US 8,297,023 B2 · Stackable column assemblies and methods of construction

Abstract

An improved stackable square tubular column assembly and method of assembly for multi-floor steel-framed buildings in which hollow columns for vertically adjacent floors are joined by a coupler having beam connectors extending outwardly therefrom so that the coupler supports the floor load in shear. The core of the assembly is the coupler having a flat plate extending through horizontal slots in opposing walls of the coupler that divides the coupler into two compartments, each compartment telescopingly receiving the end of a single floor column so that the column load of the upper column is uniformly distributed in compression over the walls of the lower column through the plate. Advantages of the various embodiments include (a) eliminating the necessity of column abutment, (b) eliminating the need for exact registration of the columns, (c) eliminating the need for through-column bolts, (d) eliminating the need for overhead welds, (e) improved tolerances for coupler-to-lower column tolerances, (f) improved resistance to bending or twisting of the coupler about the supporting column, (g) the addition of coupler-to-coupler tension cables, (h) additional support for metal decking, (i) the connection of stacked columns without through-column bolts, (j) coupler length reduction for reduced thickness composite floors without sacrificing resistance to floor load shear, (k) a continuous span for reduced thickness floors, (l) shear panels anchored to the structural steel columns, coupler and beams, and (m) the ability of the coupler to accommodate normal X-bracing and tube bracing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a stackable steel column assembly comprising rectangular steel upper and lower hollow columns and a rectangular steel coupler sized to receive the upper end of the lower column and the lower end of the upper column with the column load of said upper column being transferred to said lower column in compression,

where the coupler has at least one beam connector extending laterally outwardly from a lateral side thereof on which a floor load is imposed in shear, and
including means for limiting the vertical movement of said coupler relative to said lower column and for transferring any floor load imposed on the coupler to the lower column in shear, the improvement:
wherein the column load of said upper column is supported in compression by said lower column without abutment of said columns and without through-column apertures, and
wherein the vertical movement of said coupler relative to said lower column is limited and the transfer of any floor load from said coupler to said lower column is effected without through-column apertures or the welding of said coupler to said lower column,
wherein said coupler includes a flat steel plate extending through horizontal slots at the same height in opposing lateral sides of the coupler near the vertical midpoint thereof,
the lower end of said upper column abutting said plate to transfer the column load thereto in compression and said plate abutting the upper end of said lower column to transfer thereto in compression any column load applied to said plate so that the column load is transferred from said upper column to said lower column through said plate in compression, said plate obviating the need for registration of the walls of said upper column with the walls of said lower column,
the abutment of said plate with the upper end of said lower column limiting the downward movement of said coupler relative to said lower column and effecting transfer of any floor load from said coupler to said lower column in compression.

4 more elements

where the coupler has at least one beam connector extending laterally outwardly from a lateral side thereof on which a floor load is imposed in shear, and
including means for limiting the vertical movement of said coupler relative to said lower column and for transferring any floor load imposed on the coupler to the lower column in shear, the improvement:
wherein the column load of said upper column is supported in compression by said lower column without abutment of said columns and without through-column apertures,
wherein the vertical movement of said coupler relative to said lower column is limited and the transfer of any floor load from said coupler to said lower column is effected without through-column apertures or the welding of said coupler to said lower column;
and
including two elongated flat connecting plates extending one each along an internal wall of said coupler and protruding a distance beyond the top and bottom of said coupler, the protruding portions of said connecting plates being welded to the immediately adjacent of said columns to thereby connect the columns to each other and to increase the rigidity and improve the tensile strength of the stacked columns.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Stackable column assemblies and methods of construction

Life of this patent

Stackable column assemblies and methods of construction

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20