Construction elements and methods of construction

Abstract

A pre-cast cementitious construction element ( 10 a ) comprises a body ( 12 ), at least one coupling member ( 14 ) protruding from an edge ( 16 ) of the body and at least one coupling member ( 18 ) provided at an opposed edge ( 20 ) of the body. The at least one coupling member protruding from an edge is adapted to couple with a coupling member at an opposed edge of an adjacent pre-cast construction element ( 10 b ) such that, when coupled, a spaced relationship exists between the pre-cast construction element ( 10 ) and the adjacent pre-cast construction element ( 10 b ).

1 . A pre-cast cementitious construction element comprising:
 a body;   at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body; and,   at least one coupling member provided at an opposed edge of the body,   said at least one coupling member protruding from an edge being adapted to couple with a coupling member at an opposed edge of an adjacent pre-cast construction element such that, when coupled, a spaced relationship exists between said pre-cast construction element and said adjacent pre-cast construction element.   
   
   
       2 . The construction element of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling members are. metal plates extending from the edge and the opposed edge of the body. 
   
   
       3 . The construction element of  claim 2 , wherein the metal plates are partially embedded in the body. 
   
   
       4 . The construction element of  claim 2 , further comprising reinforcing members welded to the metal plates. 
   
   
       5 . The construction element of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing members are completely embedded in the body. 
   
   
       6 . The construction element of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing members are u-shaped. 
   
   
       7 . The construction element of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body is a rod. 
   
   
       8 . The construction element of  claim 7 , wherein the rod is at least partially embedded in the body. 
   
   
       9 . The construction element of  claim 7 , further comprising a bearing plate provided around said rod at the edge of the body. 
   
   
       10 . The construction element of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling member provided at an opposed edge of the body comprises a socket extending into the body. 
   
   
       11 . The construction element of  claim 10 , wherein the socket comprises a hollow tube embedded in the body. 
   
   
       12 . The construction element of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one coupling member provided at an opposed edge of the body further comprises a hollow receiving tube at least partially embedded in the body. 
   
   
       13 . The construction element of  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the hollow receiving tube is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the socket. 
   
   
       14 . The construction element of  claim 12 , further comprising a bearing plate provided on a free end of the hollow receiving tube, said bearing plate having an aperture therethrough. 
   
   
       15 . The construction element of  claim 10 , further comprising a conduit extending between opposed faces of the body through each said socket. 
   
   
       16 . The construction element of  claim 10 , further comprising a bearing plate provided at the opposed edge of the body around an aperture of said socket. 
   
   
       17 . The construction element of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body further comprises a hollow receiving tube at least partially embedded in the body. 
   
   
       18 . The construction element of  claim 17 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the hollow receiving tube is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the rod. 
   
   
       19 . The construction element of  claim 7 , further comprising a conduit extending between opposed faces of the body at the base of each said rod. 
   
   
       20 . The construction element of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one conduit extending between a base of said socket and an edge of the body. 
   
   
       21 . The construction element of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling members are I-beams. 
   
   
       22 . The construction element of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body and the at least one coupling member provided at an opposed edge of the body is an I-beam embedded in the body, said I-beam extending between an edge of the body and an opposed edge of the body. 
   
   
       23 . The construction element of  claim 21 , further comprising a bearing plate provided on an end of each said I-beam. 
   
   
       24 . The construction element of  claim 1 , further comprising a channel extending between an edge of the body and an opposed edge of the body. 
   
   
       25 . The construction element of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body comprises at least one reinforcing member. 
   
   
       26 . The construction element of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one reinforcing member is embedded in said body and extends substantially toward an opposed edge of the body. 
   
   
       27 . The construction element of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one substantially u-shaped bar protruding from an edge of the body. 
   
   
       28 . The construction element of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one substantially u-shaped bar protruding from an opposed edge of the body. 
   
   
       29 . The construction element of  claim 28 , wherein, when said pre-cast construction element is coupled to said adjacent pre-cast construction element, the at least one substantially u-shaped bar protruding from an opposed edge of the body of said pre-cast construction element is substantially aligned with at least one substantially u-shaped bar protruding from an edge of the body of said adjacent pre-cast construction element. 
   
   
       30 . The construction element of  claim 28  or  29 , wherein the substantially u-shaped bars are substantially aligned with a central axis of an edge and/or an opposed edge of the body. 
   
   
       31 . The construction element of  claim 28  or  29 , wherein the substantially u-shaped bars are substantially perpendicular to a central axis of an edge and/or an opposed edge of the body. 
   
   
       32 . The construction element of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one adjustable bolt for adjusting a position of the construction element. 
   
   
       33 . A method of construction using precast cementitious construction elements, each said construction element comprising:
 a body;   at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body; and,   at least one coupling member provided at an opposed edge of the body, said at least one coupling member protruding from an edge being adapted to couple with a coupling member at an opposed edge of an adjacent pre-cast construction element;   
     said method including the step of coupling a pre-cast construction element to an adjacent pre-cast construction element such that a spaced relationship exists between said pre-cast construction element and said adjacent pre-cast construction element. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further including the step of constructing at least part of a floor structure in a space between said pre-cast construction element and said adjacent pre-cast construction element. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , further including the step of supporting the adjacent pre-cast construction element with at least one prop. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the coupling step includes welding together the at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body and the at least one coupling member provided at an opposed edge of the body. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , further including the step of removing at least one prop supporting the adjacent pre-cast construction element once the at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body and the at least one coupling member provided at an opposed edge of the body have been welded together to leave a free-standing adjacent pre-cast construction element. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the coupling step includes inserting the at least one coupling member of said construction element into the at least one coupling member of said adjacent construction element. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the coupling step includes inserting at least one rod of said construction element into a socket extending into the body of said adjacent construction element. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one rod is inserted until a bearing plate provided around said rod on said construction element abuts a hollow receiving tube aligned with said socket of an adjacent construction element. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one rod is inserted until a hollow receiving tube aligned with said rod on said construction element abuts a bearing plate provided around said socket of an adjacent construction element. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the coupling step includes abutting an end of at least one I-beam of said construction element with a bearing plate provided at an end of an I-beam of said adjacent construction element. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the coupling step includes aligning at least one u-shaped bar protruding from an edge of the body of said construction element substantially parallel with at least one u-shaped bar protruding from an opposed edge of an adjacent construction element. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the coupling step includes aligning a pair of u-shaped bars protruding from an edge of the body of said construction element substantially parallel with and between a pair of u-shaped bars protruding from an opposed edge of an adjacent construction element. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 43 , further including the step of running reinforcing members through said substantially aligned u-shaped bars. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 39 , further including the step of filling said socket with settable material. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 33 , further including the step of guiding the adjacent construction element into position with the aid of at least one positioning shoe. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , further including the step of affixing a collar to the coupling member protruding from an edge of the body and abutting said positioning shoe against said collar. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 47 , further including the step of temporarily supporting said adjacent construction element with a prop coupled to a base, said base abutting the positioning shoe. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 33 , further including the step of coupling a working platform to the construction element via a conduit in said construction element. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the coupling step includes welding. together the at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body and the at least one coupling member protruding from a foundation. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further including the step of filling a volume around the at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body and the at least one coupling member protruding from the foundation with settable material. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of filling includes pouring settable material through a channel in the construction element, said channel extending from an edge of the construction element to an opposed edge thereof. 
   
   
       54 . A building system for a multi-storey construction comprising:
 a plurality of pre-cast cementitious construction elements, each said construction element comprising:
 a body, 
 at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of the body; and, 
 at least one coupling member provided at an opposed edge of the body, said at least one coupling member protruding from an edge being adapted to couple with a coupling member at an opposed edge of an adjacent pre-cast construction element such that, when coupled, a spaced relationship exists between said pre-cast construction element and said adjacent pre-cast construction element; and 
   a plurality of floor structures, each said floor structure extending through a space between one of said pre-cast construction elements and an adjacent pre-cast construction element.   
   
   
       55 . A base for a pre-cast cementitious construction element as claimed in  claim 1 , said base comprising:
 a plate supported by a foundation; and   at least one coupling member protruding from said plate, said at least one coupling member adapted to couple with at least one coupling member protruding from an edge of said construction element.   
   
   
       56 . A method of joining pre-cast cementitious construction elements as claimed in  claim 1 , said method including the steps of:
 welding together reinforcing members of a construction element and an adjacent construction element; and   filling a space between said constructions elements with settable material.   
   
   
       57 . A structure comprising the pre-cast cementitious construction elements of  claim 1 .