Block for use in automated building construction

Abstract

A block for automated building construction has a cuboid body including an opposed top and bottom, a pair of opposed ends, and a pair of opposed sides. The block is dividable lengthwise into block portions. Between each pair of adjacent block portions is a dividing slot(s) extending between the top and the bottom and transversely across the block, the dividing slot(s) separated from the opposed sides or an adjacent dividing slot by slender webs which bridge and connect the adjacent block portions. Each block portion includes holes extending between the top and the bottom. The holes include a larger hole, and smaller holes spaced apart around the larger hole. Each portion at opposing ends of the block includes a protruding tongue extending between the top and the bottom of the block, which is transversely offset with respect to a protruding tongue at the opposite end of the block.

1 . A block for automated building construction, said block comprising a cuboid body including an opposed top and a bottom, a pair of opposed ends, and a pair of opposed sides; the block dividable lengthwise into a plurality of block portions, one or more dividing slots between each pair of adjacent block portions extending between the top and the bottom and transversely across the block, each of the one or more dividing slots being separated from the opposed sides or an adjacent dividing slot by slender webs which bridge and connect the adjacent block portions; each of the block portions including a plurality of holes extending between the top and the bottom thereof, where the plurality of holes comprises one or more larger holes, and a plurality of smaller holes spaced apart around the one or more larger holes; and wherein each of the end portions at opposing ends of the block comprises one or more protruding tongues extending between the top and the bottom of the block, each of the one or more protruding tongues is transversely offset with respect to the one or more protruding tongues at the opposite end of the block. 
     
     
         2 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more protruding tongues at one end of the block are rotationally symmetrical to the one or more protruding tongues at the opposite end of the block. 
     
     
         3 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the end portions at opposing ends of the block comprises a pair of transversely spaced protruding tongues extending between the top and the bottom of the block. 
     
     
         4 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more larger holes is positioned on a centreline of the block portion. 
     
     
         5 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more larger holes is substantially square. 
     
     
         6 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of the smaller holes is elongate. 
     
     
         7 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of the smaller holes is a slot. 
     
     
         8 . The block of  claim 7 , wherein at least one slot extends parallel to each side and end edge of each block portion. 
     
     
         9 . The block of  claim 8 , wherein where two or more slots extend parallel to a side or end of the block portion, wherein the two or more slots extending parallel to a side or end of the block portion are aligned lengthwise. 
     
     
         10 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein where two or more of the dividing slots are located between a pair of adjacent block portions, the two or more dividing slots between a pair of adjacent block portions are aligned lengthwise in a direction extending transversely across the block, and separated by one or more of the connecting slender webs. 
     
     
         11 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the block portions comprises a pair of larger holes spaced apart transversely across the block portion. 
     
     
         12 . The block of  claim 11 , comprising one of: a length of approximately 490 mm; a width of approximately 190 mm; and, a height of approximately 250 mm, a length of approximately 600 mm; a width of approximately 190 mm; and, a height of approximately 400 mm, a length of approximately 600 mm; a width of approximately 290 mm; and a height of approximately 400 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the block portions comprises a single larger hole positioned at or proximate a geometric centre of a top of the block portion. 
     
     
         14 . The block of  claim 13 , comprising one of: a length of approximately 500 mm; a width of approximately 90 mm; and, a height of approximately 250 mm, a length of approximately 600 mm; a width of approximately 90 mm; and, a height of approximately 400 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein the block is made of clay. 
     
     
         16 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tongues comprises a flat surface extending parallel to the surface of the end of the block, and sloping ramp surfaces extending on either side down from the flat surface to the surface of the end of the block. 
     
     
         17 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the protruding tongues protrudes approximately 5 mm from an end of the block. 
     
     
         18 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposed sides comprise a plurality of grooves that extend between the top and bottom of the block and are spaced equidistant between the ends. 
     
     
         19 . The block of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposed sides comprises a plurality of grooves that extend between the top and bottom of the block, wherein for each block portion a pair of grooves are separated by a smooth flat side portion that is aligned with and has a width substantially the same as a width of the one or more larger holes. 
     
     
         20 . A block for automated building construction, the block for use in constructing an internal wall of a building, said block comprising a cuboid body including an opposed top and a bottom, a pair of opposed ends, and a pair of opposed sides; the block dividable lengthwise into a plurality of block portions, where between each pair of adjacent block portions there is at least one dividing slot extending between the top and the bottom and transversely across the block, the at least one dividing slot being separated from the opposed sides or an adjacent dividing slot by slender webs which bridge and connect the adjacent block portions; each of the block portions including a plurality of holes extending between the top and the bottom thereof, wherein the plurality of holes comprises one larger hole positioned at or near a geometric centre of a top of the block portion, and a plurality of smaller holes spaced apart around the larger hole; and wherein each of the end portions at opposing ends of the block comprises at least one protruding tongue extending between the top and the bottom of the block, the at least one protruding tongue is transversely offset with respect to the at least one protruding tongue at the opposite end of the block. 
     
     
         21 . A block for automated building construction, the block for use in constructing an external wall of a building, the block comprising a cuboid body including an opposed top and a bottom, a pair of opposed ends, and a pair of opposed sides; the block dividable lengthwise into a plurality of block portions, where between each pair of adjacent block portions there is at least one dividing slot extending between the top and the bottom and transversely across the block, the at least one dividing slot separated from the opposed sides or an adjacent dividing slot by slender webs which bridge and connect the adjacent block portions; each of the block portions including a plurality of holes extending between the top and the bottom thereof, wherein the plurality of holes comprises a pair of larger holes spaced apart transversely across the block portion, and a plurality of smaller holes spaced apart around and between the larger holes; and wherein each of the end portions at opposing ends of the block comprises at least one protruding tongue extending between the top and the bottom of the block, the at least one protruding tongue is transversely offset with respect to the at least one protruding tongue at the opposite end of the block. 
     
     
         22 . A wall assembly comprised of a plurality of blocks as in  claim 1 , wherein the blocks are laid in a plurality of courses, and an adhesive is applied between each course of blocks and a successive course to bond the courses of blocks. 
     
     
         23 . A wall assembly comprised of one or more internal walls constructed using the blocks of internal wall block of  claim 20  and one or more external walls constructed using blocks of an external wall block, wherein the blocks are laid in a plurality of courses, and an adhesive is applied between each course of blocks and a successive course to bond the courses of blocks. 
     
     
         24 . The wall assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the adhesive is machine applied to the base of a block before the block is laid onto a lower course. 
     
     
         25 . The wall assembly of  claim 22 , wherein at least two parallel beads of adhesive are applied onto the base of a block along a lengthwise extent thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The wall assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the adhesive is further applied onto one or more end faces of a block to form a perp joint with an adjacent block in a course. 
     
     
         27 . The wall assembly of  claim 23 , wherein internal walls are tied into external walls by inserting internal wall blocks between adjacent external wall blocks for at least alternating courses of blocks so that ends of the internal wall lay flush with an outer face of an external wall. 
     
     
         28 . The wall assembly of  claim 27 , wherein each of the larger holes in an external wall block or block portion aligns with a corresponding larger hole in an internal wall block or block portion when one is stacked atop of the other.