A building block for use in building a structure consisting of linear or stepped courses of a plurality of blocks is designed such that any two types are required, a full block and a half block. Each full or half block consists of a substantially parallel piped body having upper and lower faces, opposed side walls and opposed end walls. The side walls and the end walls define a central cavity and the blocks are arranged to receive similar blocks in overlying and underlying relationship. The outer surfaces of the side walls and end walls each include interlocking means, preferably in the form of fluting, any of which may be interengaged with any of the interlocking means of the outer surfaces of another building block of the same type. In a structure the blocks may interlock with a juxtaposed block in side to side, end to end, or end to side disposition.
A prefabricated room module (1) is provided for use in the construction of a modular building. The room module comprises a floor slab (2) of generally rectangular shape in plan, and load bearing walls (3,4) formed at adjacent sides of the slab and mutually adjoining at a common corner (5). The module has no ceiling slab opposite the floor slab (2) and an open face opposite one of the load bearing walls (4) which constitutes a party wall. Opposite another of the load bearing walls (3) the module may be open or include a further wall (7) which can have an access opening (10) therein for providing service access to a kitchen or bathroom pod (9) installed in a corner of the module. Edges of the floor slab (2) have projecting tongues (11) and fastening means for engaging complementary recesses and fastening means respectively of an adjacent module. The module may have a ceiling slab instead of a floor slab (2).
The invention is a construction system based on the combined use of blocks designed to lock together. There are three basic blocks, the full, half and knock-out blocks, with which any desirable structure can be built. The full block has protruding ears and grooves. The half block and the knock-out block have grooves only. There are standard measurements between groove faces in all blocks and standard measurements between ears in the full block which correspond to the measurements of the groove faces. This provides for a wide array of interlocking positions.
The internally indexed building block of the invention includes a body having opposed side walls and opposed end walls which define an internal cavity therebetween and upper and lower block faces. A web is located within the block internal cavity and divides the internal cavity into a pair of vertical cells. The web terminates at one extent in a pair of vertically extending keys which extend above the block upper face and which span a dish region. The dish region is located within the block internal cavity and is depressed below the block upper face. The dish region forms a mortar cup for receiving mortar whereby an internal bond can be formed between vertical courses of the blocks.
An interlocking paving stone of rectangular or square shape, the stone having a width W, a length L, and a thickness H. Each side of the stone is provided with at least one pair of alternating tongues and grooves on a bottom part thereof, having a size and shape adapted to receive a corresponding tongue or groove of an adjacent block. The groove has an overall volume greater than the volume of the tongue to facilitate the pouring of joint filling materials. The length of a pair of tongue and groove is equal to a length I, where both W and L are whole multiples of I. Furthermore, the tongues and grooves have a generally truncated pyramidal shape, where the peak of the truncated pyramid lies below the top surface of the block by 40 to 50% of the total height of the stones. The stone according to the present invention provides greater lateral and vertical stability to an assembled pavement.
A concrete building block (2) has complementary projections (10) and recesses (12) to cause it to interlock with other blocks (2). A T-shaped channel (16, 26) on the top surface (4) receives an anchor member (32). A projecting end (36) of the member (32) may be secured to an anchor cable (104). The ends of a metal cable (22) are embedded in the block (2) with an eye portion (24) projecting into an increased depth channel portion (20). The lower surface (6) of the block (2) has parallel channels (28) for receiving the tines of a forklift. The channels (16, 28) have breakaway walls (18, 30) at their outer ends, which are not broken away unless the channels (16, 28) are to be used. The walls (18, 30) prevent concrete from flowing out of the channels (16, 28) when reinforcing concrete is poured through vertical openings (14) in the block (2). In molding the block (2), slugs (86) are releasably attached to opposite mold walls to form the openings (14). Notched and three-quarter size blocks (2B, 2C) may be used to form a T-shaped structure. Another modification is an angled block (2A) for forming an angled wall.
