AU2011201733A1 - Improved base chassis for a transportable building - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a chassis for a transportable building, said chassis being of a single-plane construction and including forklift tyne receiving means accessible from at least one side of said chassis and a reinforcing plate associated with said forklift tyne 5 receiving means for providing additional strength to the chassis to enable lifting and transportation of the building using a forklift.

Description

1 Improved base chassis for a transportable building The present invention relates to an improved base chassis for a transportable building, and to a transportable building incorporating the improved base chassis. In particular the chassis is of a slim-line, extruded construction, and can be constructed like so because of 5 reinforcing plates positioned along the outer load supporting C-section beams where forklift tynes are adapted to lift the building. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Camps have been used for many years to provide shelter and accommodation especially in remote areas. This is especially so in the case of remote camps that are 10 assembled using a number of transportable buildings, some of the buildings used as sleeping quarters, others as the kitchen and dining room facility and others still as recreational areas. It is not uncommon for a camp to consist of sixty to eighty buildings that can accommodate several hundred people. These camps are completely self-contained in that the transportable buildings provide 15 all of the facilities for a small remote community that may be needed in a particular area. Accordingly these camps include all of the modern day facilities such as electrical power, water, sewerage, and communication. They therefore also include their own power generation systems, water distribution systems, sewerage treatment plants, and communication facilities such as satellite dishes. The camps typically require a considerable 20 amount of skill, time, and effort to assemble and commission. Once constructed these camps can however provide accommodation indefinitely if the infrastructure is maintained. In some instances the camps have to be portable or mobile. For example, during construction of infrastructure across a vast area, such as roads or pipelines supplying water or gas, a particular location for a camp housing the construction workers may only be viable for 25 several weeks or months. As the pipeline is progressively constructed, there is a balance between the economic cost of the travel time of workers housed in the camp to the current work site and time spent constructing the actual pipeline. It is therefore accepted in the industry that if the travel time between a camp and the work location is more than an hour, a new camp has to be constructed that is closer to the work location. At that time, a new camp 30 is therefore constructed one hour ahead of the current construction location or generally up to several hundred kilometres away from the existing camp.

2 A camp for several hundred people takes some time to construct and commission. Accordingly, construction work on the particular project has to stop for one or two weeks whilst the camp is relocated. Alternatively there are two duplicate camps used so that whilst one camp is being used the other is being de-commissioned from one location to be 5 assembled at another location. Either solution has its disadvantages. The first increases the time for a particular project whilst the second is a duplication of infrastructure that requires significant capital. One of the more time intensive steps in decommissioning and commissioning a camp includes physically transporting the buildings when all of the utilities have been disconnected. 10 Current techniques of transporting a building include using a crane to lift the building onto the back of a truck, usually a flatbed semi-trailer. Similarly a crane is then used to unload the building from the semi-tailer at the new location. The crane is connected to a lifting hook on each corner of the building. This procedure has several distinct disadvantages. Lifting a building using a crane requires that the crane be carefully connected to the 15 building and that the lifting cables are properly secured. This procedure is also very dependent on the weather for even moderate winds cause the building to sway making it difficult to handle and inherently unsafe. Even in conditions of no wind, supporting a building using a crane always causes the building to sway requiring careful manoeuvring and handling to stabilise the building and ensure its correct orientation before it can be placed on 20 the truck. Thus, not only does one require a crane driver and operator, there are usually required at least two to three additional people to assist in loading and unloading the building from the semi-trailer. Further, since the cables are tied to the corners of rectangular buildings they rub against the sidewalls often damaging them. Another more time intensive step in commissioning a building includes providing 25 modular block supports that the building usually rests upon. This procedure also has several distinct disadvantages in that it requires a number of experienced people and simply takes time. A solution to this problem has been proposed in Applicant's Australian Letters Patent No. 2003227102 entitled "A transportable building and chassis therefor", whose contents are 30 incorporated by reference herein, where the reader is taught a chassis and hence building that includes channels extending through inner load supporting I-beams of the chassis, adapted to receive the tynes of a forklift for moving the buildings. The I-beams extend longitudinally beneath lateral cross members adapted to support the floor, and so on the whole, the chassis is 3 quite bulky and requires a lot of material and some non-extruded components which ultimately makes it expensive to manufacture. It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the abovementioned problems or provide the public with a useful alternative. 5 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a slim-line chassis for a transportable building which includes two load supporting beams along either side of the building and a plurality of lateral beams extending therebetween, the load supporting beams including at least one reinforcing plate extending across forklift tyne openings thereof to provide sufficient structural integrity to the chassis when the building is being lifted and 10 transported using a forklift. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a transportable building including such a slim-line chassis. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed A chassis for a 15 transportable building, said chassis being of a slim-line construction and including forklift tyne receiving means accessible from at least one side of said chassis and a reinforcing plate associated with said forklift tyne receiving means for providing additional strength to the chassis to enable lifting and transportation of the building using a forklift. Preferably said slim-line construction is achieved by said chassis extending in a single 20 plane. In preference said single plane chassis is formed in part by two elongate and spaced apart load-supporting beams which extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of said chassis. In preference each beam is an inwardly directed C-shaped beam including a top and bottom flange connected by a web. 25 Preferably said chassis is further defined by a plurality of cross members and two end members extending laterally between webs of each of said load-supporting beams. Advantageously each adjacent cross member includes at least one bracing member extending in the longitudinal direction. Preferably said forklift tyne receiving means is in the form of two spaced apart 30 openings extending through the web of at least one of said outer load-supporting beams.

4 In preference both of said outer load-supporting beams include said openings, said openings being aligned to form two transversely extending channels adapted to be engaged by two spaced apart tynes of a forklift. Preferably said reinforcing plate is attached to an outer surface of the web such that 5 the plate extends across said channels, said reinforcing plate including openings for access to said channels. Alternatively said reinforcing plate is attached to an inner surface of the web such that the plate extends across said channels, said reinforcing plate including openings for access to said channels. 10 In preference said channels are defined by hollow box beams of flat rectangular cross section extending between each of said openings in the web portions of the outer load supporting beams. Preferably said forklift tyne receiving means are disposed off centre and towards a first end of the building to compensate for more weight at the opposed second end of the 15 building. In a further form of the invention there is proposed a slim-line chassis for a transportable building including two load supporting outer beams including forklift tyne openings for receiving forklift tynes and a plurality of lateral beams extending between the beams, the beams including at least one reinforcing plate extending across the forklift tyne 20 openings to provide sufficient structural integrity to the chassis when the building is being lifted and transported using a forklift. In a still further form of the invention there is proposed a transportable building including a chassis as defined above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25 The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings; Figure 1 is a perspective view of the Applicant's prior art transportable building 30 chassis; 5 Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of a transportable building chassis in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the transportable building chassis of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top view of the transportable building chassis Figure 2; 5 Figure 5 is a side view of the transportable building chassis of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is an end view of the transportable building chassis of Figure 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are 10 possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Figure 1 illustrates a prior art transportable building chassis developed by the present Applicant. The chassis 10' is configured to enable a building (not shown) to be transported 15 by forklift (not shown). The chassis 10' includes two longitudinal laterally spaced parallel I beams 12' and 14'. These I-beams are disposed with their webs extending vertically and their flanges extending horizontally. Pluralities of parallel spaced beams 16' are secured to and project laterally outwardly across the top of said I-beams 12' and 14'. The spaced beams provide the support for the 20 floor (not shown) that typically includes timber sheets. A rectangular frame 16' extends around the perimeter of the chassis and defines a groove adapted to support sidewalls (not shown) therein. Located centrally and extending laterally through the web of the I-beams 12' and 14' are two channels 20' and 22' whose separation is selected to be the typical separation used by heavy lifting forklifts (although most forklifts have adjustable separation of the forks 25 enabling the chassis of the building to be constructed using the most appropriate separation). The channels 20' and 22' are substantially identical including a flat rectangular cross section defined by box beams 24' and 26' respectively. The main problem identified with this style of chassis is the time and the large number of specific parts required in their construction.

6 According to the present invention there is proposed a chassis 10 for a transportable building (not shown) adapted to be engaged by a forklift (not shown) both for unloading or loading. Rather than having two inner load supporting I-beams, the chassis 10 includes two inwardly directed, load supporting C-section beams 12 and 14 which define outer longitudinal 5 sides of the chassis 10. Each of the beams 12 and 14 are preferably of an extruded construction and includes a vertical web portion 16 and inwardly directed horizontal flange portions 18. The beams are preferably formed by extruding steel of a greater thickness than that used on typical chassis' of this kind, sufficient to support the weight of side walls, roofing, and various other components of the building (not shown) thereabove. 10 Extending between web portions of the two C-section beams are a plurality of spaced apart, laterally extending cross members 20, and extending across the ends of the two outer longitudinal beams 12 and 14 are two outwardly directed end cross members 22 and 24. A plurality of longitudinally extending bracing members 26 extend between adjacent cross members 16 for additional strength. In the embodiment shown, each cross member 20 and 15 bracing member 26 is also of an extruded C-section design, but it is to be understood that any other suitable cross section could be used. Also extending laterally across the chassis 10 are two parallel and spaced apart forklift tyne channels which in the embodiment shown are defined by parallel and spaced apart, hollow box beams 28 and 30 of flat rectangular cross section. The beams extend 20 between the two outer load supporting C-section beams 12 and 14 and are in preference welded to the web portions 16. The channels can be accessed through corresponding openings 32 and 34 in the side beam web portions 16, the openings being of substantially the same cross sectional shape as the beams 28 and 30. The four edges at the ends of each beam align with the four edges of the correspondingly shaped openings. 25 It is to be understood that any other suitable means of receiving forklift tynes could be implemented, for example, one which does not necessarily involve the use of hollow beam sections but ensures that forklift tynes can appropriately engage the chassis, that is, a means of ensuring that forklift tynes may be easily directed to and maintained in the appropriate position along the length of the chassis. In the embodiment shown, the tyne channels are 30 disposed off-centre to compensate for additional weight on one side of the building, but it is to be understood that the openings 32 and 34 and lateral box beams 28 and 30 could equally well be at the centre of the chassis. The present invention is not intended to be limited to any one forklift tyne channel position along the chassis.

7 Because typical buildings of this type may extend as long as 16-20 metres, the chassis 10 needs to be of sufficient strength such that when it is lifted at its centre, or slightly off centre using a forklift, it does not fail. The Applicant's prior art system included a chassis having tall and robust inner load supporting I-beams which ensures failure along the length of 5 the chassis did not occur during transportation. The skilled addressee would realise that in implementing a slim-line chassis, unless the building is of a relatively small length, the structural rigidity of the chassis may not be sufficient to support a building during lifting using a forklift. For this reason, longitudinal reinforcing plates 36 and 38 are utilised in addition to the various structural reinforcements 10 inside the chassis. The longitudinal reinforcing plates 36 and 38 adapted to be attached (preferably welded) along the outer web portions 16 of each of the outer side beams 12 and 14 to provide additional strength and reinforcement to the area being lifted by a forklift. Although two plates are shown, the present invention may include within its scope a chassis having only one 15 reinforcing plate along the side of the chassis through which forklift tynes are to be inserted. Alternatively, the plates 36 and 38 could extend along the inside of the outer side beams 12 and 14. The reinforcing plates 36 and 38 are approximately the same width as the web portions 18 and in a preferred embodiment are at least one quarter the length of the chassis 10. 20 The plates 36 and 38 have rounded ends and include two openings 40 and 42 adapted to coaxially align with openings 32 and 34 in the beam web portions 16 before welding the plates to the beams 12 and 14. The chassis 10 of the present invention is advantageous because ach component of this slim line chassis design is of an extruded construction, and because less parts are required 25 in the manufacture of the chassis 10 (i.e. no inner load supporting I-beams or a separate frame for supporting the floor and walls), the chassis 10 is cheaper to manufacture than hitherto known chassis'. The dimensions of the chassis are typically designed to conform to the conventional standards that relate to issues of transportation and to minimum sizes of rooms in buildings. 30 These may be different in different countries and whether the buildings are being transported on conventional roads. Although not discussed it is to be understood that the attachment of the various sidewalls to the chassis also includes using well known fixing means such as nuts and bolts 8 and rivets and that the person skilled in the art would be well aware of how the building is to be constructed. Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and 5 described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where 10 the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. A chassis for a transportable building, said chassis being of a slim-line construction and including forklift tyne receiving means accessible from at least one side of said chassis and a reinforcing plate associated with said forklift tyne receiving means for 5 providing additional strength to the chassis to enable lifting and transportation of the building using a forklift.

2. A chassis according to claim 1 wherein said slim-line construction is achieved by said chassis extending in a single plane.

3. A chassis for a transportable building according to claim 2 wherein said single plane 10 chassis is formed in part by two elongate and spaced apart load-supporting beams which extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of said chassis.

4. A chassis for a transportable building according to claim 3 wherein each beam is an inwardly directed C-shaped beam including a top and bottom flange connected by a web. 15

5. A chassis for a transportable building according to claim 4 wherein said chassis is further defined by a plurality of cross members and two end members extending laterally between webs of each of said load-supporting beams.

6. A chassis for a transportable building according to claim 5 wherein each adjacent cross member includes at least one bracing member extending in the longitudinal 20 direction.

7. A chassis according to any one of claims 3-6 wherein said forklift tyne receiving means is in the form of two spaced apart openings extending through the web of at least one of said outer load-supporting beams.

8. A chassis according to claim 7 wherein both of said outer load-supporting beams 25 include said openings, said openings being aligned to form two transversely extending channels adapted to be engaged by two spaced apart tynes of a forklift.

9. A chassis according to claim 8 wherein said reinforcing plate is attached to an outer surface of the web such that the plate extends across said channels, said reinforcing plate including openings for access to said channels. 10

10. A chassis according to claim 8 wherein said reinforcing plate is attached to an inner surface of the web such that the plate extends across said channels, said reinforcing plate including openings for access to said channels.

11. A chassis according to any one of claims 8-10 wherein said channels are defined by 5 hollow box beams of flat rectangular cross section extending between each of said openings in the web portions of the outer load supporting beams.

12. A chassis according to any one of the above claims wherein said forklift tyne receiving means are disposed off centre and towards a first end of the building to compensate for more weight at the opposed second end of the building.\ 10

13. A slim-line chassis for a transportable building including two load supporting outer beams including forklift tyne openings for receiving forklift tynes and a plurality of lateral beams extending between the beams, the beams including at least one reinforcing plate extending across the forklift tyne openings to provide sufficient structural integrity to the chassis when the building is being lifted and transported 15 using a forklift.

14. A transportable building including a chassis according to any one of the above claims.

15. A chassis for a transportable building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2-6.