Abstract
The invention relates to a construction element for attachment of structural elements. The element comprises an upper plate member and a lower plate member, having a same width and a same length and extending between two end portions, parallel to each other at a first distance. The upper and lower plate members are connected to each other along longitudinal sides of said plate members by means of a plurality of intermediate beams. Each end portion further comprises at least one upper and at least one lower distance element having a width and a height, and being arranged at an upper surface and a lower surface of said end portions respectively. A longitudinally transversal cross section of each end portion forms a cross-shaped circumference, said circumference comprising four right angled abutment surfaces, defined by the plate members and the distance elements. The invention also relates to a module and a construction comprising such a construction element and a method of assembly of such a construction.
Claims
1. A construction element for attachment of structural elements, said element comprising an upper plate member and a lower plate member, having a same width and a same length and extending between two end portions, parallel to each other at a first distance, wherein the upper and lower plate members are connected to each other along longitudinal sides of said plate members by means of a plurality of intermediate beams, wherein each end portion comprises at least one upper and at least one lower distance element having a width and a height, and being arranged at an upper surface and a lower surface of said end portions respectively, wherein a longitudinally transversal cross section of each end portion forms a cross-shaped circumference, said circumference comprising four right angled abutment surfaces, defined by the plate members and the distance elements.
2. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein each end portion comprises side walls, arranged to extend between the upper and lower plate members, which side walls and plate members define an inner channel which extend from end surfaces of the end portions in a longitudinal direction into the construction element.
3. The construction element according to claim 2, wherein each inner channel of the end portions further comprises a coupling element arranged within said each channel and protruding out from each end portion with a second distance, each coupling element comprising a circumferential side wall and a hollow interior, said interior being arranged to receive additional structural elements.
4. The construction element according to claim 3, wherein each coupling element further comprises two interior partition walls, arranged in a cross shape so as to divide the hollow interior into four equal sub-sections.
5. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface and a lower surface of the upper and lower plate members respectively comprises a plurality of flange elements, arranged between the distance elements of the end portions, each flange portion having a width corresponding to the width and the height of the distance elements.
6. The construction element according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower plate members comprises a plurality of via holes, having a predetermined shape.
7. A module for a prefabrication building system, comprising at least one construction element according to claim 1.
8. A construction comprising at least one construction element according to claim 1.
9. A method for assembly of a construction according to a predetermined scheme, the construction comprising a plurality of structural elements and service installation components, said structural elements comprises; at least one foundation element, at least one room unit, a plurality of facade elements, and a plurality of construction elements for attachment of said structural elements, wherein the number and position of each structural element is determined by the predetermined scheme, said construction element comprising an upper plate member and a lower plate member, having a same width and a same length and extending parallel to each other at a first distance-, wherein the upper and lower plate members are connected to each other along longitudinal sides of said plate members by means of a plurality of intermediate beams, wherein each end portion comprises at least one upper and at least one lower distance element having a width and a height, and being arranged at an upper surface and a lower surface of said end portions respectively, wherein a longitudinally transversal cross section of each end portion forms a cross-shaped circumference, said circumference comprising four right angled abutment surfaces, defined by the plate members and the distance elements, the method comprising the step of: a) arranging a number of construction elements at the at least one foundation element by means of coupling each downwards directed distance element of each construction element to the at least one foundation element, defining a first floor level by means of the construction elements.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises the step of: c) arranging a number of room units at the construction elements of the current floor level according to the predetermined scheme, wherein a floor portion of each room unit is coupled to the right angled abutment surfaces of at least two construction elements.
11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of, before the step c): b) arranging service installation components for a current floor level according to the predetermined scheme.
12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: d) arranging a number of construction elements at the room units of the previous floor level according to the predetermined scheme, wherein each construction element is coupled to at least one roof portion of the room units by means of the right angled abutment surfaces, and defining an additional floor level, e) repeating steps b) to d) so as to reach a total number of floor levels according to the predetermined scheme, and f) arranging the plurality of facade elements at walls of the room units, which walls are defined as outer walls according to predetermined scheme.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] Below is a description of, as examples, preferred embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
[0036] FIG. 1a shows a construction element in a perspective view according to an embodiment,
[0037] FIG. 1b shows a construction element in a perspective view according to an embodiment,
[0038] FIG. 1c shows a construction element in a perspective view according to an embodiment,
[0039] FIG. 2a shows a construction comprising a plurality of construction elements in an exploded view according to an embodiment,
[0040] FIG. 2b shows a construction comprising a plurality of construction elements in a perspective view according to an embodiment,
[0041] FIG. 3 shows a module comprising a plurality of construction elements and additional structural elements according to an embodiment, and
[0042] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method for assembly of a construction comprising a plurality of construction elements according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] FIG. 1a shows a construction element 1 in a perspective view according to an embodiment. The construction element 1 may be used for attachment of structural elements thereto so as to assemble a construction, a facility, a building or similar. The construction element 1 may comprise an upper plate member 3 and a lower plate member 5, having a same width 7 and a same length 9 and extending between two end portions 11, parallel to each other at a first distance 13. The first distance 13 may be perceived as the distance in-between the upper and lower plate members 3, 5. The upper and lower plate members 3, 5 may be connected to each other along longitudinal sides 15 of said plate members 3, 5 by means of a plurality of intermediately arranged beams 17. The upper and lower plate members 3, 5 and the interconnecting beams 17 may be manufactured of planks and/or processed wood elements so as to provide a construction material with good mechanical properties and heat transfer properties while being easy to manufacture at a low cost. However other types of construction materials may also be used without deviating from the inventive concept of the disclosure. It should also be noted that the term beam 17 may be perceived as a connecting member between the upper and lower plate members 3, 5, which is arranged to attach the two plate members 3, 5 to each other, take up load applied to the construction element 1 as a whole and increase the mechanical stability and integrity of said construction element 1. The wording beam 17 may thus be viewed in a broad sense of the word, and/or be interchanged with connecting member, load bearing element or other. Each end portion 11 may further comprise at least one upper and at least one lower distance element 19 having a width 21 and a height 23, and being arranged at an upper surface 25 and a lower surface 27 of said end portions 11 respectively. The opposite symmetrical arrangement of said two distance elements 19 provides a shape for each end portion 11 wherein a longitudinally transversal cross section of said each end portion 11 forms a cross-shaped circumference, said circumference comprising four right angled abutment surfaces 29, defined by the plate members 3, 5 and the distance elements 19. Each such right angled abutment surface 29 may thus comprise a vertical portion 31 and a horizontal portion 33, wherein each said abutment surface 29 may be arranged to adjacent structural elements in a precise and easy to fit manner. Arrangements of structural elements towards the right angled abutment surfaces 29 may be done directly or by means of also including intermediate shim elements. Such shim elements may be arranged so as to modify certain types of characteristics related to construction work and completed constructions, such as heat transfer and/or vibrations to name a few. By means of arranging an intermediate shim element of, for example, rubber or a polymeric material, a completed construction may be provided with more desirable living conditions related to occurrences such as temperature flux, sound and noise, vibrations or other.
[0044] When arranging a larger type of structural element towards each such right angled abutment surface 29, as for example four room units, wherein each room unit is arranged as close to a centre C of the construction element as possible, the construction element 1 may then define a predetermined spacing of said room units relative each other. Two horizontally adjacent room units, being arranged towards opposite right angled abutment surfaces 29 of the same vertical level of the construction element, will thus be spaced apart from each other corresponding to the width 21 of the intermediate distance element 19. The width 21 of said distance element 19 will thus further define a vertically oriented shaft 35 between said two room units. In a similar manner, two vertically adjacent room units, being arranged towards vertically opposite right angled abutment surfaces 29 of the construction element 1, will thus be spaced apart from each other corresponding to the first distance 13 between the upper and lower plate members 3, 5 and a thickness T of the upper and lower plate members 3, 5 respectively. The first distance 13 and the thickness T of the two plate members 3, 5 will thus further define a horizontally oriented shaft 37 between said two room units. Thereby the construction element 1 may provide a secure and reliable arrangement of a plurality of structural elements arranged thereto and also provide both vertical and horizontal shafts 35, 37, extending along structural elements such as room units. Such shafts 35, 37 may be very advantageous as they provide the possibility to arrange an array of different types of service installation components and other types of auxiliary elements related to construction work and/or constructions comprising such a construction element 1. The distance elements 19 may be made as hollow boxes, wherein such box-like elements may further be filled with insulation material. Thereby heat transfer may be reduced at the end portions 11 of the construction element 1, which portions 11 are of the most importance relating to heat transfer as said portions 11 may be located in the vicinity of outer walls of a completed construction comprising construction elements 1 according to the disclosure, which outer walls may be exposed to both high and low temperatures relative an interior environment of said construction.
[0045] FIG. 1b shows a construction element 1 in a perspective view according to an embodiment. The construction element of FIG. 1b may be perceived as similar to the construction element 1 presented in FIG. 1a, with the addition of the feature that each end portion may comprise side walls 39, arranged to extend between the upper and lower plate members 3, 5, wherein said side walls 39 and plate members 3, 5 may define inner channels 41 which extend from end surfaces 43 of the end portions 11 in a longitudinal direction into the construction element 1. Each end portion 11 of the construction element 1 comprising such an inner channel 41 provides even further possibilities of combinations of the construction element 1 and additional other structural elements.
[0046] Each such inner channel 41 may, as depicted in FIG. 1b, further comprise a coupling element 45 arranged within said each inner channel 41 and protruding out from each end portion 11 with a second distance 47. The inner channel 41 is shown in FIG. 1b by means of dotted lines which show edges and corners of said inner channel 41 and the coupling element 45 in abutment with each other. Each coupling element 45 may comprise a circumferential side wall 49 and a hollow interior, said interior being arranged to receive additional structural elements. The embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1b should not be perceived as restrictive in the regard of possible combinations of structural elements arranged to the inner channel 41 of the construction element 1 according to the disclosure. As should be obvious there are a multitude of possible combinations for coupling of elements by means of the inner channel 41, wherein for the sake of simplicity this embodiment is to be viewed as one possible combination but not to be regarded as the only useful combination possible. Even though not depicted within the disclosure, other combination may also be possible, as for example longitudinal coupling elements, which may be used to arrange and attach two or more construction elements 1 to each other in length, wall elements, which may be inserted into such inner channels 41 to provide different types of wall structures adjacent the end portions, or other.
[0047] Even further the coupling element may, as also depicted in FIG. 1b, further comprise two interior partition walls 51, arranged in a cross shape so as to divide the hollow interior into four equal sub-sections 53. This embodiment of such a coupling element 45 provides additional benefits for certain types of combinations of structural elements and the construction element according to the disclosure (one such certain type of combination will be discussed in detail with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b). By means of dividing the interior of the inner channel 41 into four equal sub-sections 53, each such sub-section 53 may provide different types of connecting possibilities to an adjacent room unit if four room units are arranged to this embodiment of the construction element 1. This may provide a plurality of possible arrangements of the construction element 1 in combination with additional structural elements wherein such additional structural elements are to be arranged to each of the room units, arranged to the shared intermediate construction element 1.
[0048] FIG. 1c shows a construction element 1 in a perspective view according to an embodiment. According to this embodiment the upper surface 25 and the lower surface 27 of the upper and lower plate members 3, 5 may comprise a plurality of flange elements 55, arranged between the distance elements 19 of the end portions 11, each flange element 55 having a width 57 corresponding to the width 7 of the distance elements 19. The flange elements 55 as depicted in FIG. 1c are shown to be approximately Z-shaped, and comprising two abutment portions 59 and one intermediate positioned stabilizing portion 61, wherein the width 57 is defined as the distance between two parallel planes of which the two abutment portions 59 are sub-set of. The flange elements 55 may exhibit other shapes, wherein the only definite criteria being that said abutment portions 59 extend within said two parallel planes. As should be obvious, the two parallel planes also align with the vertical portions 31 of the right angled abutment surfaces 29 of the distance elements 19, wherein a structural element such as a room unit arranged to such a construction element 1 may abut said vertical portions 31 of the distance elements 19 and at least one abutment portion 59 of each flange element 55. This provides a reliable and stable construction element 1 comprising a plurality of contact points for arrangement of other structural elements thereto. The flange elements 55 may further comprise pre-drilled holes (not shown) which may be used for a fast and secure attachment to adjacent structural elements.
[0049] The flange elements may, as depicted in FIG. 1c, be arranged between the two distance elements 19 in an evenly spaced out manner, wherein an intermediate distance 63 between the stabilizing portion 61 and another stabilizing portion 61 or a distance element 19 is equal throughout the construction element 1. This intermediate distance 63 may be set as any suitable distance which correlates to a preferred construction work standard, so as to achieve a system which is adapted to at least one specific standard. As an example based on commonly used standards for Swedish construction work, both 600 millimetre and 1200 millimetre may be suitable choices, as both those options provides common denominators with a large plurality of structural elements used in construction work in Sweden. As should be understood, the intermediate distance 63 may of course easily be adapted for any desired standard or the like. The construction element 1 according to the disclosure may be used as a structural element within a prefabrication building system, wherein a specific standard may be set for such a system, and wherein the construction elements 1 and any other structural element being part of such a system are manufactured based on said specific standard. The intermediate distance 63 may also be utilized in combination with the vertically oriented shafts 35, which are provided to adjacent room units or the like by means of the distance elements, so as to provide repeating frameworks over the extension of the construction element 1.
[0050] The interior volume between two flange elements 55 may thus further be utilized for fitting of specially designed additional structural elements and/or modules, such as doorframes, insulation sheets, window frames or other. As an example, two room units may be arranged and attached to a construction element 1 side by side so as to create two adjacent rooms of a facility, wherein both said room units are provided with corresponding openings arranged to align with each other. For such an example, a doorframe element or module, designed to fit in the vertically oriented shaft 35, intermediate the two openings of the room units, may then easily be positioned between the two said openings to bridge said shaft 35 at that position, and connect the two room units. The door frame element (or door frame module) may hence be designed to be form fitted between two flange elements 55 of the construction element 1. Thereby such an element or module may be fitted to the construction element 1 and the room units arranged thereto in a very fast, easy, precise and reliable manner. Thus, an embodiment of the construction element 1 comprising such flange elements 55 as described may be very suitable as being a part of a prefabrication building system, which system is fast, easy and cost effective to use for assembly of different types of constructions and facilities.
[0051] Furthermore, as the previously described shafts 35, 37 are arranged both between side by side room units and two room units positioned vertically adjacent each other, service installation components may also be installed easily, both in shafts 35 between walls, and in shafts 37 between different floors. Such service installation components may be components related to plumbing, electrical installation, network cables, ventilation components or other. Even further, as the shafts 35, 37 are provided intermediate each room of a construction constructed in such a manner, maintenance work and future installations are also made easier as the shafts 35, 37 provide easy access to such components wherein only drilled holes may be needed to get access to the shafts 35, 37 and depending on placement of such components, the walls, floors or ceilings of the room units may not need to be destroyed at all as the shafts 35, 37 may also provide access from the sides of room units.
[0052] The flange elements 55 may be manufactured of steel or a similar type of construction material. Thus mechanical strength and stability is provided to a completed construction in a common and reliable manner. Furthermore, if said flange elements 55 are made of a magnetic material, a device such as a rebar detector or similar may easily be used from inside of an adjacent room so as to find the standard used for each construction. Thereby maintenance work may be performed with less risk of damaging service installation components installed within shafts 35, 37, as the flange elements 55 indicate where such components are likely to be found within each shaft. Said service installation components may be pre-manufactured as modulus, similar to the previously described door frame element/module. Each such component module may then comprise pipes, tubes and/or wiring pre-installed in a structural module which is designed to fit between two flange elements 55 in the same manner as the door frame element/module. Hence installation of such modules may even further alleviate time consuming and cumbersome operations relating to such installation work.
[0053] The embodiment of the construction element 1 may further, as depicted in FIG. 1c, comprise a plurality of via holes 65, arranged in the upper and lower plate members 3, 5. The upper and lower plate members 3, 5 may thus comprise a plurality of via holes 65, which via holes 65 may have a predetermined shape. As depicted in FIG. 1c, the via holes 65 according to this embodiment may have elongated extension with rounded end portions, but other shapes are of course also possible as long as the mechanical integrity of the construction element 1 as a whole is kept intact. The via holes 65 may be utilized for a fast and easy installation of service installation components which are to be installed spanning over a plurality of shafts 35, 37 and pass through at least one such construction element 1. The via holes 65 may in a very easy manner provide a standardized pattern for installation of such components, wherein components passing through such via holes 65 are directly coupled to the shafts 35, 37 adjacent room units in a correct way. A construction element 1 may also be provided with components such as forks and bends for pipes, or with electrical junction boxes, wherein such auxiliary components may be pre-arranged within the hollow centre of the construction element 1 and be arranged therein in combination with coupling elements for receiving straight pipes, for the example of pipes. Thereby straight pipes may be coupled to such forks and bends, and wiring may be performed between such junction boxes. If the construction element 1 is provided with such additional auxiliary components, on site construction work related to assembly of a construction may be performed in an even faster and more efficient manner.
[0054] It should be noted that the features presented with reference to FIG. 1c not necessarily have to be present in a combination as shown. The construction element 1 may be manufactured without via holes 65, wherein holes may be drilled on site if components are to be arranged through the construction element 1. The flange elements 55 may also not be present if suitable, wherein the via holes 65 may be utilized for fitting of additional structural elements instead of said flange elements 55. Structural elements and/or modules may be manufactured with form fitting means arranged to fit the predetermined shape of the via holes 65, wherein said via holes 65 may provide an additional alternative function as a replacement of the flange elements 55.
[0055] The construction element 1 may be provided as part of a construction module for a prefabrication building system. For such a system a plurality of modules may be produced by means of arranging elements, components and/or modules to a construction element 1. Some examples have been described herein, but are to be viewed as examples and not restrictive with regards to possible combinations. All possible combinations are not described herein as, as should be obvious, a total number of possible combinations would be too many to list herein. At least one construction element 1 may be part of such a module in combination with at least one of the structural elements, components or modules from a group comprising; a room unit, a facade element, a foundation element, a pipe, wires, tubing, a roof element, a balcony element, a door frame, a window frame, insulation material, or a combination of such to name a few. By means of pre-arranging such modules construction work on site at a construction work place may be minimized and be extremely fast and easy to perform.
[0056] FIG. 2a shows a construction 67 comprising a plurality of construction elements 1 in an exploded view according to an embodiment. The construction 67 depicted comprises four room units 69 of varying designs but with the same exterior length, height and width, a total of nine construction elements 1, to be arranged at longitudinal edges of said room units 69. The construction 67 further comprises two foundation elements 71, two roof elements 73, a balcony framework 75, a variety of service installation components 77, and a plurality of facade elements 79. As may be seen in FIG. 2a, all units and elements as listed herein are connected to at least one construction element 1, either directly or by means of another intermediate element. (Note: for the sake of simplicity the individual parts/elements of the construction elements are not marked with reference numbers in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b) Additional structural elements may of course be added to the construction 67 in various ways, but it should be noted that the construction elements 1 provide a plurality of functions to the construction 67, by means of being a multifunctional element to said construction 67. As has been described within the disclosure, the room units 69 are arranged at the right angled abutment surfaces of the construction elements 1. The foundation elements 71 and the roof elements 73 may also be arranged to said abutment surfaces, wherein the facade elements 79 and the service installation components 77 are arranged to contact surfaces of the plate members, flange elements, via holes, or a combination thereof. Additional fastening elements such as screws, nails or similar may of course be added to the construction and its contact points so as to achieve mechanical stability and strength. Other materials and/or attachment methods such as adhesives, clamps, or welding may also be used for specific abutments of elements, dictated by the different materials used. The balcony framework 75 may be a framework of steel or similar and may comprise four corner beams 81 which are designed fit a sub-section 53 of a coupling element 45 arranged at end portions 11 of the construction elements 1 (said sub-sections 53 and coupling elements 45 being described in detail with reference to FIG. 1b). Said corner beams 81 may then be inserted into a sub-section 53 of such a coupling element 45, wherein each sub-section 53 used corresponds to the sub-section 53 closest to each corner of the room unit 69 to which the balcony framework 75 is to be arranged. As should be understood, such an arrangement is thus possible for all room units 69 of the construction 67 by means of construction elements 1 comprising such coupling elements 45, and being divided into such sub-sections 53. Thereby different types of balconies may be arranged to the entirety of a wall of such a construction 67 if desired.
[0057] FIG. 2b shows a construction 67 comprising a plurality of construction elements 1 in a perspective view according to an embodiment. The construction 67 depicted in FIG. 2b may be perceived as the same construction 67 depicted in FIG. 2a but in a completed state. FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b may preferably by viewed as complementing to each other wherein some details and/or couplings of different elements may be easier to view in one or the other. As should be understood from the entirety of the disclosure, the completed construction shown in FIG. 2b comprises a plurality of vertical and horizontal shafts or spaces, extending intermediate the different room units (not shown). All needed service installation components may thus extend throughout the network of shafts, so as to easily be installed in each room unit according to the blueprint of the construction 67.
[0058] The construction according to FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b further comprises a rooftop structure 83, arranged on top of one of the roof elements 73. The rooftop structure 83 may, as should be obvious, not be arranged directly to any of the construction elements 1, but is to be viewed as an example of an additional added feature of such a construction 67. There are pluralities of modifications and added features which may be added as complements to a construction 67 according to the disclosure, wherein some may utilize the multi-functionality of the construction element 1 directly. As an example an exteriorly arranged staircase or similar may be arranged to the construction 67 shown in FIG. 2b, as a means to reach the rooftop structure 83, wherein such a staircase may be attached adjacent an outer wall similarly to how the balcony framework 75 is arranged, that is, by means of inserting and attaching attachment beams or similar in the coupling elements of the construction elements 1.
[0059] FIG. 3 shows a module 85 comprising a plurality of construction elements 1 and additional structural elements according to an embodiment. The module 85 may, as depicted in FIG. 3, comprise four construction elements 1, arranged at longitudinal edges of a room unit 69. The construction elements 1 may be perceived as similar to the embodiment of a construction element 1 with reference to FIG. 1c, however, other embodiments are also possible wherein the module 85 according to FIG. 3 is to be viewed as an example. The module 85 further comprises additional structural elements in the form of service installation units 87, each comprising a plurality of service installation components 77, wherein the service installation components 77 may comprises a number of different types of components as has been described previously within the disclosure. The service installation units 87 may be pre-assembled by means of combining service installation components 77 and structural building elements so as to provide said service installation units 87. The service installation units 87 may then arranged to the room unit 69 and the construction elements 1 wherein the arrangement of the service installation units 87 may be securely attached within the structure of the module 85. As is further seen in FIG. 3, door frame units 89 may also be arranged within a completed module 87, wherein the two door frame units 89 according to FIG. 3 have different designs with respect to their respective widths. The different units, elements and/or sub-modules which may be arranged within one module 85 may of course vary within a wide range of combinations, wherein the planned construction 67 which is to be assembled using a plurality of these types of modules dictates which units, elements and/or sub-modules are to be arranged where according to the planned construction 67. As should be obvious, if a module 85 as shown in FIG. 3 is to be a room of a construction 67, an adjacent similar module does not need to be pre-arranged with a construction element 1 where said similar module is arranged to this specific module 85, due to the module 85 shown already comprising construction elements 1 at all longitudinal edges of the centrically positioned room unit 69. Alternative modules 85 may of course also be provided within a prefabrication building system, such as for example modules 85 comprising two construction elements 1, arranged at opposite edges of a room unit 69 wherein a plurality of such modules may be positioned adjacent each other without individual modifications, as long as there is one construction element 1 at what will be the empty longitudinal edge of an outermost module 85. One module 85 according to FIG. 3, or a similarly designed module 85 within the scope of the disclosure, may advantageously be manufactured and assembled at a construction facility or similar, wherein it may then be transported to a construction site, where on site assembly may be very fast and efficient. Furthermore, one such module 85 may be designed and constructed in such a manner that it will fit in a pre-assembled state within a standardized shipping container or similar. Thereby transportation of such modules may be handled in a very easy and cost effective way, wherein unnecessary costs are kept at a minimum. The modules 85 may further also be provided with at least parts of the facade elements 79 which are to be used for a construction 67. Thus on site assembly work is lowered even further. A prefabrication building system utilizing modules 85 according to this embodiment may thus provide a very cost effective and easy assembly of constructions 67, wherein a large portion of the work needed for such an assembly may be performed in a manufacturing and/or assembly facility, wherein on site construction work is kept to a bare minimum.
[0060] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method for assembly of a construction 67 comprising a plurality of construction elements 1 according to an embodiment. The construction 67 may further comprise a plurality of structural elements and service installation components 77. Such structural elements may comprise; at least one foundation element 71, at least one room unit 69, and a plurality of facade elements 79. An example of such a construction 67 may be the construction 67 shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, but without the balcony framework 75 and the rooftop structure 83, or a similar type of construction. The number and position of each structural element 1, as well as the other structural elements may be determined by the predetermined scheme. Such a predetermined scheme may be a blueprint or similar relating to the construction 67. The construction elements 1 used may be perceived as the construction element 1 shown in FIG. 1c. However, other embodiments of the construction element 1 according to the disclosure may also be used depending on the type of construction being built, or by means of performing additional detail work if needed, for example for providing holes for service installation components 77. The method provided and shown in the flowchart according to FIG. 4 may present the basic concept of the method, however additional steps relating to commonly practiced construction work such as drilling, fastening by means of screwing, nailing or such, painting or other such type of work is not presented herein for the sake of simplicity. The method may comprise the step of: a) arranging a number of construction elements 1 at the at least one foundation element 71 by means of coupling each downwards directed distance element 19 of each construction element 1 to the at least one foundation element 71, defining a first floor level by means of the construction elements 1. The foundation element 71 may be a pre-fabricated foundation element 71 or module, designed to be part of a prefabrication building system utilizing at least one construction element 1 according to the disclosure. However a regular flat foundation may also be used, alone or in combination with such a pre-fabricated foundation element 71 or module. A plurality of specially designed additional foundation elements may also be positioned at a pre-arranged foundation element, wherein the additional foundation elements may be designed to specifically receive the right angled abutment surfaces of the distance elements of the construction elements. The construction elements 1 are arranged to at least parts of the distance elements 19 of the construction elements 1 by means of the right angled abutment surfaces 29. By means of arranging a first layer of construction elements 1 a first floor level may be defined.
[0061] It should be noted that the term floor level is meant to be viewed as a plane of construction elements 1 to be used as connecting elements of floors of a floor of a construction 67. If a construction 67 having a plurality of floors is build, another floor level will thus relate to the next floor of said construction 67. As a layer of spaced out construction elements 1 are arranged at roof portions of room units 69 of the current floor of the construction, said layer of construction elements 1 are to be viewed as a next floor level if another floor is to be arranged over the current floor level. When the desired total number of floor levels is reached, according to the predetermined scheme, the last layer of construction elements 1 may instead be viewed as a roof level of the construction 67.
[0062] The method may further comprise the step of: c) arranging a number of room units 69 at the construction elements 1 of the current floor level according to the predetermined scheme, wherein a floor portion of each room unit 69 may be coupled to the right angled abutment surfaces 29 of at least two construction elements 1. The method may thus be utilized as a means of providing a first floor of a building or construction 67, wherein said room units 69 define rooms of such a construction 67 corresponding to a floor of the completed construction 67. As said room units 69 are arranged at the right angled abutment surfaces 29 of the construction elements 1, their positions relative each other and the construction elements 1 may be regarded as fixed according to the predetermined scheme, wherein horizontal and vertical shafts 35, 37 are also defined adjacent each room unit 69. The room units 69 may further be securely attached to the construction elements 1 by means of any type of fastening method known in the arts and suitable for the materials being joined together.
[0063] The method may further comprise the step of: b) arranging service installation components 77 for a current floor level according to the predetermined scheme. As has been described, such service installation components 77 may be pipes, tubes, cables or similar related to ventilation, plumbing, electrical devices or other, but also certain kinds of structural elements such as elements, sheets or blocks comprising insulation material or other similar types of materials for modification of properties of a construction 67. Such components may also relate to specially designed modules such as door frames or the like, which also has been described within the disclosure. The step b) may be performed before step c), as shown in the flowchart according to FIG. 3. However, the steps b) and c) may be performed in the opposite order, or be performed simultaneously. The method may further be modified by means of providing the service installation components 77 to the construction 67 in the form of modules, which may be regarded as structural elements comprising pre-installed such components 77 therein. Such modules may be combined with the construction elements 1, or with the room units 69 of the construction 67, or a combination of such combined modules. As should be noted, if modules 85 such as the one shown in FIG. 3 are used, the method may easily be adapted to conform to an assembly of a construction 67 using such modules instead. For such cases the steps b) and c) may be substituted to another step which comprises positioning of modules 85 comprising all necessary service installation components 77, pre-assembled within each used module 85. Depending on the design of each and every used module 85 within a completed construction 67, all steps within the method may be somewhat altered as some elements and/or units may already be part of a module instead of being arranged to the construction 67 as an individual part.
[0064] The method may further comprise the steps of: d) arranging a number of construction elements 1 at the room units of the previous floor level according to the predetermined scheme, wherein each construction element 1 is coupled to at least one roof portion of the room units 69 by means of the right angled abutment surfaces 29, and defining an additional floor level, and e) repeating steps b) to d) so as to reach a total number of floor levels according to the predetermined scheme.
[0065] The construction 67 may then be completed by means of step f) arranging the plurality of facade elements 79 at walls of the room units 69, which walls are defined as outer walls according to predetermined scheme. Such facade elements 79 may comprise insulation material build into the facade elements 79, or such insulation material may be provided by means of separate insulation sheets or blocks or similar as previously described. Furthermore, the construction 67 may be completed after step f), but it is to be understood that the construction 67 as described herein merely is one example of such a construction 67. Additional structural elements, modules and/or auxiliary additional room units 69 may also be added to such a construction 67 wherein the method may be modified to take such alterations into account. As have been exemplified with reference to FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, structures such as balcony frameworks 75 or rooftop structures 83 may be added to such a structure, but also other additional structures such as staircases, porches, exterior lighting or similar may also be incorporated in a modified embodiment of the method as presented.
[0066] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been furnished for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive, or to limit the embodiments to the variants described. Many modifications and variations will obviously be apparent to one skilled in the art. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explicate principles and practical applications, and to thereby enable one skilled in the art to understand the invention in terms of its various embodiments and with the various modifications that are applicable to its intended use. The components and features specified above may, within the framework of the embodiments, be combined between different embodiments specified.
