DEMOUNTABLE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

Demountable Floor Construction A floor plank (10) for use in a flooring system comprises a reinforced, inverted U-shaped, precast concrete element having an upper surface and depending ribs (14) along its longitudinal edges. The planks are supported on spaced horizontal beams (6) during assembly. The planks are interconnected by means of connector plates (52, 54, 56, 58) and bolts (50) along their edges to create a floor diaphragm and surface appropriate for use.

Claims

1. A flooring system comprising planks each comprising a reinforced, inverted U-shaped, precast concrete element having an upper surface and depending ribs at longitudinal edges; wherein bolt sleeves for receiving removable bolts are preformed into the planks extending from the upper surface into the ribs of the plank; and connector plates carrying removable bolts for connecting adjacent planks to enable a full diaphragm floor to be created.

2. A flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein recesses surrounding the bolt sleeves are preformed into the upper surface of the planks to receive the connecting plates.

3. A flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolts are assembled from a counter sunk head, a threaded stud and a sleeve coupler.

4. A flooring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein joints between the planks are filled with a grout or concrete mix.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order that the invention can be well understood some embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from below of a floor section within a single bay or grid rectangle;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a primary beam;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plank showing how it would be supported for craning into position together with a transparent view showing its internal reinforcement;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a view of a floor bay from above;

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of two floors;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a detail showing a primary beam to column connection;

[0030] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of a typical column connection;

[0031] FIG. 8 shows a slab connector plate for use in connecting the edges of two adjoining planks;

[0032] FIG. 9 shows an exploded perspective view showing a beam connector plate for use in connecting planks on either side of a beam in position;

[0033] FIG. 10 shows the beam connector plate FIG. 9;

[0034] FIG. 11 shows an exploded view of a beam connector plate showing the elements of the bolts;

[0035] FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of a typical column, beam, and plank connection.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0036] The modular flooring system described is intended to be installed in a multi-storey building such as a low rise office, retail premises, hotel or school. The building is defined by means of an array of vertical columns made up of individual floor height column sections 2 arranged in a grid structure, for example a 9 m×9 m or 7.5 m×7.5 m, or 9 m×12 m grid as shown in FIG. 5. A single bay of the grid is illustrated in the drawings for simplicity. In each bay four vertical column sections 4 are interconnected by a pair of parallel horizontal primary beams 6. The floor between the beams is created by means of a series of adjoining precast concrete planks 10 which serve as the secondary components of the floor.

[0037] Each concrete plank 10 is an elongate inverted U-shaped precast concrete element having ends 12 and ribs 14 depending on the longitudinal side edges. The plank has a substantially flat upper surface that defines the level of the floor. The upper surface has recesses as described later for the purpose of interconnecting the planks. The underside of the plank is the soffit. The concrete planks are precast with internal rebar reinforcement 20 as shown in FIG. 3. The planks have deeper side edges or ribs where the planks adjoin each other side by side creating a ribbed effect in the underside of the floor and providing sufficient depth of concrete to support connecting bolts. The outer, lower portion of each rib 14 has a slight projection 16 to control the spacing of the planks as they abut each other to form a grout joint zone that when in-filled provides a shear key between adjacent planks. The ribs act as beams supporting the flat plank surface.

[0038] A typical inverted U channel plank has a width of 1500 to 3000 mm between its side edges and a rib depth of 250 to 550 mm at those edges and 120-150 mm in its middle region. The planks may span 6 to 12 m between primary beams such that three planks can create a grid bay as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4.

[0039] The ends 12 of the longitudinal beams may be square or have an undercut rebate 24 which is sized to cooperate with the adjacent beam and allows the plank to be self-supporting on the beams 6 during construction. The ends of the planks sit on neoprene pads 64 on the beams. The joints between the planks are filled with a grout or concrete mix. Connector plates 54 link the planks across the beams 6 and therefore create a moment connection across the beams in the final condition.

[0040] The longitudinal ribs 14 of the planks may be provided with apertures 44 for services to pass through if required.

[0041] Lifting points 26 are provided on the plank so that it can be hoisted into position as shown in FIG. 3. Alternative lifting methods are possible such as by lifting it through service penetrations 44 in the ribs.

[0042] Recesses 30 for the connector plates surrounding bolt sleeves 32 are pre-cast in the upper surface of the plank along the longitudinal edges. The bolt sleeves extend from the upper surface into the ribs 14. Recesses 40 surrounding bolt sleeves 42 are also formed at each corner of the end of the plank. These recesses 30, 40 are deep enough, for example 20 mm, to accommodate the various connector plates 52, 54, 56, and 58 which are used to join the components of the flooring system together. The use of connector plates 52, 54, 56, 58 and bolts 50 rather than welded or in situ joints which require construction work during assembly, allows this flooring system to be demountable.

[0043] The beams 6 are preferably of an inverted T-shaped section as shown in FIG. 2 with a lower flange 34 and web 36. The lower projecting flange 34 provides support for a base of a rib 14 during assembly, and neoprene pads 64 may be provided on this support surface. The beam 6 can be provided with penetrations or apertures 38 for the passage of services, as required.

[0044] Connector plates 52, 54, 56, 58 are provided in various configurations as shown in FIGS. 7 to 12. The plates are provided with bolts 50 that connect to the plates and are cast into and cooperate with the bolt sleeves 32, 42 precast into the planks. As illustrated in FIG. 11, each bolt 50 is assembled from a counter sunk head 53 and a threaded stud 55. The head 53 is received in a hole in a connector plate and is connected to the stud 55 by means of a threaded sleeve coupler 51.

[0045] Once the plates and bolts have been assembled, they can be fixed in position by grouting 62 to give moment continuity. The countersunk bolt head 53, can simply be unscrewed to facilitate removal of the connector plates 52, 54, 56, 58. Once the connector plates are removed the panels have no tensile capacity between the precast units, and can be separated by a concrete splitter for later reuse.

[0046] The primary beams 6, are bolted to a column 4 through threaded bars 74 that sleeve through the beam, as shown in FIG. 12. Where the column is narrower than the width of the beam, these threaded bars will sleeve through the web 36 of the primary beam 6. The column connector plate 56 connects the primary beam to adjacent planks through bolts 50 cast into sleeves. The column connector plate can be detailed so that it has threaded bars 70 to connect to standard column shoes 72, or can be detailed to connect to steel or concrete columns. Connector plates 52 connect adjacent planks. Connector plates 54 bridge across a primary supporting beam and connector plates 58 can be used to connect other support beams below the planks.

[0047] The flooring system made up of the components as described can be assembled on site without significant construction steps. There is no need for any propping during construction as the planks are self-supporting on the beams.