Modular Vertical Stacking Load Bearing Wall and Shoring System

Abstract

A modular vertical stacking load bearing wall and shoring panel includes a set of opposing columns elongated parallel to a vertical axis, each having a coupler. Each coupler includes an interior plate located in a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the vertical axis and the plate separates the coupler into two sections. A bottom track and a top track are attached between the columns. A top horizontal beam member is attached between the columns with its top surface located below the bottom edge of the coupler. A set of horizontal braces is attached perpendicularly between the columns and are spaced apart. Furring strips are attached to the top track, the bottom track and the horizontal braces. Fire safing material may be deposited in the coupler to promote fire resistance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular vertical stacking load bearing wall and shoring panel comprising:
 a set of opposing vertical support columns elongated parallel to a vertical axis, each of said opposing vertical support columns having a coupler, said coupler having the same horizontal cross-sectional shape as each of the vertical support columns, but is sized to accept an inserted vertical support column;   wherein each coupler includes an interior plate, the interior plate being located in a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the vertical axis and having a surface that covers the inner area of the coupler to separate the coupler into two sections, and wherein the plate has a thickness shorter than the length of the coupler so as to create a top cavity in the coupler, and wherein each coupler has a bottom perimeter edge;   a bottom track attached between the bottom portions of the set of opposing vertical support columns;   a top track attached between the bottom portions of the first set of opposing vertical support columns;   a top horizontal beam column attached perpendicularly between the set of opposing vertical support columns, the horizontal beam column having a top surface located in a horizontal plane defined by the bottom perimeter edge of the coupler;   a plurality of horizontal braces attached perpendicularly between the set of opposing vertical support columns, where each of the braces is spaced apart from the others according to a predetermined brace spacing value; and   a plurality of vertical furring strips attached perpendicularly to the top track, the bottom track, the top horizontal beam member and the plurality of horizontal braces, where each of the vertical furring strips is spaced apart from the others according to a predetermined strip spacing value.   
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1  further comprising firing safing material deposited in the top cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of vertical furring strips comprise hat channel furring strips. 
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of horizontal braces comprise hollow structural steel tubing. 
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the top horizontal beam member comprises hollow structural steel tubing. 
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of vertical furring strips and the plurality of horizontal braces are spaced apart by an isolator element at each attachment region. 
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1  further comprising a radio frequency identification device attached to the panel. 
     
     
         8 . The panel of  claim 7  wherein the radio frequency identification device is programmed with information comprising including location data, site information, panel placement data, manufacturer data, loading sequence data, unloading sequence data and quality control data. 
     
     
         9 . A modular vertical stacking load bearing wall and shoring system, comprising:
 a first prefabricated frame module and a second prefabricated frame module, wherein each prefabricated frame module includes a set of opposing vertical support columns elongated parallel to a vertical axis, each of said opposing vertical support columns having a coupler element, said coupler having the same horizontal cross-sectional shape as each of the vertical support columns but is sized to accept an inserted vertical support column, wherein each coupler includes an interior plate, the interior plate being located in a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the vertical axis and having a surface that covers the inner area of the coupler to separate the coupler into two sections, and wherein the plate has a thickness shorter than the length of the coupler so as to create a top cavity in the coupler, and wherein each coupler has a bottom perimeter edge, a bottom track attached between the bottom portions of the set of opposing vertical support columns, a top track attached between the bottom portions of the first set of opposing vertical support columns, a top horizontal beam column attached perpendicularly between the set of opposing vertical support columns, the horizontal beam member having a top surface located in a horizontal plane defined by the bottom perimeter edge of the coupler, a plurality of horizontal braces attached perpendicularly between the set of opposing vertical support columns, where each of the braces is spaced apart from the others according to a predetermined brace spacing value, a plurality of vertical furring strips attached perpendicularly to the top track, the bottom track, the top horizontal beam member and the plurality of horizontal braces, where each of the vertical furring strips is spaced apart from the others according to a predetermined strip spacing value; and   wherein the second prefabricated frame module has its set of opposing vertical support columns inserted into the top couplers of the first prefabricated frame module's set of opposing vertical support columns.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further including firing safing material deposited in each top cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of vertical furring strips comprise hat channel furring strips. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of horizontal braces comprise hollow structural steel tubing. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the top horizontal beam member comprises hollow structural steel tubing. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of vertical furring strips and the plurality of horizontal braces are spaced apart by an isolator element at each attachment region. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a radio frequency identification device attached to the panel. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the radio frequency identification device is programmed with information comprising including location data, site information, panel placement data, manufacturer data, loading sequence data, unloading sequence data and quality control data. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a left-hand vertical support column from the first prefabricated frame module connected to a right-hand vertical support column of a third prefabricated frame module; 
 steel decking attached to the top horizontal beam members of each modular panel; and 
 a concrete floor slab having a top surface level with the tops of each couplers. 
 
     
     
         18 . A construction method using a modular vertical stacking load bearing wall and shoring system, comprising:
 prefabricating a first prefabricated frame module and a second prefabricated frame module, wherein each prefabricated frame module is constructed by attaching a top horizontal beam member perpendicularly between a set of opposing vertical support columns elongated parallel to a vertical axis, attaching each of said opposing vertical support columns to a coupler, said coupler having the same horizontal cross-sectional shape as each of the vertical support columns but is sized to accept an inserted vertical support column, wherein each coupler includes an interior plate, the interior plate being located in a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the vertical axis and having a surface that covers the inner area of the coupler to separate the coupler into two sections, and wherein the plate has a thickness shorter than the length of the coupler so as to create a top cavity in the coupler, and wherein each coupler has a bottom perimeter edge, attaching a bottom track between the bottom portions of the set of opposing vertical support columns, attaching a top track between the bottom portions of the first set of opposing vertical support columns, where the horizontal beam member has a top surface located in a horizontal plane defined by the bottom perimeter edge of the coupler, attaching a plurality of horizontal braces perpendicularly between the set of opposing vertical support columns, spacing each of the braces apart from the others according to a predetermined brace spacing value, attaching a plurality of vertical furring strips perpendicularly to the top track, the bottom track, the top horizontal beam member and the plurality of horizontal braces, where each of the vertical furring strips is spaced apart from the others according to a predetermined strip spacing value; and   inserting the set of opposing vertical support columns from the second prefabricated frame module has into the top couplers of the first prefabricated frame module's set of opposing vertical support columns.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further including depositing firing safing material in each top cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of vertical furring strips comprise hat channel furring strips. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of horizontal braces comprise hollow structural steel tubing. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the top horizontal beam member comprises hollow structural steel tubing. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising spacing the plurality of vertical furring strips and the plurality of horizontal braces by installing an isolator element at each attachment region. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising attaching a radio frequency identification device to the panel. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising programming the radio frequency identification device with information including location data, site information, panel placement data, manufacturer data, loading sequence data, unloading sequence data and quality control data. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 connecting a left-hand vertical support column from the first prefabricated frame module to a right-hand vertical support column of a third prefabricated frame module; 
 attaching steel decking to the top horizontal beam members of each modular panel; and 
 installing a concrete floor slab having a top surface level with the tops of each coupler. 
 
     
     
         27 . A coupler for use in a modular vertical stacking load bearing wall and shoring panel, the coupler comprising:
 a tube elongated in a first direction, the tube having a width adapted to mate with at least one vertical steel column of a similar cross-sectional profile;   an interior plate, the interior plate being located in a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the first direction and having a surface that covers the inner area of the tube to separate the tube into two sections, and wherein the plate has a thickness shorter than the length of the tube so as to create a top cavity in the tube.   
     
     
         28 . The coupler of  claim 27  further comprising firing safing material deposited in the top cavity.