Building-insert module and associated methodology
A prefabricated, building-insert module adapted for insertion to create in-place room infrastructure in an open, plural-story, main, column-and-beam building frame which is defined by columns and beams, the module including a prepared floor sub-module having an upper surface, and an at least partially completed, three-dimensional room sub-module anchored to and rising upwardly from the upper surface of the floor sub-module. The floor sub-module acts variously as a fabrication, transportation and installation-lifting pallet for the entire module, and the room sub-module is placed in a continuous state of vertical compression so as never, during transportation, lifting, and ultimate, in-place installation, to go into a state of vertical tension.
1 . A system featuring a prefabricated, building-insert module adapted for insertion to create in-place room infrastructure in an open, plural-story, main, column-and-beam building frame which is defined by columns and principal beams, said module comprising
a floor sub-module having an upper surface, and
an at least partially completed, three-dimensional room sub-module anchored to and rising upwardly from said upper surface of said floor sub-module.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said room sub-module has a defined footprint, and said floor sub-module has a perimetral configuration and outline defining a floor sub-module footprint which is permissively independent of said room sub-module's said defined footprint.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the building frame has plural story levels each characterized by a grid of relatively angularly disposed beams defining a plurality of distributed, next-adjacent story panes having perimetral outlines each defining a beam-grid footprint, and said floor sub-module's said defined footprint is permissively independent of said beam-grid footprint.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the building frame is a plural-story building frame, and said module includes pick structure operatively connected to said floor sub-module and said room sub-module, constructed to enable machine lifting of the module to an elevation in the frame which is above ground level using the module's floor sub-module as a lifting pallet.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein said pick structure includes elongate tensioned structure anchored to said floor sub-module, and placing said room sub-module in a condition of vertical compression.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the building frame is made of steel, and said floor sub-module includes lateral edges formed with steel lateral edge structure which is attachable, as by welding, to the steel in said frame, and a concrete floor body contained within said edge structure.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the building frame is made of steel, and said floor sub-module includes lateral edges formed with steel lateral edge structure which is attachable, as by welding, to the steel in said frame, and a concrete floor body contained within said edge structure.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said floor sub-module is constructed to act, for said module of which it is a part, at least as one of (a) a room sub-module fabrication pallet, (b) a module transport pallet, (c) a module lifting pallet, and (d) a fire-resisting structure for and adjacent the underside of said room sub-module.
9 . A building-insert module methodology associated with an open building frame which is defined by columns and beams, said methodology comprising
creating a prefabricated module structure including (a) a floor sub-module having an upper surface, and (b) an at least partially completed, three-dimensional room sub-module anchored to and rising upwardly from the upper surface of the floor sub-module, with the created floor sub-module performing as a fabrication pallet for the creating of the room sub-module,
transporting the module to an insertion staging site located adjacent such a building frame using the module's floor sub-module as a transport pallet, and
from the mentioned staging site, lifting the thus transported module and inserting it into a selected location within the frame using the module's floor sub-module as a lifting pallet.
10 . The methodology of claim 9 , which further comprises, following creation of the mentioned room sub-module, placing that sub-module in a condition of vertical compression.
11 . The methodology of claim 10 , wherein said placing in compression involves utilizing tensioned pick structure which forms part of the created module, and said placing in compression is implemented to create a state of vertical compression in the room sub-module which will not allow the room sub-module to enter a state of vertical tension during said lifting.
12 . A plural-story building structure comprising
a column-and-beam building frame defining plural floor levels,
on at least one of said levels, an installed, and building-frame-attached, building-insertion module having a floor sub-module and an overhead-supported room sub-module, and
module-specific force-applying structure, independent of said building frame and operatively interposed said floor and room sub-modules in said module, placing and holding said room sub-module in vertical compression.