Patent Abstract:
Structural truss panels include first, second, third, and fourth horizontal elongated members and first and second vertical elongated members fastened to the first, second, third, and fourth horizontal elongated members. The first and fourth horizontal elongated members form respectively a top and a bottom of the structural truss panel. The first and second vertical elongated members forming respective sides of the structural truss panel. The structural truss panel further includes and an angled webbing fastened between the first and second vertical elongated members and the first and second horizontal elongated members thereby creating an integrated web truss within the structural truss panel. The structural truss panel includes first, second, and third brace members forming a V-braced truss panel.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 14/546,759, filed Nov. 18, 2014, which is a Continuation of patent application Ser. No. 14/014,690, filed Aug. 30, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,887,472, which is a Divisional of patent application Ser. No. 12/964,380, filed Dec. 9, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,294, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/288,011, filed Dec. 18, 2009. The disclosures set forth in the referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a panelized and modular system for constructing and assembling buildings. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A building&#39;s structure must withstand physical forces or displacements without danger of collapse or without loss of serviceability or function. The stresses on buildings are withstood by the buildings&#39; structures. 
         [0004]    Buildings five stories and less in height typically use a “bearing wall” structural system to manage dead and live load vertical forces. Vertical forces on the roof, floors, and walls of a structure are passed vertically from the roof to the walls to the foundation by evenly spreading the loads on the walls and by increasing the size and density of the framing or frame structure from upper floors progressively downward to lower floors, floor-to-floor. For ceilings and floor spans, trusses are used to support loads on the ceilings and floors and to transfer these loads to walls and columns. 
         [0005]    Where vertical bearing elements are absent, for example at window and door openings, beams are used to transfer loads to columns or walls. In buildings taller than five stories, where the walls have limited capacity to support vertical loads, concrete and/or structural steel framing in the form of large beams and columns are used to support the structure. 
         [0006]    Lateral forces(e.g., wind and seismic forces) acting on buildings are managed and transferred by bracing. A common method of constructing a braced wall line in buildings (typically 5 stories or less) is to create braced panels in the wall line using structural sheathing. A more traditional method is to use let-in diagonal bracing throughout the wall line, but this method is not viable for buildings with many openings for doors, windows, etc. The lateral forces in buildings taller than five stories are managed and transferred by heavy steel let-in bracing, or heavy steel and/or concrete panels, as well as structural core elements such as concrete or masonry stair towers and elevator hoistways. 
         [0007]    There is a need for a panelized and modular system for constructing and assembling buildings without relying on concrete and/or structural steel framing, heavy steel let-in bracing, and heavy steel and/or concrete panels. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a stud for use as a framing member in horizontal truss panels. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a track for use as a framing member in horizontal truss panels;  FIGS. 3 and 3.1  illustrate a V-Braced horizontal truss panel. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3 and 3.1  illustrate a V-Braced horizontal truss panel. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4, 4.1, and 4.2  illustrate various open horizontal truss panels. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a truss for attachment to horizontal truss panels. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a structural column assembly for attaching horizontal truss panels to one another. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show the manner of attaching a horizontal truss panel such as shown in  FIGS. 3, 3.1, 4, 4.1, and 4.2  to the structural column assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates another example three-dimensional view of an example building design and a user interface  804  for generating structural components for the building design. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  shows a unified horizontal truss panel wall line having open and V-braced horizontal truss panels in a Unified Truss Construction System (UTCS) wall line. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates the truss of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  shows the truss/stud hangar of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  illustrate a portion of the structural column assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  illustrates trusses connected to horizontal truss panels. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  illustrates trusses connected to horizontal truss panels to form a UTCS open span assembly creating a wall line. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  illustrates a UTCS building section formed as an assembly of multiple floors of a UTCS structure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  shows alignment of the structural column assemblies of  FIG. 6  in a building. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  illustrates a three-dimensional view of an example unit design. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  illustrates a three-dimensional view and a two-dimensional view of the floor-to-floor sections of a section of this building. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  shows the transfer of forces to the structural column assemblies of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The Unified Truss Construction System (UTCS) disclosed herein is a unique, new, and innovative structural system for single and multistory buildings, based on standardized structural panels. The system employs a limited number of configurations of uniquely engineered, light gauge metal framed vertical wall panels(horizontal truss panels), light-gauge-metal floor and ceiling trusses, cold rolled square or rectangular steel tubing (structural columns), and unique connecting plates and clips. 
         [0028]    Unlike conventional approaches to designing and engineering a building&#39;s structure, where many different assemblies (walls, columns, beams, bracing, strapping, and the fasteners that fasten them together) are employed to manage vertical live load and dead load forces, and lateral forces, UTCS manages these forces through a limited number of uniquely designed standardized horizontal truss panels, which are assembled with structural columns and trusses. This unique assembly of elements effectively supports and transfers vertical and lateral forces from the walls, floor, ceiling, and roof to UTCS&#39; redundant and dense column system. 
         [0029]    Accordingly, columns absorb these vertical and lateral forces such that UTCS is not a vertical bearing wall structural system and eliminates the need for “hot formed” structural steel (weighted steel or “red iron”) and concrete as part of a building&#39;s structural system. 
         [0030]    UTCS framing members are made from specially designed computerized roll forming machines. These machines manufacture framing studs or members from cold rolled steel commonly referred to as “coiled steel.” Each stud is cut to size, pre-drilled for fastening screws, with countersinks at the assembly screw head area, pre-punched for chasing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (“MEP”) assemblies and rough-ins, pre-punched for passing vertical and horizontal bracing, and labeled for assembly. The machines read stud specifications from CAD files. 
         [0031]    Horizontal truss panels and the trusses used in UTCS are constructed with framing members roll formed from light gauge steel, such as 18 to 14 gauge steel, depending on building height and code requirements. There are two profiles of framing members used in the horizontal truss panels, a stud  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a track  12  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The stud  10  and the track  12  are each rolled from light gauge steel, such as 18 to 14 gauge steel. 
         [0032]    Each of the stud  10  and the track  12  includes a web  14 , flanges  16 , and lips  18  formed as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The flanges  16  extend in the same direction at substantially right angles from opposing sides of the web  14 , and the lips  18  extend inwardly from ends of the flanges  16  such that the lips  18  parallel the web  14 . The stud  10  and the track  12  differ mainly in that the flanges  16  of the track  12  are slightly higher than the flanges  16  of the stud  10 , and the web  14  of the track  12  is slightly wider than the web  14  of the stud  10 . These relative dimensions allow the stud  10  to slide into or through the track  12  without the need to compress the flanges  16  of the stud  12 , which affects its structural performance. 
         [0033]    UTCS employs a limited number, such as two, configurations of horizontal truss panels. These horizontal truss panels are the structural wall elements of UTCS. If only two such configurations are used, they are (a) a V-braced horizontal truss panel  20 / 22  shown in  FIG. 3  or  FIG. 3.1 , which contains a “V” shaped brace (“V-brace”), and (b) an open horizontal truss panel  24  shown in  FIG. 4 , which does not contain a V-brace. 
         [0034]    An open horizontal truss panel  24  is generally used in any area of a building having large openings (windows, doors, pass-throughs, and the like) in a UTCS structure. The open horizontal truss panel  24  is engineered to support and transfer vertical live (occupancy, for example) and dead load forces (e.g., drywall, MEP assemblies, insulation, and the like) from floor and ceiling assemblies attached either to or proximate to each panel within a building (“Local Forces”). The V-braced horizontal truss panel  20 / 22  is engineered to support vertical local forces and lateral forces acting on the structure (wind and seismic, for example). 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  has a top track  26  and a bottom track  28 . Inboard of the top track  26  is a continuous horizontal brace comprised of back-to-back (web-to-web) tracks  30  and  32 , (referred to as double horizontal bracing), which are anchored by fasteners  34  such as bolts or screws to side studs  36  and  38  at the sides of the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20 . The top track  26  and the bottom track  28  are also anchored by fasteners  34  to the side studs  36  and  38 . The area between the continuous horizontal brace formed by the tracks  30  and  32  and the top track  26  contains vertical angled webbing  40  made from studs. This braced area in  FIG. 3  acts as a truss attachment area  42  within the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  for the attachment of trusses  106  discussed below, and supports and transfers forces exerted on the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  to the structural columns discussed below and attached to each of the side studs  36  and  38  of the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20 . 
         [0036]    The V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  also has two inboard studs  44  and  46  and a center stud  48  anchored by fasteners  34  to the top and bottom tracks  26  and  28  and to the tracks  30  and  32 . The side studs  36  and  38  pass through end cutouts  50  in the ends of the web  14  and in the lips  18  of the tracks  30  and  32  such that the flanges  16  of the studs  36  and  38  abut the flanges  16  at the ends of the tracks  26 ,  28 ,  34 , and  36 . These end cutouts  50  are shown in  FIG. 2 . The fasteners  34  are at these abutment areas. Similarly, the inboard studs  44  and  46  and the center stud  48  pass through interior cutouts  52  of the webs  14  and lips  18  of the tracks  30  and  32  such that an exterior of the flanges  16  of the studs  36  and  38  and of the center stud  100  abut the interior of the flanges  16  of the tracks  26 ,  28 ,  34 , and  36 . These interior cutouts  52  are also shown in  FIG. 2 . The fasteners  34  are at these abutment areas. The five vertical studs  36 ,  38 , 44 ,  46 , and  48 , for example, may be spaced 24″ on center. The point at which the inboard studs  44  and  46  and the center stud  48  pass through the tracks  30  and  32  is a hinge connection (i.e., a single fastener allows for rotation). The studs of the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  also serve to support drywall, conduit, wiring, plumbing assemblies, etc. 
         [0037]    The V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  also contains a continuous V-shaped bracing. This V-Bracing is unique in its design and engineering. The two legs of the V-brace are V-brace studs  54  and  56  such as the stud  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . The V-brace stud  54  is anchored to the side stud  36  just below the tracks  30  and  32  and to the bottom track  28  by the fasteners  34  and passes through an interior cutout  58  in the web  14  of the inboard stud  44 . This interior cutout  58  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The web  14  of the V-brace stud  54  abuts one flange  16  of each of the studs  36  and  44  and the track  28 . These abutment areas receive the fasteners  34  as shown. 
         [0038]    Similarly, the V-brace stud  56  is anchored to the side stud  38 just below the tracks  30  and  32  and to the bottom track  28  by the fasteners  34  and passes through the interior cutout  58  in the inboard stud  46 . The web  14  of the V-brace stud  56  abuts one flange  16  of each of the studs  38  and  46  and the track  28 . These abutment areas receive the fasteners  34  as shown. 
         [0039]    The attachment of the V-brace studs  54  and  56  to the studs  36  and  38  and to the track  28  require that the ends of the V-brace studs  54  and  56  be angles as shown in  FIG. 3 . These angled ends permit multiple fasteners  34  to be used to anchor the V-brace studs  54  and  56  to their corresponding side studs  36  and  38 . 
         [0040]    The V-brace studs  54  and  56  are positioned with their webs perpendicular to the webs of the studs  36 , 44 , 48 , and  38  of the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20 . Also, the V-brace studs  54  and  56  run continuously from immediately below the tracks  32  and  34  through the inboard studs  44  and  46  to the apex of a “V” at substantially the middle of the bottom track  28 . The connection at the apex of the V-bracing is facilitated by an apex plate  60  and additional fasteners  34 , which interconnect the V-brace studs  54  and  56  and the center stud  48 . The plate  60 , the bottom track  28 , and the stud  48  and the V-brace studs  54  and  56  are interconnected by the lower three fasteners as shown in  FIG. 3 . The inboard stud  46  is also attached by fasteners  34  to the top track  26  and to the tracks  30  and  32  at the point where the inboard stud  46  passes through the interior cutouts  52  in the tracks  30  and  32 . The apex plate  60  may be formed from a material such as 18-14 gauge cold roll steel. 
         [0041]    The connections of the V-brace studs  54  and  56 , to the side studs  36  and  38 , to the center stud  48 , and to the track  28  are moment connections and improve the lateral structural performance of the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20 . 
         [0042]    These connections facilitate the transfer of most of the lateral forces acting on the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  to the structural column of the system (discussed in further detail below). 
         [0043]    The V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  also contains a track  62  providing horizontal bracing. The track  62  is located, for example, mid-way in the V-Brace formed by the V-brace studs  54  and  56 . The track  62  has the end cutouts  50  to accommodate the inboard studs  44  and  46 , has the interior cutout  52  to accommodate the center stud  48 , and is anchored by fasteners  34  to the inboard studs  44  and  46  and to the center stud  48 . The track  62  contributes to the lateral-force structural performance of the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20 . 
         [0044]    The V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  may contain other bracing and backing as necessary for building assemblies like drywall, cabinets, grab bars and the like. The V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  is used as both interior (demising and partition) structural walls and exterior structural walls. The V-braced horizontal truss panel  20 / 22  may also accommodate windows and pass-throughs, although the space is limited as can be seen from the drawings. 
         [0045]    The V-braced horizontal truss panel  22  of  FIG. 3.1  has the same construction as the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20  of  FIG. 3  except that the V-brace stud  54  forming half of the V-brace of  FIG. 3  is replaced by two studs  64  and  66  whose lips  18  abut one another, and the V-brace stud  56  forming the other half of the V-brace of  FIG. 3  is replaced by two studs  68  and  70  that may or may not abut one another. Thus, the studs  64 , 66 , 68 , and  70  form a double V-brace for the V-braced horizontal truss panel  22  of  FIG. 3.1  to provide extra strength. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the open horizontal truss panel  24  has a top track  80  and a bottom track  82 . Inboard of the top track  80  is a continuous horizontal brace comprised of back-to-back (web-to-web) tracks  84  and  86 , (referred to as double horizontal bracing), which are anchored by fasteners  34  such as bolts or screws to side studs  88  and  90  at the sides of the open horizontal truss panel  24 . The top track  80  and the bottom track  82  are also anchored by fasteners  34  to the side studs  88  and  90 . The area between the continuous horizontal brace formed by the tracks  84  and  86  and the top track  80  contains vertical angled webbing  92  made from studs. This braced area in  FIG. 4  acts as a structural truss  94  for the open horizontal truss panel  24 , and supports and transfers forces exerted on the open horizontal truss panel  24  to the structural columns discussed below and attached to each of the side studs  88  and  90  of the open horizontal truss panel  24 . 
         [0047]    The open horizontal truss panel  24  also has two inboard studs  96  and  98  and a center stud  100  anchored by fasteners  34  to the top and bottom tracks  80  and  82  and to the tracks  84  and  86 . The side studs  88  and  90  pass through end cutouts  50  in the ends of the web  14  and of the lips  18  of the tracks  84  and  86  such that the flanges  16  of the studs  88  and  90  abut the flanges  16  at the ends of the tracks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 . These end cutouts  50  are shown in  FIG. 2 . The fasteners  34  are at these abutment areas. Similarly, the inboard studs  96  and  98  and the center stud  100  pass through interior cutouts  52  of the webs  14  and of the lips  18  of the tracks  84  and  86  such that the flanges  16  of the studs  96  and  98  and of the center stud  100  abut the flanges  16  of the tracks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 . These interior cutouts  52  are also shown in  FIG. 2 . The fasteners  34  are at these abutment areas. The five vertical studs  88 , 90 , 96 , 98 , and  100 , for example, may be spaced 24″ on center. The point at which the inboard studs  96  and  98  and the center stud  100  pass through the tracks  84  and  86  is a hinge connection (i.e., a single fastener allows for rotation). The studs of the open horizontal truss panel  24  also serve to support drywall, conduit, wiring, plumbing assemblies, etc. 
         [0048]    The open horizontal truss panel  24  also contains a track  102  performing horizontal bracing. The track  102  is located, for example, mid-way between the tracks  82  and  86 . The horizontal bracing track  102  includes the end cutouts  50  through which the side studs  88  and  90  pass, has three interior cutouts  52  through which the inboard studs  96  and  98  and the center stud  100  pass, and is anchored by fasteners  34  to the side studs  88  and  90 , to the inboard studs  44  and  46 , and to the center stud  48 . The flanges  16  of the studs  88 , 90 , 96 , 98 , and  100  abut the flanges  16  of the track  102 . The fasteners  34  are applied to these abutment areas. The open horizontal truss panel  24  is engineered to handle vertical local forces. 
         [0049]    The open horizontal truss panel  24  is designed to accommodate windows, doors, and pass-throughs. The open horizontal truss panel  24 , for example, may be 20′ wide or less. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 4.1 and 4.2  illustrate open horizontal truss panels with one or more openings for windows, doors, and pass-throughs.  FIG. 4.1  illustrates typical chase openings  104  through which MEP assemblies may be passed. These chase holes  104  may be formed in the V-braced horizontal truss panels  20  and  22  as well.  FIG. 4.2  illustrates several open horizontal truss panels with openings for doors. 
         [0051]    The open horizontal truss panel  24  may contain other bracing and backing as necessary for building assemblies like windows, doors, pass-throughs, drywall, cabinets, grab bars and the like. The open horizontal truss panel  24  is used as both interior (demising and partition) structural walls and exterior structural walls. 
         [0052]    The horizontal truss panels described above are tall enough to accommodate the floor to ceiling areas of buildings, and to accommodate attachment of trusses, such as a truss  106  shown in  FIG. 5 . The truss  106  is attached to the truss attachment area  42  and includes a top stud  108  and a bottom stud  110  interconnected by an angled webbing  112  made from studs such that the angled webbing  112  is attached to the top and bottom studs  108  and  110  by the fasteners  34 . The truss  106  is attached to the truss attachment area  42  of a horizontal truss panel  114  by use of truss/stud hangars  116  and the fasteners  34 . Although the horizontal truss panel  114  is shown as the V-braced horizontal truss panel  20 / 22 , the horizontal truss panel  114  can be any of the horizontal truss panels described herein. The truss/stud hangars  116  are discussed more fully below in connection with  FIG. 11 . 
         [0053]    The truss hangars  116  may be formed from a material such as 18-14 gauge cold roll steel. 
         [0054]    The truss  106  is also shown in  FIG. 10 . Trusses used in UTCS are made from the studs  10 . These trusses have the top and bottom studs  108  and  110  and the internal angled webbing  112 . The trusses  106  do not have side or end webbing connecting their top and bottom chords  108  and  110 . The truss  106  may be formed from light gauge steel, such as 18 to 14 gauge steel. The gauge and length of the truss  106  varies depending on application and width of floor span. 
         [0055]    FIG. 6  illustrates a structural column assembly  130  that includes a structural column  132  having a top plate  134  and a bottom plate  136  welded to the top and bottom of the structural column  132  so that the top plate  134  covers the top of the structural column  132  and the bottom plate  136  covers the bottom of the structural column  132 . The structural column  132 , for example, may be four sided, may be hollow, and may vary in wall thickness depending on building height and code requirements. The top plate  134  and the bottom plate  136  are shown in  FIG. 6  as being linear in the horizontal direction and are used where two walls are joined side-by-side so as to share a common linear horizontal axis. However, the top plate  134  and the bottom plate  136  may be “L” shaped plates when two walls are to be joined at a corner such that the horizontal axes of the two walls are perpendicular to one another. 
         [0056]    One or more bolts  138  are suitably attached (such as by welding or casting) to the top plate  134 . The bolts  138  extend away from the top plate  134  at right angles. Each end of the bottom plate  136  has a hole  140  therethrough. Accordingly, a first structural column  132  can be stacked vertically on a second structural column  132  such that the bolts  138  of the top plate  134  of the second structural column  132  pass through the holes  140  of the bottom plate  136  of the first structural column  132 . Nuts may then be applied to the bolts  138  of the top plate of the second structural column  132  and tightened to fasten the first and second structural columns  132  vertically to one another. 
         [0057]    The top and bottom plates  134  and  136  are slightly wider than the track  12  used for the horizontal truss panel  20 / 22 / 24  and vary in thickness depending on building height and code requirements. The through-bolting provided by the bolts  138  and holes  140  permit the structural columns  132  to be connected to one another vertically and to other assemblies within a building (roof, foundations, garages, etc.). 
         [0058]    The structural columns  132  are connected to horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24  by way of stud sections  142  of the stud  10 . The stud sections  142  are welded or otherwise suitably fastened to the top and bottom of the structural column  132 . A stud section  144  is fastened by weld or suitable fastener at about the middle of the structural column  130  such that its web  14  faces outwardly. This stud section  144  is a “hold-off” to keep the studs  36 ,  38 ,  88 , and  90  of the horizontal truss panels from deflecting. Unification plates such as  154  may or may not be used at this location. 
         [0059]    The material of the structural column  132 , for example, is cold rolled steel. The structural column  132  may be hollow and have a wall thickness that varies depending on application and code. The material of the plates  134  and  136  and for the truss hangars  144  and  146 , for example, may be 18-14 gauge cold roll steel. 
         [0060]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show the manner of attaching a horizontal truss panel such as the horizontal truss panels  20 ,  22 , and  24  to the structural column assembly  130 . A unified horizontal truss panel is created when the structural column assembly  130  is attached to the horizontal truss panel  20 / 22 / 24  using four truss hanger unification plates  150 , which have a stud insertion projection for attachment of the trusses  106  discussed in further detail below, and two flat unification plates  154 , all of which are attached by fasteners  34  to the side stud  36  and  38  of the horizontal truss panel  20 / 22 / 24  and the stud sections  142 . The stud sections  144  as shown in  FIG. 7  act to “hold-off” studs  36  and  38  so that these studs do not deflect through the space between the side studs  36  and  38  and the structural column  132 . Unification plates such as  154  may or may not be used at this location. 
         [0061]    In a UTCS structure, a section or length of wall is assembled by attaching a number (depending on wall length) of horizontal truss panels together using the structural column assemblies  130 . The open horizontal truss panels  24  are used as a wall section(s) in buildings where there are larger openings like windows, doors, and pass-throughs. The V-braced horizontal truss panels  22 / 22  are used as wall section(s) generally throughout the rest of the structure so as to provide dense lateral support of the structure.  FIG. 9  shows a horizontal truss panel wall line having open and V-braced horizontal truss panels  24  and  20 / 22  in a UTCS wall line. 
         [0062]    As indicated above, the truss  106  is attached to the horizontal truss panel  20 / 22 / 24  by way of the truss/stud hangars  116  and the fasteners  34  located at the inboard studs  44  and  46  and the center stud  48 . The truss/stud hangar  116  is shown in  FIG. 11  and includes a stud insertion projection  152  to be received within the top stud  108  of the truss  106  as illustrated in  FIG. 5  and, when inverted 180 degrees as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , within the bottom stud  110  of the truss  106 . The truss/stud hanger  116  also includes L-shaped flanges  172  used to fasten the truss/stud hangers to the top track  26  and, inverted, to the horizontal bracing  30  and  32  of the horizontal truss panels. 
         [0063]    The trusses  106  are connected to the horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24  by inserting the end of the top stud  108  of the truss  106  into the insertion projection  152  and fastening by fasteners  34 , and connecting by fasteners  34  the L-shaped flanges  172  to the web  14  and flange  16  of the top track  26  and by connecting by fastener  34  a projection tab  176  of the truss hangar  116  to the top flange  16  of the stud  108 . The bottom stud  110  of the truss  106  is connected by inverting the truss/stud hanger  116  by 180 degrees, inserting the end of the bottom stud  110  of the truss  106  into the insertion projection  152  and fastening by fasteners  34 , connecting by fasteners  34  the L-shaped flanges  172  to the web  14  of the tracks  30  and  32 , and by connecting by fastener  34  the projection tab  176  to the bottom flange  16  of the stud  110 . 
         [0064]    A truss  106  is also attached at each of the structural columns  132  by way of an insertion projection  152  on the unification plate  150 . The end of the top stud  108  of the truss  106  is inserted over the insertion projection  152  of the unification plate  150  and fastened with fasteners  34  to the web  14  of the stud  108 . The projection tab  176  is fastened by a fastener to the top flange  16  of the stud  108 . The bottom stud  110  of the truss  106  is connected by way of insertion of the end of the stud  110  over the insertion projection  152  of an unification plate  150  that is rotated 180 degrees. Fasteners  34  are used to connect the insertion projection  152  to the web  14  of the stud  110 . The projection tab  176  is attached by way of a fastener to the bottom flange  16  of the stud  110 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 13  illustrates the trusses  106  connected to horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 14  illustrates the trusses  106  connected to horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24  forming a UTCS open span assembly where the horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24  are assembled with the trusses  106  to create a wall line. The trusses  106  support a floor and ceiling assembly. 
         [0067]    Attaching the trusses  106  to the horizontal truss panels in this manner incorporates the truss  106  into the horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24 , eliminating the “hinge-point” that exists where a wall assembly sits on a floor, or where a ceiling assembly sits on top of a wall. This connection unifies the trusses  106  and horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24 , in effect enabling the entire wall and floor system to act together as a “truss.” This configuration facilitates the transfer of forces on the floor, ceiling, and horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24  to their attached structural column assemblies  130 . Accordingly, vertical and lateral forces are not transferred vertically horizontal truss panel to horizontal truss panel. When subflooring and drywall are incorporated into the building, the entire system acts as a “diaphragm.” 
         [0068]      FIG. 15  illustrates a UTCS building section formed as an assembly of multiple floors of a UTCS structure. In a UTCS building or structure, the horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24  are laid out such that the structural column assemblies  130  on one floor line up vertically with the structural column assemblies  130  on the floor below, and so on, down to a foundation. 
         [0069]      FIG. 16  shows this alignment of the structural column assemblies.  FIG. 16  also illustrates the density of the structural column assemblies  130  in a UTCS structure. 
         [0070]      FIG. 17  illustrates a three-dimensional view and a two-dimensional view of the floor-to-floor joints of this assembly. It shows that horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24  do not contact or bear on each other, as is otherwise typical in “bearing wall” and steel and concrete structures. The horizontal truss panels on one floor of a UTCS structure do not carry load from the floor above. This load is instead transferred to and carried by the structural column assemblies  130 . Each “floor” or elevation of the structure dampens and transfers its vertical live and dead load forces to the structural column assemblies  130 , where they are dampened and transferred vertically to the foundation of the building. 
         [0071]    The V-braced horizontal truss panels  20 / 22  dampen and transfer the lateral forces acting on the building to the redundant structural column assemblies  130  in the structure. This transfer of forces is illustrated in  FIG. 18 . The blow up portion of  FIG. 18  also illustrates that the panels do not bear on each other vertically and that the forces (arrows) are not transferred vertically from one panel to the other. Rather the vertical and lateral forces are transferred laterally to the structural column assemblies  130 . This type of load transfer is facilitated by the unique design and assembly of the system. Both the horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24  and the trusses  106  act as a unified truss system. 
         [0072]    UTCS may employ horizontal truss panels of varying widths from 20′ to 2′, the most common being V-braced horizontal truss panels  20 / 22  measuring 8′ and 4′. These panels lead to a significant redundancy of the structural column assemblies  130  within the structure. Each open horizontal truss panel  24  acts to support and mitigate only those vertical local forces proximate to their attached structural column assemblies  130 . The V-braced horizontal truss panels  20 / 22  act to support vertical local forces as well as lateral forces acting on the structure. Because of the unique manner in which the horizontal truss panels  20 / 22 / 24  transfer vertical and lateral forces and the redundancy of the structural column assemblies  130  in the system, there in no need to configure panels differently from floor-to-floor. Only the width and gauge of the tracks  12 , the studs  10 , and V-brace vary, depending on building height and code requirements. Interior non-structural partition walls that separate spaces within a UTCS building are constructed from light gauge steel (typically 24-28 gauge) and are typical in Type I and Type II steel frame construction. 
         [0073]    UTCS is extremely efficient in managing vertical and lateral forces on a building. With UTCS the need to build a bearing wall structure or heavy structural core is eliminated, vastly reducing costs over traditional construction practices. UTCS saves time as well because the structure of a building is erected from a limited number of pre-assembled panels. This also dramatically reduces the cost of engineering the structure of buildings. 
         [0074]    UTCS is unique and innovative. It can be built on nearly any foundation system including slabs, structured parking, retail and commercial buildings. UTCS employs a framing technology that is based on a system-built, panelized approach to construction. UTCS uses panelized building technology and innovative engineering to significantly reduce the cost of design, material, and erection of a building. UTCS technology and engineering is a new structural system and method of assembling single and multistory buildings. 
         [0075]    Certain modifications of the present invention have been discussed above. For example, although the present invention is particularly useful for constructing and assembling buildings without relying on concrete and/or structural steel framing, heavy steel let-in bracing, and heavy steel and/or concrete panels, it can also be applied to buildings having concrete and/or structural steel framing, heavy steel let-in bracing, and heavy steel and/or concrete panels. Other modifications will occur to those practicing in the art of the present invention. 
         [0076]    Accordingly, the description of the present invention is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4