PARKING LOT AND ASSOCIATED PROCESS

Abstract

A parking lot for motorized land vehicles including beams supporting ends of concrete slabs through the use of connecting plates fixed to the beams and through the use of a concrete strip connecting the ends of the concrete slabs. Also, the method of assembling the parking lot or supporting structure.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A self-supporting structure, such as a parking lot for land vehicles, in particular motorized vehicles, comprising : a wooden structure comprising at least two primary beams extending in a first direction and secondary beams connecting the primary beams and extending in a second direction distinct from the first direction, posts extending in a third direction perpendicular to said first and second directions and supporting said ends of said primary beams, at least one metal plate being integral with a face of a primary beam oriented in the third direction, connecting members being integral with the metal plate and arranged to project in the said third direction, a concrete slab being formed in contact with the metal plate so that the connecting members are embedded in the concrete slab.

19. The self-supporting structure according to claim 18, wherein the concrete slab comprises : a plurality of first concrete slabs arranged side by side along the first direction between said primary beams and comprising first edges extending along the first direction, preferably aligned with each other, a concrete connecting strip formed in contact with the metal plate and in contact with the first edges of the first concrete slabs, the connecting members being embedded in the connecting strip.

20. The self-supporting structure according to claim 19, wherein each first concrete slab comprises a first metal framework embedded in a concrete matrix, said first metal framework of each first concrete slab comprising a portion formed protruding in the second direction relative to first edges of the first concrete slabs and being embedded in said concrete connecting strip.

21. The self-supporting structure according to claim 20, wherein each first concrete slab comprises reservation holes formed in the thickness of the first concrete slabs and arranged regularly along the first direction.

22. The self-supporting structure according to claim 21, wherein said reservation holes extend in the second direction.

23. The self-supporting structure according to claim 19, further comprising second concrete slabs whose first edges are arranged, in the second direction opposite the first edges of the first concrete slabs, the connecting strip fixedly connecting the first edges of the first slabs and the first edges of the second slabs.

24. The self-supporting structure according to claim 19, wherein said connecting strip connects one end of the primary beam to an opposite end of said primary beam under consideration.

25. The self-supporting structure according to claim 18, wherein each connecting member comprises a body elongated in the third direction, one end of which is attached to the metal plate by welding.

26. The self-supporting structure according to claim 18, wherein each connecting member comprises a body elongated in the third direction, one end of the body being fixed to the metal plate and an opposite end comprising a head defining a shoulder with the body.

27. The self-supporting structure according to claim 18, in which each concrete slab comprises a metal framework (46) embedded in a concrete matrix.

28. The self-supporting structure according to claim 18, in which the secondary beams are connected at their ends to the primary beams by means of fastening brackets.

29. The self-supporting structure according to claim 18, wherein said at least one metal plate is nailed or screwed to said face of the primary beam.

30. The self-supporting structure according to claim 18, wherein said second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

31. A method of assembling the self-supporting structure according to claim 18, comprising the following steps : a) Arrange the posts in a vertical direction, b) Connecting said posts by means of primary beams, said primary beams being supported by said posts, c) Arrange said secondary beams between the primary beams and attach their ends to said primary beams, d) Form a concrete slab in such a way that it is in contact with the metal plate and that the connecting members are embedded in the concrete slab.

32. The method according to claim 31 for the assembly of the self-supporting structure, wherein the concrete slab comprises : a plurality of first concrete slabs arranged side by side along the first direction between said primary beams and comprising first edges extending along the first direction, preferably aligned with each other, and a concrete connecting strip formed in contact with the metal plate and in contact with the first edges of the first concrete slabs, the connecting members being embedded in the connecting strip, and wherein step d) comprises : e) Arrange the first concrete slabs between the primary beams and above the secondary beams so that their first edges extend in the first direction, f) Pour a concrete connecting strip in contact with the metal plate and said first edges so as to cover said connecting members.

33. The method according to claim 32, comprising a step g) subsequent to step f) which comprises making a cut along said first edges of the concrete slabs so as to detach said first concrete slabs from the wooden structure.

34. The method according to claim 33 for the assembly of the self-supporting structure, wherein: each first concrete slab comprises a first metal framework embedded in a concrete matrix, said first metal framework of each first concrete slab comprising a portion formed protruding in the second direction relative to first edges of the first concrete slabs and being embedded in said concrete connecting strip, each first concrete slab comprises reservation holes formed in the thickness of the first concrete slabs and arranged regularly along the first direction, and the method further comprises a step h) subsequent to step g) which comprises the insertion of metal bars into the reservation holes of each concrete slab.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a self-supporting structure which is a parking lot according to the invention ; [0048] FIG. 2 is a larger scale schematic view of the area delineated by the dotted line in FIG. 1; [0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a parking lot assembly according to the invention ; [0050] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the connection between a primary beam and a secondary beam for an assembly according to the invention ; [0051] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the connection between two concrete slabs at a primary beam; [0052] FIG. 6 is another schematic perspective view of the connection between two concrete slabs at a primary beam; [0053] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective and cross-sectional view in a plane parallel to the concrete slabs of the connection between two concrete slabs, at the level of a primary beam [0054] FIG. 8 is a schematic view according to a sectional drawing extending along two secondary beams and crossing a primary beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a parking lot 10 according to the invention comprising a plurality of module 10a with wood structure and concrete slab as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is here a schematic view of inclined bracing beams 12 allowing to provide rigidity to the whole parking lot 10 and essentially to limit horizontal deformations.

[0056] Reference will be made to the first direction D1, second direction D2 and third direction D3 to describe Parking Lot 10 in the three-dimensional space. The above directions may all be perpendicular to each other in pairs. The first direction D1 and the second direction D2 together define a horizontal plane and the third direction D3 defines an orientation perpendicular to said plane and therefore oriented substantially vertically. Also, the first direction may not be strictly perpendicular to the second direction and therefore distinct from the first direction, with the third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.

[0057] It must be understood that the term “parking lot” means any construction capable of allowing the parking of several vehicles, the dimension of the said construction or the number of vehicles not being parameters that must allow a semantic distinction to be made.

[0058] Thus, FIG. 3 represents a part or module 10a of the parking lot illustrated in FIG. 1. It is understood that the said part 10a can also be considered as forming a parking lot as such, as long as it is capable of fulfilling the function of parking several vehicles. We will first describe a module 10a and its cooperation with other adjacent modules in the three directions of space.

[0059] This module 10a consists of a wooden structure with two primary beams 14 or primary horizontal support elements that extend in a first direction D1 . They are parallel to each other and arranged at a distance from each other along the second direction D2. A plurality of secondary beams 16 or secondary horizontal support elements extend between the primary beams 14 and connect the primary beams 14 to each other. In construction, these secondary beams 16 are classically called joists. There are more secondary beams 16 than primary beams 14 for each module 10a. Module 10a also includes vertically extending columns 18 or vertical support elements, i.e. in the third direction D3. Each post 18 is attached by a lower end to a base plate 20 fixed to the ground and has a recess 22 formed along its height to support the ends of each of the primary beams 14. These ends of the primary beams 14 are bolted to the columns

[0060] Each primary beam 14 has a bottom face 20 and a top face 22 oriented in the third direction D3 and two side faces 24 oriented in the second direction D2.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 4, the ends of each secondary beam 16 comprise a slot 26 for receiving a second flat part 28b of a fixing bracket 28 which comprises a first flat part 28a perpendicular to the second part 28b. The first part 28a is fixed, e.g. by means of tie rods, to a side face 24 of a primary beam 14. The second part 28b is bolted to the secondary beam. Each secondary beam 16 is aligned in the second direction D2 with another secondary beam 16 intended to connect with an adjacent module 10a. Thus, we understand that a primary beam 14 belongs to a given module 10a but also to the immediately adjacent module since it is bolted on both sides according to the second direction D2 to other secondary beams 16.

[0062] According to the invention, each upper side 22 of a primary beam 14 carries a metal plate 30 which is fixed to said upper side 22. The thickness of the plate is best seen in FIG. 8. In a practical realization, the metal plate 30 is fixed by means of nails 32 passing through the plate 30 (FIGS. 5 and 6) and extending through the thickness of the primary beam and in a direction forming an angle at least equal to 30° with respect to the plane formed by directions D1 and D3 in order to resist tearing forces. The plate can still be fixed by screwing with screws engaged in direction D3. The plate 30 has connecting elements 34 which project from the upper side 22 of the metal plate 30 in the third direction D3. These connecting members 34 each comprise a body 36 elongated in the third direction D3. A lower end of the body is fixed, for example by welding, to plate 30 and an upper end carries a head 38 forming a shoulder with the rest of the body 36 (FIG. 8).

[0063] FIG. 3 and following represent a particular realization in which the concrete slab forming a vehicle support floor is made up of several first concrete slabs and connecting strips as is clear from the following description.

[0064] Thus, FIG. 3 shows a plurality of first concrete slabs 40a arranged side by side along the first direction D1 between said primary beams 14 and including first edges 42 extending along the first direction D1. These first edges 42 are here aligned with each other and are arranged so that they do not bear on the metal plates 30. As can be seen in this figure, each concrete slab 40a has a substantially rectangular shape comprising the two first edges 42 or short edges connected to two second edges 44 or long edges (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6). The second edges 44 thus extend in the second direction D2.

[0065] In order to allow a quick and easy assembly on site, it is proposed to prefabricate the first concrete slabs 40a, as well as second concrete slabs 40b. Thus, each slab 40a includes a first metal framework 46 or wire mesh embedded in a layer or matrix of concrete. The first metal framework of each slab 40a is formed so as to have projecting portions 48 in the second direction D2 relative to the first edges 42 of the first concrete slabs 40a. In this way, said projecting portions 46 of the first steel framework 46 are arranged above the steel plates 30. A protruding portion of a first metal framework of a first slab 40a being arranged facing each other in the second direction D2 with a protruding portion 48 of a second metal framework 46 of an adjacent second slab 40b in the second direction D2.

[0066] According to the invention, a concrete connecting strip 50 is formed on the metal plate 30 and shaped by an appropriate formwork so as to achieve the connection between the first edges of the first slabs and the second slabs (FIGS. 3, 6 and 8). The concrete connecting strip 50 allows a rigid connection of the two concrete slabs 40a, 40b by means of the protruding portions 48 of the steel framework 46. The concrete connection strip 50 thus formed provides a perfect connection of first slabs 40a with second slabs 40b arranged on either side of a primary beam 14.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 8, each link is dimensioned and the first and second steel framework 30 of slabs 40a, 40b are positioned so that the head of each link is arranged higher than the steel framework 46. In this way, the heads 38 of the bonding members 34 can be located in an upper part of the bonding strip 50 corresponding in operation to a compression layer. Preferably, the connecting element 34 should have a dimension in the third direction D3 greater than or equal to half the thickness of the connecting strip 50.

[0068] The parking lot 10a proposed here allows a simple assembly on site as well as a simple dismantling when reservation holes 52 are provided in the concrete slabs 40a, 40b during their manufacture in the workshop. FIGS. 5 and 6 show reservation holes 52 formed in slabs 40a, 40b. These holes 52 are designed to open in the second direction D2 and at the first edges 42 of the slabs. These openings 52 are obviously initially closed during the initial installation of parking lot 10, 10a to prevent the concrete of the connecting strip 50 from closing them.

[0069] The initial assembly of the parking lot 10a is carried out as follows: [0070] a) The posts 18 are arranged according to the vertical direction D3, [0071] b) said posts 18 are connected by means of primary beams 14, said primary beams 14 being supported by said posts 18, [0072] c) The said secondary beams 16 are placed between the primary beams 14 and their ends are fixed to the said primary beams 14, [0073] d) The concrete slab is shaped so that it is in contact with the metal plate (30) and the connecting elements (34) are embedded in the concrete slab.

[0074] When the concrete slab is formed with at least first concrete slabs and potentially with second concrete slabs as well: [0075] e) The first concrete slabs 40a are arranged between primary beams 14 and above secondary beams 16 so that their first edges 42 extend in the first direction D1, [0076] f) Pour a concrete connecting strip 50 in contact with the metal plate 30 and said first edges 42 so as to cover said connecting members 34.

[0077] Of course, when one wishes to make a connection as shown in FIG. 5 between first concrete slabs 40a and second concrete slabs 40b arranged on either side of a primary beam 14, according to the second direction, one places the second slabs 40b before pouring the connection strip 50. The connecting strip 50 then ensuring the connection between the first edges 42 of the first concrete slabs 40a and the second concrete slabs 40b.

[0078] If, after several years of use, parking lot 10, 10a is to be dismantled, it is sufficient in step g) to cut the connecting strip 50 at the first edges 42 of the first slabs 40a and, if necessary, the second slabs 40b. Of course, the cut-out also eliminates the protruding portions 48 of the metal framework 46, which can be replaced in step h) by means of substitute metal bars that are inserted into the reservation holes 52 before reassembling the parking lot 10, 10a.

[0079] It should be noted that vehicle circulation will be planned to be carried out in the second direction D2 so that the braking forces can be transmitted to the wooden structure as well as possible.

[0080] It should be understood that this description also includes a parking lot in which the concrete slab is monobloc and does not include first concrete slabs and second concrete slabs. In such a construction, the concrete slab is poured directly over the metal plates 30 by an appropriate formwork and allows the concrete zones previously formed by the first and second concrete slabs to be formed. The realization process of this parking lot then includes steps a) to d). It is understandable that this parking lot is more difficult to dismantle because of the lack of use of several first and second concrete slabs.