Concrete structure including modular concrete beam and method of making same

Abstract

Abstract A complete concrete structure, especially houses, having any desired architectural form and appearance is constructed in a series operations wherein the foundation, the interior and exterior walls, and the floor are constructed at the situs from a single basic, monolithic pre-cast modular concrete beam. Each beam is an elongated concrete member having a generally rectangular cross-section, and having a central aperture extending through the length of said beam. In addition, two opposite sides of the beam are provided with a plurality of lateral holes, and said sides are configured to have a longitudinally extending tongue and groove arrangement so that abutting modular concrete beams will interfit with one another. Either one or both of the other two opposite sides of the beams may be architecturally finished, depending on whether the beam is to be employed as forming a portion of the foundation, the upstanding walls, or the roof structure. The required electrical, plumbing and reinforcing elements, extend through the respective openings in the beams, and in addition to the tongue and groove interconnection between adjacent beams, a plurality of specially shaped connector members are provided for securing adjacent modular concrete beams together. In another embodiment of the modular concrete beam, the beam is formed of a composite structure comprising an internal hollow mold of frangible material such as polystyrene in intimate contact with an external concrete structure. The ends of the internal polystyrene mold as well as projections extending along the longitudinal sides thereof are exposed whereby the frangible ends or side projections may readily be cut out to enable the routing of service lines through the composite modular concrete beam.

Inventors

• 👤 Robert K Stout

Bibliographic Details