Module-to-module connection in modular construction

Abstract

A module building unit and associated components and methods for building. A modular building unit for use forming a portion of a building having other modular building units includes a plurality of beams and a column assembly attached to one or more beams of the plurality of beams. The column assembly includes an elongate interior sized and shaped to permit one or more tension cables to extend therein. A first cable mount is disposed in the elongate interior and is arranged to mount a first tension cable coupled to an underlying modular building unit of said other modular building units in the elongate interior. A second cable mount is disposed in the elongate interior and is arranged to mount a second tension cable coupled to an overlying modular building unit of said other modular building units in the elongate interior.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular building unit for use forming a portion of a building having other modular building units, the modular building unit comprising:
 a plurality of beams; and   a column assembly attached to one or more beams of the plurality of beams, the column assembly including:
 an elongate interior sized and shaped to permit one or more tension cables to extend therein; 
 a first cable mount disposed in the elongate interior and arranged to mount a first tension cable coupled to an underlying modular building unit of said other modular building units in the elongate interior; and 
 a second cable mount disposed in the elongate interior and arranged to mount a second tension cable coupled to an overlying modular building unit of said other modular building units in the elongate interior. 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular building unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second cable mounts are disposed adjacent an upper end of the elongate interior. 
     
     
         3 . The modular building unit of  claim 1 , wherein the column assembly includes an upper node and a shaft extending downward from the upper node, the upper node bounding a portion of the elongate interior, and the shaft bounding a portion of the elongate interior. 
     
     
         4 . The modular building unit of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second cable mounts are attached to the upper node. 
     
     
         5 . The modular building unit of  claim 3 , wherein the column assembly includes a lower node bounding a portion of the elongate interior, the shaft extending upward from the lower node. 
     
     
         6 . The modular building unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first cable mount comprises a mounting block having an opening sized and shaped to receive the first tension cable and a seating surface arranged to engage a tension connector secured to the first tension cable. 
     
     
         7 . The modular building unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second cable mount comprises a mounting block having an opening sized and shaped to receive the second tension cable and a seating surface arranged to engage a tension connector secured to the second tension cable. 
     
     
         8 . The modular building unit of  claim 7 , wherein the second cable mount comprises a retainer configured to retain the second tension cable in the opening of the mounting block. 
     
     
         9 . The modular building unit of  claim 8 , wherein the retainer comprises a movable gate, gate movable between an open position in which the gate permits the second tension cable to be inserted into the opening of the mounting block and a closed position in which the gate retains the second tension cable in the opening of the mounting block. 
     
     
         10 . The modular building unit of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate interior includes an open upper end at an upper portion of the column assembly and an open lower end at a lower portion of the column assembly, the open upper end being sized and shaped to permit a nose of a post-tension stressing jack to be inserted into the elongate interior. 
     
     
         11 . The modular building unit of  claim 1 , wherein the column assembly includes a lift attachment for coupling the modular building unit to a crane. 
     
     
         12 . The modular building unit of  claim 11 , wherein the lift attachment comprises connection structure sized and shaped to receive a hook of the crane. 
     
     
         13 . The modular building unit of  claim 1 , wherein the column assembly is a first column assembly, the modular building unit further including:
 a second column assembly attached to one or more beams of the plurality of beams, the second column assembly including:
 a second elongate interior sized and shaped to permit one or more tension cables to extend therein; 
 a third cable mount disposed in the second elongate interior and arranged to mount a third tension cable coupled to the underlying modular building unit of said other modular building units in the second elongate interior; and 
 a fourth cable mount disposed in the second elongate interior and arranged to mount a fourth tension cable coupled to the overlying modular building unit of said other modular building unit in the second elongate interior. 
   
     
     
         14 . The modular building unit of  claim 1 , further comprising the first tension cable. 
     
     
         15 . The modular building unit of  claim 1  wherein the column assembly comprises a shaft and an upper node configured for connection to an end of the shaft, the upper node including at least one flange projecting laterally from the upper node and connected to one of the beams. 
     
     
         16 . A building framework of a building, the building framework comprising:
 a first modular building unit having a first structural frame, the first structural frame including:
 a first column assembly including a first elongate interior; and 
 a first cable mount disposed in the first elongate interior; 
   a second modular building unit overlying the first modular building unit, the second modular building unit having a second structural frame supported by the first structural frame, the second structural frame including:
 a second column assembly including a second elongate interior aligned with the first elongate interior; and 
 a second cable mount disposed in the second elongate interior; and 
   a tension cable disposed in the first and second interiors and coupled to the first and second cable mounts.   
     
     
         17 . The building framework of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second column assemblies cooperate to house the entire portion of the tension cable between the first and second cable mounts. 
     
     
         18 . A column assembly for use in a modular building unit, the column assembly comprising:
 a shaft; and   a node connected to an end of the shaft, the node being constructed to mount an end of a tensioning cable therein, the node including tubular portion and a flange projecting from the tubular portion, the flange being sized and shaped for connection to one or more beams of the modular building unit.   
     
     
         19 . The column assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the node is constructed to mount an end of a second tensioning cable therein. 
     
     
         20 . The column assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the node is a first node and the end of the shaft is an upper end of the shaft, the column assembly further comprising a second node connected to a lower end of the shaft, the second node being constructed to permit the tensioning cable to extend through the second node.