Modular building construction system using segmented column assembly

Claim 2

The combination of a central support column and a plurality of room unit arrays, each array comprising hollow rectangular box-shaped precast concrete modular room units superposed relative to each other to form a multiple story building and with vertical corners in vertical alignment, said arrays being aligned adjacent each other on four sides of said vertical central support column for joining together said plurality of box-shaped modular units, said central support column being vertically disposed between adjacent vertical corners of said modular units, and comprising a plurality of column segments assembled together in a vertical stacked aligned relationship of a quantity at least equal in number to the number of said modular units, said column segments each including a tubular body portion and attachment means radially extending from said body portion for connection with the adjacent corner of a corresponding one of said modular units, means for coupling said column segments together, and a filling of grout filling the space between said connected adjacent modular units and surrounding said column.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said cOupling means comprises a tension bar extending through the center of said tubular body portions for variable tensioning thereof.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises a radial plate portion integrally formed with said tubular body portion.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising grout infilling the axial opening of said tubular body portions.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises a right-angled bar secured lengthwise on said tubular body portion along its two lateral edges.

Claim 7

In combination a first horizontal array of hollow substantially rectangular modular room building units each having vertical and horizontal enclosing walls, at least two of which walls per unit are disposed with respect to each other at a vertical right dihedral angle to form a vertical corner, each of said units having metallic corner trim forming at least one vertical corner of each unit, said one vertical corner of each adjacent unit being disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, other similar corners of said first array, a second horizontal array of hollow substantially rectangular modular building units, substantially like the aforesaid first array, superposed upon and vertically registering with said first array and having corresponding vertical corners formed with metallic trim, and means providing vertical and horizontal connection between the trim of adjacent corners of the respective units.

Claim 8

In combination a first horizontal array of hollow substantially rectangular modular room building units each having vertical and horizontal enclosing walls, at least two of which walls per unit are disposed with respect to each other at a vertical right dihedral angle to form a vertical corner, each of said units having metallic corner trim forming at least one vertical corner of each unit, said one vertical corner of each adjacent unit being disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, other similar corners of said first array, a second horizontal array of hollow substantially rectangular modular building units, substantially like the aforesaid first array, superposed upon and vertically registering with said first array and having corresponding vertical corners formed with metallic trim, and means providing vertical and horizontal connection between the trim of adjacent corners of the respective units.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein the means providing vertical and horizontal connection between said adjacent corner trim of the respective units comprises a tubular metallic member disposed substantially equidistantly from the adjacent corners of the units between which it is located and having radial connections to the corner trim of adjacent units.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6 wherein the space between adjacent units and surrounding said tubular metallic member is filled with concrete.

Claim 11

In a modular building structure, the combination of two or more arrays of vertically aligned hollow rectangular box-like room modules assembled horizontally into two or more floors of a building, a first array comprising a plurality of room units which are rectangular except for some exposed outer sides, said rectangular portions of said room units for each floor being assembled with planar spaces between them, said planar spaces being disposed at right angles to each other in three dimensions, and means spatially separating the units from each other but structurally joining them together, said units having metallic trim on at least the four bottom and four top corners of each of said modules; a second array of room modules similar to the aforesaid array superposed on the first array, the vertical walls of the modules, of each of the arrays which face each other, being spaced from each other by a filling of concrete; and vertically extending metallic connecting means disposed in the space between adjacent vertical walls of both layers of modules and being bonded to and connecting the metallic trim on adjacent modules.

Claim 12

In a modular building structure, the combination of two or more arrays of vertically aligned hollow rectangular box-like room modules assembled horizontally into two or more floors of a building, a first array comprising a plurality of room units which are rectangular except for some exposed outer sides, said rectangular portions of said room units for each floor being assembled with planar spaces between them, said planar spaces being disposed at right angles to each other in three dimensions, and means spatially separating the units from each other but structurally joining them together, said units having metallic trim on at least the four bottom and four top corners of each of said modules; a second array of room modules similar to the aforesaid array superposed on the first array, the vertical walls of the modules, of each of the arrays which face each other, being spaced from each other by a filling of concrete; and vertically extending metallic connecting means disposed in the space between adjacent vertical walls of both layers of modules and being bonded to and connecting the metallic trim on adjacent modules.