EP2729637B1

EP2729637B1 - Lattice member and self-supporting modular structure

Info

Publication number: EP2729637B1
Application number: EP12745565.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Valter Decia
Original assignee: Futhura SRL
Current assignee: Futhura Srl
Priority date: 2011-07-04
Filing date: 2012-07-03
Publication date: 2018-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-03
Also published as: ITGE20110072A1; WO2013005163A1; ES2709628T3; EP2729637A1

Description

The present invention relates to a structure realized according to the preamble of claim 1.
The structure according to the preamble of claim 1, is the usual structure of lattice members known in the prior art. Such lattices are usually used for making supporting structures and for making the frame of buildings and/or houses. Their particular configuration allows structures that are strong, but light at the same time, to be obtained, due to the ratio of the volume to the hollow parts of each lattice member.
Moreover, in order to increase the strength and the stiffness, lattices are often made with three or four elongated members such to create triangular and square section structures respectively, where the elongated members are connected one to the other by connecting members.
Moreover the modularity and the structural simplicity of lattices allow structures even of large size to be made by the connection of one or more lattices, which generally occurs by fastening a lattice to another one by means of fastening means such as screws, bolts or the like, for the end connection of one lattice to the one coupled thereto.
The joints among lattices are often a particularly delicate aspect, since they generate discontinuity areas due to the interface between one lattice and another one, where the whole structure has a very lower strength.
In particular the action of repeated stresses, or the action of stresses according to fatigue cycles, causes these joints to be damaged with the consequent collapse of the whole structure. Such aspect is particularly disadvantageous during seismic type movements, since even a small magnitude repeated in a specific time interval can cause entire buildings using prior art known lattices to be destroyed.
A possible solution is described in the document US 5,761,873 relating to a structure for a building according to the preamble of claim 1 and comprising a lattice member as described above and having at least two connecting members intended to connect two elongated members.
However the solution provided in the document is intended to improve the distribution of the weight of structure components, but it has no results on the degradation of joints and interfaces among the several components of the structure subjected to repeated fatigue cycles.
The connecting members between the elongated members are fastened to elongated members by means of screws or the like, that is through joining interfaces that tend to yield due to repeated fatigue cycles.
Moreover the lattice members described in the document US 5,761,873 do not allow self-supporting modular structures to be made.
There are two types of structures, primary and secondary structures: the first type relates to a structure that is self-supporting, namely it has not to be connected to other structures for standing, structures that are necessary for the stability of secondary type structures.
The achievement of a primary structure for making anti-seismic structures is a necessary condition, over which one must be intransigent.
Therefore there is the unsatisfied need of providing a structure that by relatively simple and inexpensive arrangements allows buildings to be made by coupling one or more lattice members, such that the joints among the lattice members do not deteriorate or degenerate if subjected to the action of stresses, in particular the action of repeated stresses and/or fatigue cycles.
The invention achieves the above objects by providing a lattice member as described above and according to the carachterising part of claim 1.
Therefore a hollow area is interposed between a connecting member and another one, such to form in the space between the two elongated members a pattern that provides the alternation of solid connecting members and hollow areas.
As it will be widely described below, such insertion allows two lattice members to be coupled, such to make complicated structures, such that the connection between the two members is obtained by an interlocking action allowing the weight and stresses acting on the interface area between the two members to be better transferred.
It is anticipated that it is possible to provide fastening means between the two lattice members or between one lattice member and a further structural element, but they are intended only to secure the relative motion therebetween, without suffering from, or minimally suffering from the action of stresses acting on the structure.
In addition the fastening is accomplished preferably by means of a third element that connects the two lattice members, but the fastening is never made only between the two lattice members, that is by fastening one lattice to another one.
Thus the interface area between the two lattice members, obtained by interlocking a lattice member into the hollow area of another one, is not bound.
A particularly advantageous aspect of the structure object of the present invention is the modularity and the facility of making supporting structures or buildings by means of different configurations and connections of lattice members having all the same dimensions.
Moreover the combination of lattice members, made according to the present invention, in order to form complicated structures, can occur according to several modes, which will be described below.
It is specified that preferably the placing side by side of two or more lattice members occurs with lattice members having the same dimensions, but the superimposition of two or more lattice members, along the elongated members, can occur with lattice members having the same dimensions or different dimensions.
This aspect is particularly advantageous in order to adapt the structure that is to be generated to the available spaces.
A variant embodiment of the lattice member consequently provides a plurality of connecting members, each connecting member being arranged spaced by a specific constant amount with respect to the connecting members adjacent thereto.
Therefore it is possible to insert several lattice members or further structural elements into the same hollow area or in different hollow areas, such to create several configurations, on the basis of the needs required by the structure that is to be made.
Preferably, but not exclusively, the at least two elongated members and the connecting members are made of metallic material.
The connecting members are preferably welded to the elongated members, therefore no fastening means are provided, of the screw type or the like, between the connecting members and the fastening means.
The fact of making it of metallic material allows the lightness of the member to be further increased under the same strength, any metallic material is used, to be changed depending on the structural needs and on standards to be observed.
A variant embodiment provides the two or more connecting members to be made as a sheet element, of any shape.
Such sheet element is inserted between the two elongated members, preferably by welding and it has the advantage of being easily fastenable. Since the sheet has a limited thickness a welding for each elongated member is enough for fastening both the faces of the sheet element, therefore a welding for each elongated member and for each face is not required, as it usually occurs, achieving facility and rapidity in the processing.
A preferred variant embodiment provides the sheet element to have two narrowings of which a first narrowing in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the at least two elongated members and a second narrowing according to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the at least two elongated members, such to have a "X" shape.
The "X" shape allows stresses to be better distributed and transferred, both compressive, shear or tension ones, that act on the lattice member, as it will be described below.
As previously said, the sheet element can also be made with any shape, but preferably symmetric shapes are used, as the "X" shape just described. Concerning this it is possible to make the sheet element as an ellipse element that at the diagonals has projections intended to weld the ellipse element to the elongated members.
As an alternative the connecting members can be composed of a tubular and/or box- shaped element extending along a path having two opposite bends, such to have an overturned "z" shape.
Even in this case both the choice of overturning the "z" shape and that of making the connecting member as a not solid element, that is tubular or box- shaped, derives from the need of optimally tranferring the stresses, in particular the stresses acting perpendicularly to the longitudinal plane of the elongated members.
Independently of the making of the connecting members, the elongated members can be provided preferably as tubular or box- shaped elements, such to increase the lightness of the whole lattice member and to increase even the stiffness thereof.
Moreover it is possible to provide, as for lattices known in the prior art, the lattice member object of the present invention to have three or four or more elongated members such to obtain a triangular, square or polygonal section.
The change of the section does not affect the properties just described of the lattice, in particular it is always possible to make hollow areas wherein further lattice members of any shape or further structural elements can be inserted such as beams or the like.
The invention further relates to a self-supporting modular structure for building houses, buildings or the like, composed of a foundation structure, a covering structure of the type as a roof or the like and a superstructure, interposed between the covering structure and the foundation structure. Such superstructure is composed of a plurality of pillars, supporting at least one floor, wherein said at least one floor is composed of one or more intersections of the lattice members made according to what previously described.
Therefore the floor is obtained by arranging the lattice members as described, along a horizontal plane, parallel to the longitudinal plane of its own elongated members, and by inserting one or more lattice members or further structural elements into the areas delimited between two connecting members of further one or more lattice members.
The intersections of two lattice members, of which a first and a second lattice member, are obtained by inserting the first lattice member into said hollow area delimited by the at least two connecting members of the second lattice member.
The interface area between the two lattice members is given by the contact area therebetween, which however is obtained by interlocking a lattice into the other one, and not by means of fastening means that join a lattice to another one.
Therefore advantageously the stresses acting on the structure do not mainly act on the fastening means of the two lattice members, but on the members themselves, that are more strong, therefore giving the structure a higher strength, above all in case of the action of repeated stresses, as seismic movements.
According to a preferred embodiment the relative movement between the first and the second lattice members is prevented by means of fastening joints intended to fasten the first lattice member to the second lattice member or vice versa.
However such fastening joints do not help, if not minimally, to transfer and absorb the stresses acting on the interaction between the two lattice members.
Advantageously even the pillars of the structure object of the present invention can be obtained by combining the lattice members described up to now.
At least two lattice members, of which a first and a second lattice members, can be placed side by side, such that both the elongated members of the first lattice member are in contact with a corresponding elongated member of the second lattice member.
Advantageously the at least two lattice members are placed side by side such that the first lattice member is staggered with respect to the second lattice member, forming a pair of two lattice members.
In particular said pillar can be composed of a sequence of pairs of two lattice members, arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongated members, fastening means being provided intended to fasten a pair of lattice members to the corresponding one.
The side by side staggered arrangement as described therefore allows discontinuity regions at the connection of two or more lattices along the longitudinal axis thereof to be eliminated, without generating interfaces created only by fastening means that risk being broken if subjected to tensile stresses.
Thus it is possible to obtain pillars with any length and with the required strength by placing side by side two or more elongated members in a staggered manner and by joining the groups obtained in this manner.
In the same way, in addition to make the pillars of the structure, it is also possible to make further structural elements, such as beams or the like, by coupling and combining two or more lattice members.
Moreover a variant embodiment provides the pillars of the structure to be made according to different modes for combining the lattice members, which are all object of the present invention and that will be better described in the description of the figures.
The important advantage is that structures and/or buildings are generated by using only one module, that is the lattice member that is used according to different configurations, thus oversize loads are eliminated and the production is optimized, it being further possible to assemble and recreate, for example by lengthening and shortening in situ, all the structural elements necessary for making the building.
Moreover the reinforced concrete is not necessary anymore and it can be used only for the foundation structures, if the latter are not made of a different material.
Finally the interlockings and the modularity allow a great versatility even for positioning windows, doors or the like, guaranteeing an optimal transfer of the weight and absorption of the stresses acting on the structure at the discontinuity areas that often are delicate and critical points when building structures.
A further important advantage of the self-supporting modular structure object of the present invention is the possibility of disassembling such structure while keeping the several components intact and ready to be used again for building further self-supporting structures.
The present invention finally relates to a method for the prefabricated building of a building, structure or the like providing the following steps:

a) making the structure according to the characteristics described above,
b) making one or more floors,
c) making one or more pillars.

Preferably the step providing to make one or more floors, is obtained by interlocking in a load-supporting manner at least two lattice members, of which a first lattice member and a second lattice member, the interlocking being in turn accomplished by inserting the first lattice member into the hollow area delimited by the at least two connecting members of the second lattice member.
After such step, a step fastening in place said two lattice members is provided.
According to a further embodiment, the step making one or more pillars is obtained by placing side by side at least two lattice members, of which a first and a second lattice members, such that both the elongated members of the first lattice member are in contact with a corresponding elongated member of the second lattice member, the first lattice member being staggered with respect to the second lattice member.
The several combinations of the configuration of two or more lattices described up to now and below, can be used not only for making the frame of a structure such as a building or the like, but for completely making the structure, from the foundation to the covering, considering also the outer and inner walls.
To this end a variant embodiment provides a following method step for installing the walls, obtained by interlocking a plurality of lattice members arranged between one floor and the other one according to directions parallel and perpendicular to the floors themselves.
In the structures known in the prior art, the walls are the most weak point since they generally are made of tile, while the pillars in reinforced concrete and the interface area between the two materials has a discontinuity region where for instance the seismic stresses act deterioring the structure causing walls to collapse.
During an earthquake the seismic stresses cause the entire structure to oscillate, the pillars bend the interface area yields and the tile parts are detached from the pillars, collapsing.
The use of lattice members interlocked one with the other and in communication with the floors and the pillars for making the walls, allow walls integral to pillars to be made preventing them to collapse in case of earthquake.
Therefore all the lattice members and their combinations described can be used for making a whole self-supporting structure, that withstand seismic stresses more than structures known in the prior art.
These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the following description of some embodiments shown in the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig.1 is a view of the lattice member;
Fig.2 shows how two lattice members can be combined according to the present invention for creating structures, buildings or the like;
Figs. 3a and 3b are the lattice member according to a longitudinal plane and a sectional plane respectively of the member itself;
Figs. 4a and 4b are the lattice member object of the present invention according to the variant embodiment of figure 1 and according to a longitudinal plane and a sectional plane respectively of the member itself;
Fig. 5 is an example of the fastening means for fastening two or more lattice members;
Figs. 6a to 6d show two or more lattice members are placed side by side for making pillars;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view according to a horizontal plane of a possible variant embodiment of a pillar of the structure object of the present invention;
Fig.8 is a front view of a detail relating to the covering structure belonging to the structure object of the present invention;
Fig.9 is a front view of a structure part obtained by combining the lattice members object of the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a view of a structure obtained by combining the lattice members object of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows the lattice member 1 composed of two elongated members 11 arranged parallel along their longitudinal axis and spaced from each other. Between the two elongated members 11 there are provided two connecting members 12 intended to connect an elongated member 11 to the other elongated member 11. The two connecting members 12 are arranged spaced from each other along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongated members 11.
In particular the connecting members 12 are successively arranged along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongated members 11 such to form a hollow area 13.
As it will be seen in the examples described below there is provided a plurality of connecting members 12 that can be arranged at any distance from each other, a distance that changes depending on structural needs. Preferably the connecting members 12 are arranged always at the same distance from each other, but in a single lattice member 1 the connecting members can be envisaged to be arranged at different distances from each other.
Independently of the distance between one connecting member 12 and another one, the hollow area 13 is delimited at the top and at the bottom by the two elongated members 11 and at the sides by the connecting members 11.
The hollow area 13 is intended for the insertion of further lattice members 1, beams and/or further structural elements along a direction incident to the longitudinal axis of the two elongated members 11.
In particular figure 2 shows how a lattice member 1 can be inserted into the hollow area 13 of a further lattice member 1. In the figure the two lattice members 1 have a plurality of connecting members 12, all arranged at the same distance from each other, forming a plurality of hollow areas 13. In one of these hollow areas 13 the lattice member 1 is inserted, which preferably has a height, that is a distance between the outer surfaces of the elongated members 11 equal to or slightly lower than the height of the hollow area 13 of the other lattice member 1.
With a particular reference to figure 2, the lattice member 1 is inserted into the hollow area 13 of the other lattice member 1, such that the elongated members 11 of the first lattice member 1 are arranged vertically, but it is possible to insert the first lattice member 1 even with the elongated members 11 arranged horizontally, such as it is possible to insert any structural element into the hollow area 13 of the second lattice member 1, such to consider the preferred configuration depending on structural needs.
Moreover the elongated members 11 and the connecting members 12 are preferably made of metallic material, but depending on structural needs it is possible to provide them to be made of any material.
Figs. 3a and 3b show the lattice member according to a further variant embodiment and according to a longitudinal plane and a sectional plane of the member respectively.
According to such variant embodiment the connecting members 12 are composed of a sheet member 12 connecting the two elongated members 11.
With a particular reference to figure 3a, such sheet member 12 has two narrowings, of which a first narrowing 121 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the two elongated members 11 and a second narrowing 122 according to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the two elongated members 11.
The connecting member 12 of figure 2a therefore has a "X" shape and it is possible to increase the thickness of the material composing the sheet member 12 just at the arms 123 and 124 of such "X" shape such to improve the properties of strength and transfer of the stresses acting on the whole lattice member 1.
Such increase in the thickness can be seen in figure 2b, where a section according to a vertical and transverse plane of the lattice member 1 is shown.
Variant embodiments provide the possibility for the sheet member 12 to have only one narrowing, or not to have them at all, the shape shown in figures 3a and 3b is the preferred one, but it has not to be intended as a limitation, since in the most general case the connecting members 12 are simply composed of a sheet member, of any shape. Figures 4a and 4b show the lattice member of the present invention according to the variant embodiment shown in figure 1 and according to a longitudinal plane and a sectional plane of the member respectively.
According to such variant embodiment, the connecting members 12 are composed of a tubular and/or box- shaped member extending along a path having two opposite bends, such to have an onverturned "z" shape.
The connecting member shown in figure 4a is a tubular element that starting from an elongated member 11 belonging to a lattice member 1, extends vertically with a first portion 125 up to the elongated member 11 opposite to the original elongated member 11, then by a second slanting portion 126 it extends up to the original elongated member 11, from where it extends again vertically with a third portion 127 towards the elongated member 11 opposite to the original one.
Figure 4b shows the section of such variant embodiment according to a plane vertical to the lattice member 1.
The connection of two lattice members 1 having the connecting members 12 as described in figure 4a can preferably take place by placing the two lattice members 1 side by side superimposing the connecting members 12 of each lattice member 1 in a mirror-like manner, namely such that the two slanting portions 126 of the connecting members 12 form a "X".
The following figures show the several configurations according to which it is possible to combine one or more lattice members 1, as described, as well as the fastening means that prevent the relative movement between the lattices 1 combined together.
The lattice members as previously described are combined in order to make self-supporting modular structures for building houses, buildings or the like. Such structures are mainly composed of a foundation structure, a covering structure of the type as a roof or the like and a superstructure, interposed between the covering structure and the foundation structure.
The superstructure is composed of a plurality of pillars, intended to support at least one floor.
The floor is composed of one or more intersections of the lattice members 1 and each single intersection of two lattice members 1, of which a first and a second lattice member, is obtained by inserting the first lattice member into the hollow area 13 delimited by the at least two connecting members 12 of the second lattice member, such as shown in figure 2.
As described previously, the several intersections and/or insertions of the two lattice members 1 allow a structure with high properties of strength and transfer of the stresses acting on the whole structure to be obtained, without the need of using joints intended to help in transferring and absorbing the stresses acting on the interaction between the two lattice members 1.
One embodiment of the structure of the present invention provides to use fastening joints, that however act only for eliminating or limiting the relative movement between the first and the second lattice members. Such joints can be of any type, but due to explanatory and not limitative reasons, a possible embodiment is shown in figure 5.
Figure 5 shows the two lattice members 1 inserted one into the other one according to modes already described and whose relative movement is prevented by using a multi-hole angle square 3 composed of two sheet elements 31 and 32, such that each sheet element 31 and 32 is fastened to the first and second lattice members respectively.
The sheet element 31 has one or more holes 311 that allow the square 3 to be fastened to the elongated member 11 of the first lattice member 1 by means of fastening screws 312, similarly the second sheet element 32 has one or more holes 321 allowing the square 3 to be fastened to the elongated member 11 of the second lattice member 1 by means of fastening screws 322.
In particular in figure 5 the two sheet elements 31 and 32 form an angle of 90°, but it is possible to provide them to have different angles, due to the interlocking type of the two lattice members 1.
Finally it is possible to provide the angle of the two sheet elements 31 and 32 to be adjustable such to change the insertion of a lattice member 1 into the hollow area 13 of the other lattice member 1.
Preferably also the pillars of the structure object the present invention can be obtained by placing at least two lattice members 1 side by side, of which a first and a second lattice members, such that both the elongated members of the first lattice member are in contact with a corresponding elongated member of the second lattice member.
The pillars thus obtained can be used both for the superstructure, and, as it will be seen below, for making the covering structure of the structure of the present invention.
Moreover several combinations of the lattice members are possible, differing from placing side by-side two lattice members, in order to obtain more complicated and balanced structures, as it will be widely described.
Figures 6a and 6d show how two lattice members can be placed side by side such to obtain the pillars.
In particular figure 6a is a view of two lattice members 1 placed side by side for making a pillar belonging to the superstructure and intended to support the floor for making the structure object of the present invention.
The two lattice members 1 are placed side by side such that both the elongated members 11 of the first lattice member 1 are in contact with a corresponding elongated member 11 of the second lattice member.
It is possible to provide fastening means providing the two or more lattice members to be retained in the side by side position. Figure 6b is a section along a plane transverse to the longitudinal plane of the two lattice members, the placing side by side of the two lattice members, pointing out such fastening means.
It is possible to provide any fastening method, but with particular reference to figure 6b the elongated members 11 of the two lattice members are fastened in place by one or more self -threading screws 4 penetrating through both the side surfaces 111 of the elongated member of the first lattice member and are tightened into the side surface 112 of the elongated member 11 of the second lattice member.
The use of self-threading screws is preferable than screw and bolt connection, since once the self-threading screw 4 is tightened it puts under tension the two lattice members without the need of using a bolt that would make the assembly complicated and moreover it is possible to distribute the stress on a wider surface, due also to the use of plate-like elements that will be described below.
Preferably such self-threading screws 4 are composed of a first portion 41 having a smooth outer surface and a second portion 42 having a threaded outer surface.
It is possible to place side by side more than two lattice members according to such mode, by increasing the length of the self -threading screw.
Moreover preferably a high number of self-threading screws is used, such that the breaking of one of them does not affect the connection of the two lattice members, or between the plate 5 and one or more lattice members 1.
Figure 6c shows a section according to a plane transverse to the longitudinal plane of the two lattice members showing a possible connection of 4 lattice members. Such figure shows how it is possible to place side by side two pairs of lattice members of figure 6b, if structural needs would make it necessary to place side by side two lattice members not only with the side surfaces 111 and 112 of the elongated members 11 in contact, but also to place side by side one or more further lattice members by putting the outer upper surfaces 113 and 114 in contact.
In particular in figure 6c a plate- like element 5 is used that partially surrounds the elongated members 11 of the lattice members and which is fastened by using self -threading screws 4 in the same manner as described in figure 6b.
According to a variant embodiment of the present invention, all the joining regions, that is the regions providing a contact interface between one member and another one, can be covered by a plate-like element 5 that is fastened as just described.
This particular improvement allows the stiffness of the interface regions to increase, in addition the stresses acting on the interface are distributed on a wider surface.
Figure 6d shows the connection of several lattice members for forming pillars, according to a section along the longitudinal plane of the elongated members 11.
According to the variant embodiment shown in figure 6d the lattice members are placed side by side such that each lattice member is staggered with respect to the corresponding lattice member, forming a pair of two lattice members.
The pillar is thus composed of a sequence of pairs 6, 7 and 8 of two lattice members, arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongated members, each pair 6, 7 and 8 being composed of a first and a second lattice member.
As it has been previously described in order to strengthen the two lattice members placed side by side it is possible to provide fastening means, such as self-threading screws 4 and the plates 5.
According to this particular configuration however each self-threading screw 4 connects a lattice member of a pair with a lattice member of a following pair: for instance the first lattice member of the pair 7 is fastened to the second lattice member of the pair 6, while the second lattice member of the pair 7 is fastened to the first lattice member of the pair 8.
Figure 7 shows a view of a section according to a horizontal plane of a possible variant embodiment of a pillar belonging to the structure of the present invention.
The pillar shown in the figure is made by using four lattice members 100, 101, 102 and 103 arranged such to form a rectangular shape joined by the walls of the elongated members 11, such that they are arranged at the corners of the rectangular shape.
The four lattice members 100, 101, 102 and 103 therefore form the pillar and are coupled one with respect to the other by the self-threading screws 4 previously described. The pillar obtained in this manner is connectable to a floor structure formed of further lattice members 104 and 105 arranged one perpendicular to the other.
The lattice member 104 is inserted into the hollow areas 13 belonging to the lattice member 103 and the lattice member 101 respectively.
The lattice member 105 in turn is inserted into the hollow areas 13 belonging to the lattice member 102 and 100 respectively, but it is inserted also into the hollow area 13 of the lattice member 104.
Thus a triple interlocking is obtained that increases the stability of the whole structure.
As described before it is possible to provide the use of several lattice members 103 or 105 placed side by side, as it is possible to provide different and/or equal dimensions for the pairs of lattice members 100-102 and 101-103.
The pillar according to such arrangement has the remarkable advantage of re-balancing all the stresses acting on the structure, homogeneously distributing the amount of such stresses along each pillar and along the floor, such to increase the strength of the whole structure.
Moreover the figure 7 shows that it is possible to add coupled to the lattice members 100 and 101 two further lattice members 106 and 107 as bracings of the whole structure.
According to the connection techniques described it is possible to make not only floors and pillars of a structure, but it is also possible to make the covering structures, of the roof type or the like.
The techniques for building and assembling the lattices, as well as the connection joints are already described in patent EP 1728935 and they have to be considered as an integral part of the present patent application, as well as adaptable to the type of lattice members claimed herein.
In particular figure 8 shows, according to a front view, the use of lattice members of the present invention for making a covering structure.
Such covering structure is composed of one or more lattice members that are placed side by side for forming the ridgepole 9 of the roof.
The ridgepole 9 is connected along a direction perpendicular to its own longitudinal axis to a plurality of lattice members that constitute the pitch beams 91 and 92.
Depending on the strength required by structural needs, each pitch beam can be composed of one or more lattice members, such as for the ridgepole 9 and the pillars described above.
Each pitch beam 91 and 92 has a "tie" element surrounding in a transverse direction the whole outer surface of each pitch beam, such that the "tie" element of the pitch beam 91 is connected to the "tie" element of the pitch beam 92 by a tightening element 93.
Such tightening element 93 allows the inclination of the pitch beams to be adjusted and it further allows the whole weight of the roof structure to be transferred, without it resting on the perimetral walls of the whole structure.
Therefore in this manner the covering structure does not transfer the weight axially on the perimetral walls.
Figure 9 shows according to a possible embodiment, a view of a structure made by the combination of several lattice members object of the present invention.
Such structure is only by way of example, starting from such example it is possible to make more complicated structures than that shown in figure 9.
The structure is composed of two floors 21 made by inserting several lattice members 210 inside the hollow areas of one or more lattice members 211 arranged perpendicularly to the lattices 210.
The two floors 21 are supported by two pillars 22 obtained by placing side by side three lattice members 211 according to the modes previously described, such that the end part of the lattice members 211 is inserted into a corresponding hollow area 13 of the lattices 221.
A plurality of lattice members 222 is arranged between the two floors 21, such that such lattices 222 are parallel to each other and each one with their end parts fastened to the elongated members of the lattices 211.
The lattices 222 are fastened to the lattices 211 by means of the fastening means described, or by interlocking them, that is causing the distance between the two elongated members of the lattice 222 to be a distance higher than or equal to the width of the elongated member of the lattice 211.
Now one or more lattice members 212 are inserted into the hollow areas of the lattices 221 and lattices 222 along a direction perpendicular thereto, such that the wall is composed of a grid- like structure having the lattice members interlaced forming hollow spaces 230.
By shortening or lengthening the lattice members 222 and 212 it is possible to obtain window openings 231 or door openings, however keeping a high stiffness of the whole structure, that homogeneously transfers on each individual lattice the stresses acting on the wall.
Moreover it is possible to coat the hollow spaces 230 with elements made of any material, but preferably covering panels with a fiber glass weaving are used.
Figure 10 shows how the combination of the lattice members 1 of the present invention allows a self-supporting modular structure to be made.
The figure shows how it is possible to make primary structures, that is self-supporting structures that do not need further structures for standing, structures that are necessary for the stability of secondary type structures.
The achievement of a primary structure for making anti- seismic structures is a necessary condition, over which one must be intransigent.
As it is shown in the figure, the interface areas between the lattice members 1 are obtained by interlocking a lattice member 1 into the hollow area of another one, such that the first lattice member 1 is not firmly bound to the other one.
A further important advantage of the self-supporting modular structure of the present invention is the possibility of disassembling such structure while keeping the several components intact and ready to be used again for building further self-supporting structures.
The several combinations joining the lattice members 1 and the components belonging to the shown structure, show how the structure object of the present invention makes an integrated system, wherein primary and secondary structures cooperate together for a single aim without the help of external interventions such as load- supporting masonry or the like.
Therefore figure 10 shows a self-supporting modular structure, composed of a foundation structure 2, a covering structure 9 of the roof type or the like and a superstructure, interposed between the covering structure 9 and the foundation structure 2.
The superstructure is composed of a plurality of pillars 22, intended to support several floors 21.
Each floor 21 is composed of several intersections of lattice members 1 made according to one or more of the characteristics described above.
In particular the intersections of the lattice members 1 are obtained by inserting a lattice member into the hollow area 13 delimited by the two connecting elements 12 of another lattice member. Moreover the pillars 22 are obtained by placing side by side two lattice members 1, according to the modes described above, similarly to what relates to the making of the covering structure 9.

Claims

Self-supporting modular structure for building houses, buildings or the like, comprising at least one floor,
said at least one floor (21) being composed of one or more intersections of a first and a second lattice members (1),
each of said first and second lattice members (1) comprising:
at least two elongated members (11) arranged parallel or substantially parallel along their longitudinal axis and spaced from each other,

at least two connecting members (12) being provided, which connecting members (12) connect said at least two elongated members (11), said at least two connecting members (12) being spaced from each other along the direction of the longitudinal axis of said at least two elongated members (11),

the at least two connecting members (12) being successively arranged along the direction of the longitudinal axis of said at least two elongated members (11) such to form a hollow area (13), which hollow area (13) is delimited by said at least two elongated members (11) and by said at least two connecting members (12), said hollow area (13) being intended for the insertion of further lattice members (1), along a direction incident to the longitudinal axis of said at least two elongated members (11),

characterized in that

the intersection between the first and a second lattice members (1) is obtained by inserting the first lattice member into said hollow area (13) delimited by the at least two connecting members (12) of the second lattice member.
Structure according to claim 1, wherein the lattice members (1) have a plurality of said connecting members (12), each connecting member (12) being arranged spaced by a specific constant amount with respect to the connecting members (12) adjacent thereto.
Structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said at least two elongated members (11) and said connecting members (12) are made of metallic material,
said connecting members (12) being welded to said elongated members (11).
Structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said connecting members (12) are composed of a sheet member.
Structure according to the preceding claim, wherein said sheet member (12) has two narrowings (121, 122) of which a first narrowing in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said at least two elongated members (11) and a second narrowing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said at least two elongated members (11), such that it has a "X" shape.
Structure according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein said connecting members (12) are composed of a tubular and/or box-shaped member extending along a path having two opposite bends, such to have an overturned "Z" shape.
Structure according to claim 1, wherein said structure is composed of a foundation structure, a covering structure of the type as a roof or the like and a superstructure, interposed between said covering structure and said foundation structure, which superstructure is composed of a plurality of pillars (22), which pillars (22) support at least one floor (21) .
Structure according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the first and second lattice members is prevented by means of fastening joints (3) intended to fasten the first lattice member to the second lattice member or vice versa.
Structure according to claim 7, wherein said pillars (22) are obtained by placing side by side at least two lattice members (1), of which a first and a second lattice member, such that both said elongated members (11) of the first lattice member are in contact with a corresponding elongated member (11) of said second lattice member.
Structure according to claim 7, wherein the at least two lattice members (1) are placed side by side such that said first lattice member is staggered with respect to the second lattice member, forming a pair of two lattice members.
Structure according to claim 10, wherein said pillar is composed of a sequence of pairs (6, 7, 8) of two lattice members, arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said elongated members (11),
fastening means (4) intended to fasten a pair of lattice members with the corresponding one being provided.
Method for the prefabricated building of a building, structure or the like,
characterized in that it provides the following steps:
a) making the structure according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 11,

b) making one or more floors (21), by interlocking in a load- supporting manner at least two lattice members (1), of which a first lattice member and a second lattice member, said interlocking being in turn accomplished by inserting the first lattice member into said hollow area (13) delimited by the at least two connecting members (12) of the second lattice member, in such a way to identify an interface constituted by a contact area between the lattice members (1), which contact area has no fastening means,

c) making one or more pillars (22).
Method according to claim 12 wherein a step fastening in place said two lattice members is provided.
Method according to claims 12 or 13 wherein step c) is obtained by placing side by side at least two lattice members (1), of which a first and a second lattice members, such that both said elongated members (11) of the first lattice member are in contact with a corresponding elongated member (11) of said second lattice member,
said first lattice member being staggered with respect to said second lattice member.
Method according to one or more of the preceding claims 12 to 14 wherein a further step d) is provided for installing the walls of said structure.