Building utility and service system

Claim 2

A building utility and service system, comprising: portable transport sections for distribution of utilities and services throughout the building; individual pre-fabricated utility and service carrying elements forming each said transport section and having detachable mounting means to permit alteration of the utility load capacity of each said transport section; and flexible utility and service carrying means for connecting said elements of one said section distributing utilities and services in one direction with said elements of another said section distributing utilities and services in another direction and thereby permitting variation in the positioning of said two sections.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, wherein each said transport section is provided with clamping means for connection and disconnection of said portable transport sections in series according to the desired extension required for the distribution of utilities and services.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1, wherein each said utility and service carrying element includes an inlet, at least one outlet, and flow shut off means to prevent flow through each said element when disconnected.

Claim 5

A building utility and service system comprising: at least one collector unit collecting incoming utilities and services and extending them to the various floors of the building; distributor units distributing utilities and services from a said collector unit to remote locations on the floors; utilization units dispensing certain utilities and services from a said distributor unit to utility and service outlet stations on the floors; individual pre-fabricated utility and service carrying elements forming said units having detachable mounting means to permit alteration of the utility and service load capacity of each said unit; and flexible utility and service lines connecting said elements of each said unit without substantially restricting the relative locations of said units.

Claim 6

A building utility and service system comprising: at least one collector unit collecting incoming utilities and services and extending them to the various floors of the building; distributor units distributing utilities and services from a said collector unit to remote locations on the floors; utilization units dispensing certain utilities and services from a said distributor unit to utility and service outlet stations on the floors; individual pre-fabricated utility and service carrying elements forming said units having detachable mounting means to permit alteration of the utility and service load capacity of each said unit; and flexible utility and service lines connecting said elements of each said unit without substantially restricting the relative locations of said units.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4, wherein said elements of said collector unit are mounted together in one or more groups, with each said group defining a portable transport section.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5, wherein each said section is provided with clamp means, said clamp means adapted to connect said sections together in series to provide the desired extension of said collector unit.

Claim 9

The system of claim 4, wherein said elements of each said distributor unit are mounted together in at least two groups, with one said group defining a transition section and said other groups each defining a portable transport section.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7, wherein each said section is provided with clamp means, said clamp means adapted to connect said sections together in series to provide the desired extension of said distributor unit.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7, wherein said sections of said transition section each have utility and service flow dividing capabilities.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9, wherein the flexible utility and service lines connecting said elements of said collector unit with said elements of said collector unit are each connected at one end to an element of one of said collector transport sections and at the other end to an element of said transition section.

Claim 13

The system of claim 4, wherein said elements of said collector unit and said distributor unit are mounted together in separate sections, said sections of each said unit being connectable in series to extend the overall length of each said unit.

Claim 14

The system of claim 4, wherein said elements of said collector unit each include an outlet and an inlet and said elements of said distributor unit each include an inlet, at least one outlet, and flow shut off means each operable when said element is disconnected.

Claim 15

The system of claim 12, wherein said elements of said distributor unit each include an inlet and a first outlet and a second outlet laterally displaced between said inlet and said first outlet.

Claim 16

The system of claim 13, wherein said flexible utility lines connecting the elements of said distributor unit with said elements of said utilization unit are each connected at one end to one of said second outlets.

Claim 17

The system of claim 4, wherein each said utilization unit is mounted between two floors in compression to support outlet fixtures.

Claim 18

The system of claim 4, wherein certain of said utilization units are provided with adaptor sections including at least one utility and service carrying conductor, said conductor having a plurality of outlets each adapted to be connected to a utility and service outlet.

Claim 19

A building utility and service system, comprising: at least one collector unit for collecting utilities and services together and extending them to various levels of a building, said collector unit including at least one portable transport section for extending the collected utilities and services vertically within the building; first individual pre-fabricated utility and service carrying elements forming said transport section and having detachable mounting means for alteration of the utility and service load capacity of said transport section; distributor units for distributing utilities and services from said collector unit throughout the levels of the building, each said distributor unit including a portable transition section having utility and service flow dividing capabilities and at least one portable transport section for distributing utilities and services horizontally within a level of the building; second individual pre-fabricated utility and service carrying elements forming said transition section and third individual pre-fabricated utility and service carrying elements each connected to one of said second elements forming said horizontally distributing transport section, said second and third elements each having detachable mounting means for alteration of the utility and service load capacity of said sections; utilization units for dispensing certain utilities and services from said distributor units to various utility and service outlets utilizing those certain utilities and services, each said utilization unit including a transport section having at least one passage for carrying at least one utility and service to a utility and service outlet; first flexible utility carrying means for connecting each said second element with one of said first elements; and second flexible utility carrying means for connecting each said passage to one of said second elements.

Claim 20

A building utility and service system, comprising: at least one collector unit for collecting utilities and services together and extending them to various levels of a building, said collector unit including at least one portable transport section for extending the collected utilities and services vertically within the building; first individual pre-fabricated utility and service carrying elements forming said transport section and having detachable mounting means for alteration of the utility and service load capacity of said transport section; distributor units for distributing utilities and services from said collector unit throughout the levels of the building, each said distributor unit including a portable transition section having utility and service flow dividing capabilities and at least one portable transport section for distributing utilities and services horizontally within a level of the building; second individual pre-fabricated utility and service carrying elements forming said transition section and third individual pre-fabricated utility and service carrying elements each connected to one of said second elements forming said horizontally distributing transport section, said second and third elements each having detachable mounting means for alteration of the utility and service load capacity of said sections; utilization units for dispensing certain utilities and services from said distributor units to various utility and service outlets utilizing those certain utilities and services, each said utilization unit including a transport section having at least one passage for carrying at least one utility and service to a utility and service outlet; first flexible utility carrying means for connecting each said second element with one of said first elements; and second flexible utility carrying means for connecting each said passage to one of said second elements.

Claim 21

The system of claim 17, wherein each said first element includes an inlet end and an outlet end, each said second element includes a pair of outlet ends and an inlet disposed therebetween, each said third element includes an inlet end, an outlet end, and at least one outlet displaced therebetween, and each said passage includes an inlet end and an outlet end.

Claim 22

The system of claim 18, wherein said collector unit includes a plurality of transport sections connected successively in series with said inlet ends of said elements of each section connected in series being in matched alignment with the outlet ends of said elements of said succeeding section.

Claim 23

The system of claim 19, wherein each said transport section includes clamp means for connecting said sections in series whereby any number of sections can be connected in series to accommodate a building of any number of levels.

Claim 24

The system of claim 18, wherein each said distributor unit includes a plurality of transport sections connected successively in series with said inlet ends of said elements of each section connected in series being in matched alignment with the outlet ends of said elements of said succeeding section.

Claim 25

The system of claim 21, wherein each said transport section includes clamp means for connecting said sections in series whereby any number of sections can be connected in series to accommodate any size level within the building.

Claim 26

The system of claim 17, wherein air treatment components are incorporated within the system with certain of said sections being adapted to structurally support the air treatment ducting.

Claim 27

The system of claim 17, wherein said collector unit is provided with a manifold section adapted to receive incoming and outgoing utility and service lines, said manifold section including a plurality of individual utility and service carrying elements adapted to orient said lines with respect to said transport section.

Claim 28

The system of claim 17, wherein said transport sections of said utilization units are each provided with extendable connecting means and actuating means cooperating with said extendable connecting means to mount each said transport section in compression between two levels of the building.

Claim 29

The system of claim 17, wherein pre-fabricated elements are provided for said utilization units, each said element connectable to a transport section to increase said transport section passages.

Claim 30

The system of claim 17, wherein each said utilization unit is provided with coupling means adapted to extend between a floor or ceiling separating two levels of the building and secure said second flexible utility and service carrying means to said passages.

Claim 31

The system of claim 17, wherein said transport sections of said utilization units are adapted to be incorporated with the walls of the building.

Claim 32

The system of claim 17, wherein adaptor means are provided for said utilization units, said adaptor means including a plurality of utility and service carrying conductors adapted to be connected to said passages and to service a plurality of utility and service outlets.