Stackable column assembly and method of construction

Abstract

A stackable tubular column assembly and method of assembly in which uniform cross-section column members for adjacent floors are joined by a coupler having a plate that divides the coupler into two compartments. Each compartment telescopingly receives the end of column members so the load of the upper column member is uniformly distributed over the walls of the lower column member through the plate. The lower portion of the coupler has flanges for coupling floor beams. Methods of erecting the column assemblies and a building are disclosed.

1 . A stackable column assembly for multi-floor construction comprising:
 upper and lower floor tubular columns having substantially the same substantially uniform cross-section over the height thereof; and   a tubular coupler having the same substantially uniform cross-section over the height thereof and being dimensioned to telescopingly receive therein one end of said upper and lower floor columns, said coupler being divided into two vertically spaced compartments of substantially equal length by a generally horizontal plate, and the lower half of said coupler having one or more beam connectors extending generally horizontally therefrom,   the upper end of said lower floor column being received with the lower compartment of said coupler so that said coupler is supported on said lower floor column by abutment of the lower surface of said plate with the top of said lower floor column,   the lower end of said upper floor column being received with the upper compartment of said coupler so that (a) said upper floor column is aligned with said lower floor column and (b) said upper floor column is supported on said coupler by abutment of the bottom of said upper floor column on the upper surface of said plate with the load of the upper floor column being transferred to the lower floor column through said plate.   
   
   
       2 . The stackable column of  claim 1  wherein said tubular columns are metal tubes substantially square in cross-section. 
   
   
       3 . The stackable column of  claim 1  wherein coupler has slits in two opposing walls and wherein said plate extends through said slits. 
   
   
       4 . The stackable column of  claim 3  wherein said plate is welded to said coupler where said plate extends through said slits. 
   
   
       5 . The stackable column of  claim 1  wherein the compartments in said coupler are approximately the same height 
   
   
       6 . The stackable column of  claim 1  wherein said columns and said coupler are steel. 
   
   
       7 . The stackable column of  claim 1  wherein said coupler is steel and said one or more beam connectors are steel plates welded to said coupler 
   
   
       8 . The stackable column of  claim 1  wherein the number of beam connectors is two. 
   
   
       9 . The stackable column of  claim 8  wherein said two beam connectors are coplanar. 
   
   
       10 . The stackable column of  claim 1  including base plate for telescopingly receiving the lower end of said lower column. 
   
   
       11 . A multistory building having stackable column assemblies supporting the floors thereof, each column assembly comprising plural columns and a two-compartment coupler connecting adjacent columns, each of said couplers having one or more beam connectors extending outwardly from the lower compartment hereof;
 a plurality of beams each attached at opposite ends to one of the beam connectors of one of the couplers in one of said column assemblies; and   a floor supported on said beams.   
   
   
       12 . The building of  claim 11  wherein the upper compartment of each of said connectors is the height of said floor. 
   
   
       13 . The building of  claim 11  wherein said floor comprises a metal deck having parallel ridges and valleys and concrete overlying said deck. 
   
   
       14 . The building of  claim 11  wherein said columns are metal tubes having a substantially square cross-section;
 wherein said one or more beam connectors are metal plates; and   wherein said beam connectors are welded to said couplers.   
   
   
       15 . The building of  claim 11  wherein each of said couplers has slits in two opposing walls and a plate extending through said slits and welded to coupler. 
   
   
       16 . The building of  claim 11  wherein the compartments of said couplers are same substantially the same height. 
   
   
       17 . The building of  claim 11  wherein at least some of said couplers have two coplanar beam connectors attached to opposite sides of a column. 
   
   
       18 . The building of  claim 17  wherein at least some of said couplers have two additional coplanar beam connectors attached to opposite sides of said column orthogonal to the plane of said first mentioned coplanar beam connectors. 
   
   
       19 . The building of  claim 11  including plural base plates each telescopingly receiving the lower end of the lowest column in each of said column assemblies. 
   
   
       20 . A method of erecting a stackable column assembly comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a base plate, plural columns, and plural two-compartment column connectors;   (b) locating the base plate in the desired location;   (c) attaching a first one of the columns to the base plate;   (d) telescopingly receiving the upper end of the first column in the lower compartment of one of the column connectors;   (e) telescopingly receiving the lower end of a second column in the upper compartment of the column connector;   (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) for each additional floor of the building.   
   
   
       21 . A method of erecting a building comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a plurality of stackable column assemblies, each assembly having a base plate, plural columns, and plural two-compartment column connectors with at least one beam connector horizontally extending from the lower compartment;   (b) locating the base plates in the desired location on a first floor;   (c) attaching one of the columns to each of the base plates to thereby provide first floor columns;   (d) telescopingly receiving the upper end of the first floor columns in the lower compartment of one of the column connectors;   (e) attach one end of a beam to selected beam connectors to thereby provide a grid of horizontal beams;   (f) supporting a floor on the grid of beams for the first floor;   (g) telescopingly receiving the lower end of a column in the upper compartment of the column connectors to thereby provide second floor columns;   (h) telescopingly receiving the upper end of the second floor columns in the lower compartment of one of the column connectors;   (i) attach one end of a beam to selected beam connectors to thereby provide a grid of horizontal beams for the second floor;   (j) supporting a floor on the grid of beams;   (k) repeating steps (g) and (j) for each additional floor of the building.