet. The rebate 6 is of a width of about 20mm and a depth approximately equal to the general thickness of the rest of the sheet. The thicker side edges 5, whilst accommodating the rebates 6, also provide structural stability at the edges. The sheet 1 is reinforced with laterally-extending reinforcing wires 7 which project into and beyond the rebates 6 at the side edges 5 of the sheet and which together with the rebates 6 form- means for joining sheets together as explained below. The sheet 1 also includes loops 8 which project from the inner surface 2 of the sheet for a purpose also described more fully below. Preferably these loops 8 are formed by some of the reinforcing wires 7 being bent into a configuration which causes the loops 8 to project outside the plain of the sheet when it is being cast. As seen in the drawings it is preferred that a building panel 10 consists of two spaced sheets 1, metal ties or spacers 11 being-clipped in place between adjacent loops 8 projecting from the confronting inner surfaces of the respective sheets. In order to fix two panels together they are placed with their adjacent side edges 5 abutting one another. The projecting reinforcing wires 7 of the respective sheets are then twisted together in the manner illustrated in figure 2: this holds the wall panels in their relative positions. If a corner is to be formed then the inside sheets of the adjacent panels may be tied with the sheets straight and then the sheets 'folded' to the desired angle as shown in figure 5. Alternatively an inside and outside corner piece 12 or 13 may be used as illustrated in figures 3a and 3b. When the panels 10 required to form a building have been placed in position and the joint wires are all tied together, the space between adjacent sheets can be filled with a suitable core material 14 such as concrete, "no fines" concrete, soil/cement or any other suitable strengthening or, alternatively, insulating material: the thicker side edges of the panels helping to resist any tendency of bowing at the joints between adjacent panels. When the core material 14 has hardened the joint wires 7 are pushed into the groove 15, defined by two adjacent rebates 6, which is then filled with cement mortar which conceals the joint. Figure 6 illustrates a building panel 10 in use where it is supported on a suitable foundation 16 and in turn supports a ceiling structure 17 and tiled roof 18. Although not shown, the ceiling structure may consist of single sheets supported from rafters 18. The flooring 19 suitably may be solid as shown and moulded panels for the windows and doors may be fitted as appropriate as indicated by the window panel 20 shown in figure 4. In use the sheets 1 have the dual purpose of firstly forming shuttering for solid core material 14 and then forming internal decoration and external weather proofing The moulds for the sheets, having a size, shape and negative texture to that required of the finished sheet, contain a detachable perimeter frame/s which allow the reinforcing wires to be placed and held in position the required distance from the face of the mould. The wires are woven and pulled taut and the mix suitably cement mortar, i.e. a mixture of cement, sand and water, is poured into the mould to give the required thickness of skin. The whole mould is vibrated to cause the mixture to settle. As indicated above the sheets can be moulded to form openings in the walls such as windows surrounds, reveals and frames Or door architraves, reveals and frames. Water drips, weathering angles, sills, etc. can be incorporated in the moulding as can hinged recesses and locking device plates. The sheets can be moulded to form inside and outside corners at right/obtuse angles. The sheets can be moulded in the form of curves to produce a circular Or compound curved wall plan. Also, although straight sheets have been disclosed, the sheets can be moulded to form walls the surface of which is an induced, curve, e.g. an hyperbol ic-perabaloid. The surface of the sheet can have the texture produced by a suitably textured mould for example to simulate brickwork. The surface layer of the sheets may be coloured and include a waterproofing agent. The sheets may be moulded to accommodate "services" such as electrical points, conduits, water and sewerage fittings, pipes, soap holders in bathrooms and kitchens etc. Although it is preferred to provide a single rebate along each side alternatively separate rebates associated with each reinforcing wire may be provided if desired.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A moulded building sheet characterised by including two opposed side edges which are thicker than the general thickness of the sheet and in which are formed one Or more rebates. 2. A moulded building sheet according to claim 1 characterised in that it includes means for connecting the sheet to another similar sheet. 3. A moulded building sheet according to claim 2 wherein the connecting means comprises reinforcing in the form of wires which project into the rebates along the side edges of the sheet, the reinforcing wires of one sheet being engagable with the wires of another sheet to join the two sheets together. 4. A moulded building sheet according to claim 3 characterised in that it further includes a plurality of loops which project from one surface of the sheet. 5. A moulded building sheet according to claim 4 wherein the reinforcing wires are appropriately shaped to form said loops. 6. A building panel including two moulded sheets according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and spaced apart by spacing means. 7. A building panel according to claim 6 wherein the spacing means comprises ties secured to loops projecting from opposing faces of the moulded sheets. 8. A substantially rectangular building panel comprising two moulded sheets having confronting inner surfaces spaced apart by spacing means, and ", means on each of two opposed sides of the panel for connecting one panel to another, similar panel. 9. A building panel according to claim 8 wherein the means for connecting one panel to another, similar panel comprises one or more rebates along each of two opposed side edges of each sheet, and reinforcing wires which project into the rebates along the side edges of the sheet, the projecting portions of the reinforcing wires of a first building panel being interconnectable with the projecting portions of the reinforcing wires of a second building panel to connect the two building panels together. 10. A method of constructing the walls of a building from building panels according to claim 9 comprising the steps of placing the panels in relative juxtaposition so that their side edges are abutting, and twisting together the reinforcing wires of one panel with the reinforcing wires of an adjacent panel to join adjacent panels to one another. 11. A method of constructing a building according to claim 9 comprising the additional step of filling the space between the spaced sheets of the panels with core material to form solid walling.

Inventors: ROBERTSON, GORDON MACDONALD
Applicants: ROBERTSON'S BUILDING SYSTEM (PVT) LIMITED
Application year: 1980
Main classification: E04B2
IPC codes: E04C2, E04B2