Prefabricated modular building units

Abstract

A folding beam system 16 for use in the assembly of pre-fabricated modular building units having beam members 20, 22 for supporting the floor and ceiling structures of the modular unit, said beam members being adjacent to each other when the modular units are arranged in a vertical stack, an open web structure 24 pivotally associated with one of the beam members 20 to allow the web structure 24 to be folded from a stored position, to an operative position in which the web structure is connected to the other beam member 22 of a vertically adjacent unit to form a structural truss 16 between the adjacent units, and means 28, 29 for locking the web structure to the other beam 22 in the operative position.

1 . A folding beam system for use in the assembly of pre-fabricated modular building units having beam members for supporting the floor and ceiling structures of the modular unit, said beam members being adjacent to each other when the modular units are arranged in a vertical stack, an open web structure pivotally associated with one of the beam members to allow the web structure to be folded from a stored position, out of the central vertical plane of the beam, which reduces the vertical height of the unit for transportation, to an operative position in which the web structure is connected to the other beam member of a vertically adjacent unit to form a structural truss between the adjacent units, and means for locking the web structure to the other beam in the operative position. 
     
     
         2 . The folding beam of  claim 1 , wherein a said web structure is pivotally associated with either side of said one of the beam members. 
     
     
         3 . The folding beam of  claim 1 , wherein a single said web structure is pivotally associated with said one of said beam members at or near a central vertical plane of the beam member. 
     
     
         4 . The folding beam of  claim 1 , wherein the or each web structure is pivotally mounted on one of the beam members and have an opening formed to engage a support element secured to the other beam member, locking means including a locking pin engaging means associated with the other beam member. 
     
     
         5 . The folding beam of  claim 4 , wherein the locking pin engages cleat plates on either side of the support element positioned to locate the web structure longitudinally of the beam member. 
     
     
         6 . A pre-fabricated modular building unit for use with like modular units in the construction of buildings, comprising a cubic structure having column elements at each corner and spaced along each side if required, to provide structural strength, frame members connecting the column elements for supporting floor, ceiling and wall panels to provide structural rigidity, said unit being configured to co-operate with like units so that the column elements form the columns of the building structure, said frame members including beam members for supporting floor and ceiling structures of the modular unit, a folding beam system including an open webbed structure pivotally associated with one of the beam members to allow the web structure to be folded from a stored position, out of the central vertical plane of the beam member, to an operative position connected to the other beam member of a vertically adjacent modular unit, to rigidly interconnect the modular units and define a structural truss interconnecting the units, and means for locking the web structure to the other beam in the operative position. 
     
     
         7 . The building unit of  claim 6 , wherein the column elements along one side of the modular unit includes removable column members which remain in position while the unit is transported and installed with like units, said column members being removable when the folding beam system of vertically adjacent units are deployed to the operative position and the beam members of the adjacent units are interconnected to span horizontally adjacent units. 
     
     
         8 . The building unit of  claim 7 , wherein the beam members of adjacent units may be interconnected by gusset plates including compression blocks which are received between adjacent column elements. 
     
     
         9 . The building unit of  claim 6 , wherein the column elements of horizontally adjacent modular units are interconnected by interlocking brackets which thereby rigidly interconnect the adjacent modular units. 
     
     
         10 . The building unit of  claim 7 , wherein the removable column members include tubular members which are adjustable in length and which contain tension rods which are secured to opposed supports for the removable columns, the tension rods being removable to allow disassembly of the removable columns when the folding beam systems have been deployed to the operative position and the beam members of adjacent units have been inter-connected to span horizontally adjacent units.