Pre-fabricated structures and methods

Abstract

Building structures can be fabricated at an offsite, and then assembled at the construction site. The building structures can include beams and wall panels having metal attachments. The beams and wall panels can be assembled by coupling the metal attachments, for example, by welding.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A prefab house comprising
 multiple beams,
 wherein the multiple beams are secured to a foundation to form a frame of the prefab house; 
   one or more wall panels,
 wherein at least a wall panel of the one or more wall panels is disposed between two beams of the multiple beams, 
 wherein the at least a wall panel is disposed between the two beams in such as way so that the at least a wall panel is movable in a direction along a length of the two beams, 
 wherein the at least a wall panel is disposed between the two beams in such as way so that the at least a wall panel is constrained in directions perpendicular to the length of the two beams. 
   
     
     
         2 . A prefab house as in  claim 1   wherein each of the two beams comprises a channel running along from one end to an apposite end of the beam,   wherein the at least a wall panel comprises a structure that fits in the channel.   
     
     
         3 . A prefab house as in  claim 1   wherein the at least a wall panel comprises a channel running along from one end to an apposite end of the wall panel,   wherein each of the two beams comprises a structure that fits in the channel.   
     
     
         4 . A prefab house as in  claim 1   wherein each beam of at least two beams of the multiple beams comprises at least a first mating element along a length of the each beam,   wherein at least a wall panel of the one or more wall panels comprises a cement material,   wherein the at least a wall panel comprises two second mating elements at two ends of the at least a wall panel,   wherein the first and second mating elements are configured for mating with each other,   wherein the at least a wall panel is disposed between the at least two beams with the second mating elements fitted into the first mating elements of the at least two beams.   
     
     
         5 . A prefab house as in  claim 1   wherein the multiple beams, the one or more wall panels, a floor panel, and a ceiling panel are pre-fabricated in a factory before being brought to a construction site for assembling the prefab house.   
     
     
         6 . A prefab house as in  claim 1   wherein the at least a wall panel comprises a cement or concrete material coupled to meal connectors.   
     
     
         7 . A prefab house as in  claim 1   wherein the multiple beams and at least a frame of a floor panel or a ceiling panel comprises a metal material.   
     
     
         8 . A method to form a prefab house, the method comprising
 securing multiple beams to a foundation to form a frame of the prefab house;   bringing a wall panel to a position above the multiple beams, wherein the wall panel comprises a cement material;   sliding the wall panel between two beams of the multiple beams,
 wherein the wall panel is constrained in directions perpendicular to the length of the two beams. 
   
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8   wherein each of the two beams comprises a channel running along from one end to an apposite end of the beam,   wherein the wall panel comprises a structure that fits in the channel.   
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 8   wherein the wall panel comprises a channel running along from one end to an apposite end of the wall panel,   wherein each of the two beams comprises a structure that fits in the channel.   
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 8   wherein the multiple beams, the wall panel, a floor panel, and a ceiling panel are pre-fabricated in a factory before being brought to a construction site for assembling the prefab house.   
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 8   wherein each beam of at least two beams of the multiple beams comprises at least a first mating element along a length of the each beam,   wherein the wall panel comprises a cement or concrete material,   wherein the wall panel comprises two second mating elements at two ends of the wall panel,   wherein the first and second mating elements are configured for mating with each other,   wherein the wall panel is disposed between the at least two beams with the second mating elements fitted into the first mating elements of the at least two beams.   
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 8   wherein the wall panel comprises a cement or concrete material coupled to metal connectors.   
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 8   wherein the multiple beams and at least a frame of a floor panel or a ceiling panel comprises a metal material.   
     
     
         15 . A prefab house comprising
 multiple beams,
 wherein each of the multiple beams comprises first and second couplers at two ends; 
   a floor panel, wherein the floor panel comprises third couplers for coupling with foundation poles protruded from a ground, wherein the floor panel comprises fourth couplers for coupling with first couplers of the multiple beams;   a ceiling panel, wherein the floor panel comprises fifth couplers for coupling with second couplers of the multiple beams;   one or more wall panels,
 wherein the wall panels are configured to be coupled to each other or to the multiple beams, 
   wherein the multiple beams, the floor panel, the ceiling panel, and the one or more wall panels are configured to be assembled in a secured package configuration comprising the floor panel and the ceiling panel sandwiching an inner package comprising the one or more wall panels and the multiple beams.   
     
     
         16 . A prefab house as in  claim 15   wherein the multiple beams, the one or more wall panels, the floor panel, and the ceiling panel are pre-fabricated in a factory before being brought to a construction site for assembling the prefab house.   
     
     
         17 . A prefab house as in  claim 15   wherein at least a wall panel of the one or more wall panels comprises a door, a windows, or electrical outlets.   
     
     
         18 . A prefab house as in  claim 15   wherein at least a wall panel of the one or more wall panels comprises a cement or concrete material coupled to metal connectors.   
     
     
         19 . A prefab house as in  claim 15   wherein the multiple beams and at least a frame of the floor panel or the ceiling panel comprises a metal material.   
     
     
         20 . A prefab house as in  claim 15   wherein the prefab house is constructed by
 bringing the secured package configuration to a construction site, 
 placing the secured package configuration on the foundation poles, so that the third couplers coupled with the foundation poles, 
 unsecuring the secured package configuration, 
 lifting the ceiling panel from the unsecured package configuration, 
 removing the multiple beams from the inner package, 
 coupling the multiple beams with the floor panel, so that the first couplers coupled with the fourth couplers, 
 lowering the ceiling panel, so that the second couplers coupled with the fifth couplers, 
 removing the one or more wall panels from the inner package, 
 assembling the one or more wall panels with the multiple beams and with each other.