Components for masonry construction

Abstract

A component is a building block having a pair of parallel load-bearing concrete side walls separated by a gap and joined by crossed metal ties which bridge the gap. The outer faces of the side walls can be covered with a decorative finish such as stone. The blocks have an added end wall which enables pillars to be built. The method of casting the blocks utilizes a collapsible metal mold which permits the side walls to be stepped.

1 . A component for masonry construction, comprising:
 a pair of parallel, load-bearing upright side members of equal size having inner faces and outer faces, wherein the inner faces are separated by a gap; and   a tie structure joining each inner face to another inner face and being embedded in the side members.   
     
     
         2 . The component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein upper and lower longitudinal edges of both sides are stepped so as to form a lap joint when stacked on a like component. 
     
     
         3 . The component as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein two ends of both side members are also stepped so as to form lap joints when butted to a like component. 
     
     
         4 . The component as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the step in both sides is interrupted by a groove which allows one component to be stacked at  90  degrees to a lower component. 
     
     
         5 . The component as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: a hardenable mix being concrete, cementitious mix, geopolymer or other non-cement mix. 
     
     
         6 . The component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer face of one side member is covered by a layer of different composition which offers additional weatherproofing. 
     
     
         7 . The component as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the layer is at least one of a group consisting of: stone veneer, brick veneer, and render. 
     
     
         8 . The component as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the members are 50 mm thick and the covering layer is 15-20 mm thick, 
     
     
         9 . The component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner face of one side member is covered by a layer of different compositions which offers decor suitability. 
     
     
         10 . The component as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the layer is plaster suitable for a room interior. 
     
     
         11 . The component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tie structure is comprised of a pair of metal ties with ends which are embedded in the thickness of the members and define the gaps suitable for conduits, cables and pipes to occupy. 
     
     
         12 . The component as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the gap is 70-80 mm wide. 
     
     
         13 . The component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two parallel side walls are joined by an end wall. 
     
     
         14 . A method for making a component for masonry construction, the method comprising the steps of:
 preparing a mold with outside perimeter walls and inside perimeter walls on a base, the inside perimeter walls having two pairs of slots arranged on a long axis of the inside perimeter;   inserting a reinforcement tie into each pair of slots so that part of the reinforcement lies between the inner and outer walls of the remainder of the reinforcement and spans the space between the pairs of inner walls;   filling the space between the inner and outer walls with hardenable construction mix; and   removing the cast component from the mould by force applied to the reinforcement.   
     
     
         15 . A method of casting a masonry component, the method further comprising the steps of:
 erecting a pair of upright end walls to form a mold,   joining the end walls with a pair of outer walls and a pair of inner walls lying parallel to the outer wall spanning the two inner walls with a pair of ties which extend through the inner walls, and   filling the mold space between the inner and outer walls with hardenable construction mix, whereby the ties are embedded in the mix.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the end walls are provided with pairs of cutouts in the top and bottom edges and channel pieces are inserted in the cutouts in order to create a stacking step in the top of each cast wall and the bottom of each cast wall. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the inner walls are slotted in order to admit and release the ties during the mold sequence.