Timber-framed building structures, and method of constructing same

Abstract

A timber frame structure for a building, comprising elongate base members extending along lines of respective walls of the building, corner posts extending upwardly from the base members at intersections of respective walls, elongate head members extending between the corner posts at upper end parts thereof; and a plurality of wall panels extending between the head and base members to provide walls for the structure. The structure may be constructed by erecting a wall structure of a lower storey of the building, constructing a floor assembly, and assembling a roof truss assembly on top of the floor assembly, releasably connecting the roof truss assembly to the floor assembly using releasable connecting means, placing the connected floor and roof assembly on top of the wall structure of the lower storey, disconnecting the roof truss assembly from the floor assembly and removing the roof truss assembly from the floor assembly, constructing a wall structure of an upper storey on top of the floor assembly; and placing the roof truss assembly on top of the wall structure of the upper storey.

1 . A timber frame structure for a building, comprising:
 elongate base members extending along lines of respective walls of the building;   corner posts extending upwardly from the base members at intersections of respective walls;   elongate head members extending between the corner posts at upper end parts thereof; and   a plurality of wall panels extending between the head and base members to provide walls for the structure.   
   
   
       2 . A structure according to  claim 1  wherein at least some of the wall panels are able to overlap one another in the direction lengthwise of the head and base members, to accommodate changes in the distance between upwardly extending edges of the panels which are remote from one another. 
   
   
       3 . A structure according to  claim 2  wherein each wall panel comprises spaced elements of timber which are upright in use and which extend between the head and base members, and a board material connected to the upright members on one side thereof to provide a wall surface between the head and base members, the board material having upper and lower portions which extend to cover, at least partially, corresponding side surfaces of the head and base members respectively. 
   
   
       4 . A structure according to  claim 2  wherein a panel includes a board portion which extends beyond an upright element of the panel, for overlapping with the upright edge of an adjacent panel disposed with its board material on the opposite side of the head and base members. 
   
   
       5 . A structure according to  claim 1  wherein each head member comprises at least one I-beam, oriented with its chords spaced vertically above one another and its web extending substantially vertically therebetween. 
   
   
       6 . A structure according to  claim 5  wherein the lower chord of the head member forms a lintel where door or window openings are provided in the wall. 
   
   
       7 . A structure according to  claim 5  wherein a head member comprises two said I-beams disposed one on top of the other in the same orientation as one another. 
   
   
       8 . A method of constructing a timber frame structure for a building, comprising:
 providing elongate base members along the lines of walls of the building;   providing corner posts extending upwardly from the base members at intersections of the respective walls;   providing elongate head members extending between the corner posts at upper end parts thereof, above the base members; and   providing a plurality of wall panels extending between the head and base members to form walls for the structure.   
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8  further comprising adjusting adjacent wall panels in respect of the distance by which they overlap one another in the direction lengthwise of the head and base members, to provide a required length in said direction between edges of the panels which are remote from one another. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 8  comprising assembling head members for a storey of the building into a unit which forms at least part of a ceiling structure for that storey and a floor structure for a further superposed storey, and fitting the assembly to the corner posts of the first said storey as a unit. 
   
   
       11 . A method for constructing a timber-framed building including the steps of:
 erecting a wall structure of a lower storey of the building;   constructing a floor assembly, and assembling a roof truss assembly on top of the floor assembly;   releasably connecting the roof truss assembly to the floor assembly using releasable connecting means;   placing the connected floor and roof assembly on top of the wall structure of the lower storey;   disconnecting the roof truss assembly from the floor assembly and removing the roof truss assembly from the floor assembly;   constructing a wall structure of an upper storey on top of the floor assembly; and   placing the roof truss assembly on top of the wall structure of the upper storey.   
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the releasable connecting means comprises a number of connecting assemblies, each comprising a connecting member and a receiving member with which the connecting member is releasably engageable; the connecting member being provided on one of the roof truss assembly and the floor assembly and the receiving member on the other thereof, the connecting member and receiving member engaging and disengaging with one another by relative vertical movement between the roof truss assembly and the floor assembly. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , further including providing a guard structure on a part of the releasable connecting means engaging the floor assembly. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , including displacing the guard structure relative to the connecting assemblies of the releasable connecting means, between a first position in which the guard structure is positioned relative to the or each connecting assembly so as to enable the roof structure to be connected and disconnected from the floor assembly, and a second position in which it is effective to guard against falls from the upper storey. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 11 , further including storing materials for use in the construction of the wall structure of the upper storey on the floor assembly prior to assembling the roof truss structure on top of the floor assembly, so that when the roof truss structure is disconnected from the floor assembly, the materials are disposed on the floor of the upper storey for use in the construction of the wall structure. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15 , further including providing a plurality of spaced parallel joist members between opposite beams of the upper beam assembly, and laying a floor over the joist members, in construction of the floor assembly. 
   
   
       17 . A releasable connecting means for connecting a roof truss assembly to a floor assembly in the method of  claim 11 , including a number of connecting assemblies, each of which comprises a connecting member and a receiving member, each connectable to the roof truss assembly and floor assembly respectively. 
   
   
       18 . A releasable connecting means according to  claim 17 , wherein the receiving member has an opening within it, with which at least a part of the connection member is engageable, and the or each connecting assembly further includes a fastening means for holding the connection member in engagement with the receiving member. 
   
   
       19 . A releasable connecting means according to  claim 17 , further including a guard structure which is provided on a part of the releasable connecting means engaging the floor assembly. 
   
   
       20 . A releasable connecting means according to  claim 19 , wherein the guard structure is displaceable relative to the connecting assemblies, between a first position in which the guard structure is positioned relative to the or each connecting assembly so as to enable the roof structure to be connected and disconnected from the floor assembly, and a second position in which it is effective to guard against falls from the upper storey. 
   
   
       21 . A releasable connecting means according to  claim 20  wherein the guard structure is pivotable relative to the or each connecting assembly comprises pivoting the guard structure between the first position and second position. 
   
   
       22 . A releasable connecting means according to  claim 19  wherein the guard structure is extendable lengthwise.