Rigid self-supporting hollow body, constructions produced with one or more such hollow bodies and method for making such constructions

Abstract

A rigid self-supporting hollow body ( 1 ) having large dimensions and intended for building constructions, wherein the body is of the type including a thin wall ( 4 ) having a generally cylindrical shape relative to an axis ( 5 ) and two end flanges ( 6 ) oriented towards the outside, defining an integral assembly having an inner hollow space ( 7 ) with two end openings ( 8 ), made of a coating and resistance material containing concrete or the like and reinforced with fibres. The flanges ( 6 ) include or define fastening elements ( 15 ) that enable, using fastening members ( 6 ), the rigid fastening on one and/or the other flanges ( 6 ) of the body, of an adjacent flange ( 6 ) of a second similar neighbouring body ( 1 ) and/or of a blocking wall ( 3 ) optionally including one or more openings ( 3 a ) so as to build constructions in a modular and flexible manner.

1 . Large-dimension, one-piece, self-supporting, rigid, hollow body ( 1 ) that is designed for the production of structures ( 2 ), comprising a thin wall ( 4 ) that is generally cylindrical in shape relative to an axis ( 5 ) and two end flanges ( 6 ) that are directed toward the outside that projects relative to the extrados ( 18 ) of the cylindrical wall ( 4 ), forming an inner empty space ( 7 ) with two end openings ( 8 ), made of coating and resistance material that is based on fiber-reinforced concrete, characterized in that the two end flanges ( 6 ) have an annular axis shape ( 5 ), adapted to the shape of the cylindrical wall ( 4 ), and comprise attachment means ( 15 ) in the form of holes that can work with the attachment elements ( 16 ) by bolting or screwing, for the rigid attachment to one and/or the other of the flanges ( 6 ), a flange ( 6 ) that is adjacent to an adjacent, analogous second body ( 1 ) and/or a concealment wall ( 3 ), so as to allow the production of structures in a modular and flexible way, whereby the means ( 15 ) for attaching flanges include position-regulating means. 
     
     
         2 . Body according to  claim 1 , wherein the flanges ( 6 ) form—by their peripheral surface ( 17 ) that projects relative to the extrados ( 18 ) of the cylindrical wall ( 4 )—separation means between the extrados ( 18 ) of two adjacent, analogous bodies ( 1 ) that are in contact by their flanges ( 6 ). 
     
     
         3 . Body according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical wall ( 4 ) comprises or forms or helps to form housing means ( 20 ) for elements ( 21 ) for circulation and/or for distribution of electricity or electronics, or liquid or gaseous fluids, and/or housing for means ( 22 ) of thermal insulation and/or soundproofing means, whereby such a housing means ( 20 ) is a hollow reserve ( 23 ) that is arranged in the cylindrical wall ( 4 ) or a passageway that is formed between the soffit ( 24 ) or the extrados ( 18 ) of the cylindrical wall ( 4 ) and another exogenic wall that is located inside or outside of the body ( 1 ), respectively. 
     
     
         4 . Body according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical wall ( 4 ) comprises or forms or helps to form means for positioning and/or attaching functional and/or decorative elements. 
     
     
         5 . Body according to  claim 1 , wherein the soffit ( 24 ) of the cylindrical wall ( 4 ) comprises or forms or helps to form projecting support means ( 27 ) for an attached wall ( 25 ) that can constitute the floor or the suspended ceiling of the structure ( 2 ), whereby a space is arranged between the soffit ( 24 ) of the cylindrical wall ( 4 ) and the attached wall ( 25 ) of the floor or the ceiling. 
     
     
         6 . Body according to  claim 1 , wherein it is made of microconcrete that is reinforced with continuous glass fibers that are oriented in a cylindrical way like the cylindrical wall ( 4 ) and are found under a slight prestressing, whereby the microconcrete and the fibers are in superposed thin layers, whereby the concrete is able to absorb the compression stresses, and the fibers are able to absorb the tensile stresses. 
     
     
         7 . Body according to  claim 6 , characterized by a homogenous structure in its thickness or by a sandwich-type heterogeneous structure that comprises an outside part ( 28 ) and an inside part ( 29 ), each made of microconcrete that is reinforced with continuous glass fibers and one or more functional central parts ( 30 ) for thermal insulation or soundproofing mechanical or protective reinforcement. 
     
     
         8 . Body according to  claim 1 , wherein it is equipped—from production—with outfitting elements or household furnishings. 
     
     
         9 . Self-supporting structure, namely a building for individual or collective use, comprising at least one large-dimension, self-supporting, rigid, hollow body ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the axis ( 5 ) is placed horizontally or approximately horizontally, whereby the upper and lower parts of the structure—or the structural part that is produced using the body—are formed by two horizontal or approximately horizontal parts ( 4   a ) that face the cylindrical wall ( 4 ), whereby the walls of the structure are formed by two vertical or approximately vertical parts ( 4   b ) that face the cylindrical wall ( 4 ), and whereby the two end openings ( 8 ) and the flanges are located in the vertical or approximately vertical planes. 
     
     
         10 . Structure according to  claim 9 , wherein it comprises at least two juxtaposed or superposed adjacent bodies ( 1 ). 
     
     
         11 . Structure according to  claim 10 , wherein the two bodies ( 1 ) are juxtaposed with their coaxial axes ( 5 ), whereby two flanges ( 6 ) of the two bodies ( 1 ) are opposite one another and attached rigidly to one another with the attachment elements ( 16 ) that work with the attachment means ( 15 ). 
     
     
         12 . Structure according to  claim 10 , wherein the two bodies ( 1 ) are juxtaposed with their axes ( 5 ) that form an angle between them, such as an angle that is equal to 90° or approximately 90°, two flanges ( 6 ) of two bodies ( 1 ) being adjacent to one another and rigidly combined with one another, directly or indirectly. 
     
     
         13 . Structure according to  claim 10 , wherein the two bodies ( 1 ) are superposed with their coaxial axes ( 5 ), whereby the two flanges ( 6 ) of the upper body rest on the two flanges ( 6 ) of the lower body, whereby two flanges ( 6 ) that are in contact are attached rigidly to one another by specific attachment means ( 48 ). 
     
     
         14 . Structure according to  claim 9 , characterized by the presence of elements ( 49 ) for insulation—against water, air, noise, dust, etc.—that are interposed between two adjacent flanges ( 6 ) of two adjacent bodies ( 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . Structure according to  claim 9 , characterized by at least one concealment wall ( 3 ) that is attached to a flange ( 6 ) of a body ( 1 ) of the structure ( 2 ), constituting an outside wall (front) or an inside wall (partition) of the structure. 
     
     
         16 . Structure according to  claim 9 , characterized by a space ( 19 ) between two juxtaposed or superposed adjacent bodies ( 1 ), whose peripheral surfaces ( 17 ) of flanges ( 6 ) are in contact, whereby this space ( 19 ) is left empty or forms housing means ( 20 ) for elements ( 21 ) for circulation and/or for the distribution of electricity or electronics, or liquid or gaseous fluids, and/or housing for means ( 22 ) of thermal and/or soundproofing insulation. 
     
     
         17 . Structure according to  claim 16 , characterized by the combination between, on the one hand, the space ( 19 ) between two juxtaposed or superposed adjacent bodies ( 1 ) that form housing means ( 20 ) for the elements ( 21 ) for circulation and/or for distribution of electricity or electronics, or liquid or gaseous fluids, and, on the other hand, the cylindrical wall ( 4 ) of the body ( 1 ), wherein it comprises or forms or helps to form housing means ( 20 ) for elements ( 21 ) for circulation and/or for distribution of electricity or electronics, or liquid or gaseous fluid. 
     
     
         18 . Process for the production of a self-supporting structure according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 One or more bodies ( 1 ) are produced in advance  8  that are brought from a situation where its axis ( 5 ) is vertical or approximately vertical to a situation where its axis ( 5 ) is horizontal or approximately horizontal,   The site where the structure is to be installed is prepared in such a way that it is able to support one or more bodies ( 1 ) having its or their axes ( 5 ) placed horizontally or approximately horizontally,   The body or bodies ( 1 ) and the concealment wall(s) (3) are brought to the site where they are to be installed,   The body or bodies ( 1 ) is/are placed on the site where they are to be installed so that it/they occupy(ies) the desired location,   If the structure ( 2 ) comprises several bodies ( 1 ) and/or one or more concealment walls ( 3 ), their rigid attachment is ensured.   
     
     
         19 . Process according to  claim 18 , wherein the body or bodies ( 1 ) is (are) installed, without the necessity of producing foundations, or an anchoring of the body or bodies ( 1 ) on the site where they are to be installed is implemented. 
     
     
         20 . Process according to  claim 18 , wherein a rigid attachment of two adjacent bodies ( 1 ) or a concealment wall ( 3 ) on a body ( 1 ) with the means ( 15 ) for attachment of flanges ( 6 ) is ensured. 
     
     
         21 . Process according to  claim 18 , wherein the pipes (water, gas) are assembled by electric welding, and the elements for distribution of electricity or electronics are assembled by connectors. 
     
     
         22 . Process according to  claim 18 , wherein elements ( 49 ) for insulation—against water, air, noise, dust, etc.—are placed between two adjacent flanges ( 6 ) of two adjacent bodies ( 1 ). 
     
     
         23 . Process according to  claim 18 , wherein the elements ( 21 ,  22 ) for circulation and/or for distribution of electricity or electronics, or liquid or gaseous fluids, and/or thermal and/or soundproofing insulation are placed in the space ( 19 ) that is arranged between two juxtaposed or superposed, adjacent bodies ( 1 ), whose peripheral surfaces ( 17 ) of flanges are in contact. 
     
     
         24 . Process according to  claim 18 , wherein the cylindrical wall ( 4 ) is pierced to the right of a hollow reserve that is arranged in the cylindrical wall to allow communication to the right of this reserve between the latter and the outside of the body.