The Dynamic Load Bearing Infrastructure

We see the load bearing structure of the plug and play house made out of post and beam. This because it leaves the most freedom to fill in the building. This means you need a point shaped connection to connect these posts and beams.

In the plug and play house, everything is plug and play, but some elements are less plug and play than others. The load bearing structure should have a safety build in, so that the occupant should not play with the house and have it collapse.

I think the following should apply for the point shaped connector:

1. Reversible: You can connect it and then disconnect it several times
2. Standardized: Any post or beam fits to another post or beam, irrespectable of material
3. Tools: A dedicated tools which is very easy to use, and should have safety features
4. Ease of handling: No skill of little skill needed for joining and un-joining
5. Fool proof: The connection or connection tool should clearly indicate the status (open or closed) of the connector
6. Continuity: The joint should have virtually the same characteristics as the post and beam it joins in the sense of strength.

In this section I present two solutions. The first is just an idea and was not tested with a prototype. The second connector is a patented construction awaiting production.

____Idea for post and beam connector____

The posts and beams end in a flange with a circular hole in it. The flanges are standardized. Flanges could be made out of steel, but other materials like aluminum, brass, or carbon fiber could be used too. The only really standardized item is the diameter of the hole and the height of its rim.

The post and beam structure is build up out of post/beam elements (pos. 3) and couplings (pos. 2). Post/beam elements could be cubes (pos. 1).

The fields between poles and beams are filled in with panel elements.

The coupling is operated with a dedicated tool: An reversible compressor. The "intelligent" compressor pressurizes the coupling until the the cupped plate flattens. The plate is made in a way that it stays in the flattened position, exerting a huge force on the surface between coupling and flange. The connector and flange can no longer be separated because of the friction forces between them. The compressor senses the pressure build up and "click" of the plate flattening. It indicates that the connection is made. Pressure can now be taken away. The plate stays in flat position.

To take the joint apart, the compressor is set in reverse and creates a vacuum in the connector. The flattened plate clicks back and the connection can be taken apart.

____Plug and play wood connector____

The following is a connector invented by Jacqueline Andringa. This patented construction is made of extruded thermoplastic wood compound. The construction elements all have the same form. They are held together by a cap. After placing the cap, a firm connection results. By removing the cap, the construction can be taken apart.

The inventor is still looking for entrepreneurs who want to market this product.