CA2469429A1 - Readily portable facility for the manufacture of houses or other buildings - Google Patents
Readily portable facility for the manufacture of houses or other buildings Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2469429A1 CA2469429A1 CA 2469429 CA2469429A CA2469429A1 CA 2469429 A1 CA2469429 A1 CA 2469429A1 CA 2469429 CA2469429 CA 2469429 CA 2469429 A CA2469429 A CA 2469429A CA 2469429 A1 CA2469429 A1 CA 2469429A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- building
- house
- completed
- readily portable
- portable facility
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/35—Extraordinary methods of construction, e.g. lift-slab, jack-block
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
- E04C3/00—Structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting
- E04C3/02—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces
- E04C3/04—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of metal
- E04C3/08—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of metal with apertured web, e.g. with a web consisting of bar-like components; Honeycomb girders
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
- E04C3/00—Structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting
- E04C3/38—Arched girders or portal frames
- E04C3/40—Arched girders or portal frames of metal
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/24—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons the supporting parts consisting of metal
- E04B2001/2487—Portico type structures
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/24—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons the supporting parts consisting of metal
- E04B2001/249—Structures with a sloping roof
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/24—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons the supporting parts consisting of metal
- E04B2001/2493—Structures with a vaulted roof
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/35—Extraordinary methods of construction, e.g. lift-slab, jack-block
- E04B2001/3577—Extraordinary methods of construction, e.g. lift-slab, jack-block prefabricating a building and moving it as a whole to the erection site
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
- E04C3/00—Structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting
- E04C3/02—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces
- E04C3/04—Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces of metal
- E04C2003/0486—Truss like structures composed of separate truss elements
- E04C2003/0491—Truss like structures composed of separate truss elements the truss elements being located in one single surface or in several parallel surfaces
Abstract
A readily portable facility and method for manufacturing houses or other buildings in the readily portable facility for later transportation and installation of the house to a foundation site, the readily portable facility being located within or proximate to a subdivision or other location at which the houses or buildings are to be installed. The portable facility can accommodate methods of manufacturing houses or buildings which utilize traditional stick building methods or production lines therein. The readily portable facility is designed to be a selectively highly mobile facility, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings have been placed at the installation location, the readily portable facility can then, if the need arises, be quickly disassembled and removed from its location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and then quickly erected to begin manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or other buildings at a new installation location. Further, since the portable facility comprises a covering fabric or other material placed over a support framework, a naturally bright interior is created within the readily portable facility.
Description
READILY PORTABLE FACILITY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOUSES OR
OTHER BUILDINGS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a readily portable facility and method for manufacturing at least one house or other building in the readily portable facility for later transportation and installation of the house or other building to a foundation site, and in particular to a readily portable facility and method for manufacturing at least one house or building in the readily portable facility, utilizing stick building techniques or by using one or more assembly production lines, for later transportation and installation of the house or building to a foundation site.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The manufacturing of completed or partially completed houses (both of which are referred to herein as "houses") within a factory for subsequent transport to the installation location of the house, for example in a subdivision, is well-known. When compared to outdoor stick building, manufacturing houses within a factory provides numerous advantages, including the improved ability to work at all hours of the day and without concern for weather, and providing greater worker safety and comfort and improved efficiency in use of material, energy and equipment.
Where a factory is used for the manufacturing of completed or partially completed houses, the location of the factory is generally fixed, or requires significant effort to re-locate. This may be acceptable in situations where the factory will be used for many years in a particular location and, where at the end of its useful life at that location, the factory building is then converted into a recreational facility or other non-house manufacturing building.
However, where the duration of a house building factory will be less than, for example, 7-10 years, it may be advantageous to utilize a readily portable facility for the manufacture of houses or other buildings such as that described herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved readily portable facility and method for manufacturing at least one house or other building in the readily portable facility for later transportation and installation of the houses or other buildings to a foundation site, which overcomes the above-referenced disadvantage in the prior art.
It is a further object to provide an improved readily portable facility which can be quickly and easily erected and maintained, and which is durable and easy to relocate.
It is a further object to provide an improved readily portable facility which can be easily assembled and disassembled for quick relocation and placement of the readily portable facility.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building, comprising a manufacturing site located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building; a support framework positioned on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of upright support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced; a sheet of material secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework; anchoring means for anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a base surface; and a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the product fabrication area being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building within the product fabrication area utilizing building materials, characterized in that the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the product fabrication area and placed at the installation location, whereby the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
OTHER BUILDINGS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a readily portable facility and method for manufacturing at least one house or other building in the readily portable facility for later transportation and installation of the house or other building to a foundation site, and in particular to a readily portable facility and method for manufacturing at least one house or building in the readily portable facility, utilizing stick building techniques or by using one or more assembly production lines, for later transportation and installation of the house or building to a foundation site.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The manufacturing of completed or partially completed houses (both of which are referred to herein as "houses") within a factory for subsequent transport to the installation location of the house, for example in a subdivision, is well-known. When compared to outdoor stick building, manufacturing houses within a factory provides numerous advantages, including the improved ability to work at all hours of the day and without concern for weather, and providing greater worker safety and comfort and improved efficiency in use of material, energy and equipment.
Where a factory is used for the manufacturing of completed or partially completed houses, the location of the factory is generally fixed, or requires significant effort to re-locate. This may be acceptable in situations where the factory will be used for many years in a particular location and, where at the end of its useful life at that location, the factory building is then converted into a recreational facility or other non-house manufacturing building.
However, where the duration of a house building factory will be less than, for example, 7-10 years, it may be advantageous to utilize a readily portable facility for the manufacture of houses or other buildings such as that described herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved readily portable facility and method for manufacturing at least one house or other building in the readily portable facility for later transportation and installation of the houses or other buildings to a foundation site, which overcomes the above-referenced disadvantage in the prior art.
It is a further object to provide an improved readily portable facility which can be quickly and easily erected and maintained, and which is durable and easy to relocate.
It is a further object to provide an improved readily portable facility which can be easily assembled and disassembled for quick relocation and placement of the readily portable facility.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building, comprising a manufacturing site located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building; a support framework positioned on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of upright support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced; a sheet of material secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework; anchoring means for anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a base surface; and a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the product fabrication area being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building within the product fabrication area utilizing building materials, characterized in that the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the product fabrication area and placed at the installation location, whereby the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building for later placement at an installation location in a subdivision comprising a manufacturing site located closely proximate to the installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
a support framework positioned on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of upright support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced; a sheet of material secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework; anchoring means for anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a base surface; a fabrication area located in the manufacturing site, the fabrication area being used for converting house building materials into factory manufactured building components; and transporting means for transferring the completed or substantially completed house from the fabrication area for placement at the installation location whereby, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been removed from the fabrication area, the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the manufacturing site closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing completed or substantially completed houses or buildings, comprising the steps of manufacturing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings within areadily portable facility located closely proximate to an installation location for the houses or buildings; transporting the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings to the installation location; and installing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings at the installation location, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings have been removed from the readily portable facility for placement at the installation location, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the installation location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected to begin manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or buildings at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building within a readily portable facility, comprising the steps of receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility, the readily portable facility being located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building; constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building in a product fabrication area within the readily portable facility utilizing the building materials; transporting the completed or substantially completed house or building from the product fabrication area within the readily portable facility to the installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building; and installing the completed or substantially completed house or building at the installation location, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been placed at the installation location, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and transported from the location closely proximate to the installation location to a new manufacture site, whereby the readily portable facility may then be quickly erected to begin manufacture of an additional completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing at least one house or building at a readily portable facility for later transportation to and installation at a foundation site utilizing a transporter, the at least one house or building including factory manufactured building components which are each installed separately therein to form a completed or substantially completed house or building, the method comprising the steps of receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility, the readily portable facility being located closely proximate to an installation location for the at least one house or building; providing at least one production line or area where the house building materials can be received; transferring at least some of the house building materials to the at least one production line or area; constructing at least some of the house building materials into the factory manufactured building components on the at least one production line or area in the readily portable facility;
transporting the constructed factory manufactured building components from the at least one production line or area to a product fabrication area within the readily portable facility; installing the factory manufactured building components constructed at the at least one production line or area in the at least one house or building, so as to form the completed or substantially completed house or building in the product fabrication area; utilizing the transporter to transport the completed or substantially completed house or building from the product fabrication area to the foundation site for installation; and installing the completed or substantially completed house or building at the foundation site, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been placed at the foundation site, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and transported from the location closely proximate to the installation location to a new manufacture site, whereby the portable facility can then be quickly erected to begin manufacture of an additional completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building, comprising selecting a manufacturing site located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
positioning a support framework on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced; covering at least a portion of the support framework with a sheet of covering material, the securing material being secured to the support framework; anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a ground surface; and positioning a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the product fabrication area being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building within the product fabrication area utilizing building materials, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been completed, the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the product fabrication area and placed at the installation location, whereby the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for a use of a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building at a manufacturing site closely proximate to an installation location, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been completed, the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the readily portable facility and placed at the installation location, whereby the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the manufacturing site closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacturing site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacturing site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
It is an advantage of the present invention that, due to the ease in transporting the readily portable facility, the manufacturing of the house or building always occurs at a manufacturing site within or closely proximate to the final installation location, and the constraints, limitations and costs associated with transportation of the house or building from a remote manufacturing site over greater distances on public roadways are reduced.
It is a further advantage of the present invention that the readily portable facility can be cheaply and quickly assembled at a chosen manufacturing site, thus providing greater simplicity and cost efficiency to the overall process. Additionally, since fabric may be used to cover the support framework of the readily portable facility and may preferably be of a light color, or white, a significant amount of natural light can permeate through the fabric, whereby the need for additional internal lighting of the readily portable facility can be greatly reduced or eliminated and a naturally bright interior and workspace is created. This can lead to a reduction in utility and operation costs, and help to further illuminate the working environment within the readily portable facility, thus creating a safer more pleasant working environment.
a support framework positioned on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of upright support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced; a sheet of material secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework; anchoring means for anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a base surface; a fabrication area located in the manufacturing site, the fabrication area being used for converting house building materials into factory manufactured building components; and transporting means for transferring the completed or substantially completed house from the fabrication area for placement at the installation location whereby, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been removed from the fabrication area, the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the manufacturing site closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing completed or substantially completed houses or buildings, comprising the steps of manufacturing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings within areadily portable facility located closely proximate to an installation location for the houses or buildings; transporting the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings to the installation location; and installing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings at the installation location, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings have been removed from the readily portable facility for placement at the installation location, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the installation location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected to begin manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or buildings at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building within a readily portable facility, comprising the steps of receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility, the readily portable facility being located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building; constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building in a product fabrication area within the readily portable facility utilizing the building materials; transporting the completed or substantially completed house or building from the product fabrication area within the readily portable facility to the installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building; and installing the completed or substantially completed house or building at the installation location, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been placed at the installation location, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and transported from the location closely proximate to the installation location to a new manufacture site, whereby the readily portable facility may then be quickly erected to begin manufacture of an additional completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing at least one house or building at a readily portable facility for later transportation to and installation at a foundation site utilizing a transporter, the at least one house or building including factory manufactured building components which are each installed separately therein to form a completed or substantially completed house or building, the method comprising the steps of receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility, the readily portable facility being located closely proximate to an installation location for the at least one house or building; providing at least one production line or area where the house building materials can be received; transferring at least some of the house building materials to the at least one production line or area; constructing at least some of the house building materials into the factory manufactured building components on the at least one production line or area in the readily portable facility;
transporting the constructed factory manufactured building components from the at least one production line or area to a product fabrication area within the readily portable facility; installing the factory manufactured building components constructed at the at least one production line or area in the at least one house or building, so as to form the completed or substantially completed house or building in the product fabrication area; utilizing the transporter to transport the completed or substantially completed house or building from the product fabrication area to the foundation site for installation; and installing the completed or substantially completed house or building at the foundation site, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been placed at the foundation site, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and transported from the location closely proximate to the installation location to a new manufacture site, whereby the portable facility can then be quickly erected to begin manufacture of an additional completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building, comprising selecting a manufacturing site located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
positioning a support framework on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced; covering at least a portion of the support framework with a sheet of covering material, the securing material being secured to the support framework; anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a ground surface; and positioning a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the product fabrication area being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building within the product fabrication area utilizing building materials, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been completed, the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the product fabrication area and placed at the installation location, whereby the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for a use of a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building at a manufacturing site closely proximate to an installation location, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been completed, the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the readily portable facility and placed at the installation location, whereby the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the manufacturing site closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacturing site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacturing site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
It is an advantage of the present invention that, due to the ease in transporting the readily portable facility, the manufacturing of the house or building always occurs at a manufacturing site within or closely proximate to the final installation location, and the constraints, limitations and costs associated with transportation of the house or building from a remote manufacturing site over greater distances on public roadways are reduced.
It is a further advantage of the present invention that the readily portable facility can be cheaply and quickly assembled at a chosen manufacturing site, thus providing greater simplicity and cost efficiency to the overall process. Additionally, since fabric may be used to cover the support framework of the readily portable facility and may preferably be of a light color, or white, a significant amount of natural light can permeate through the fabric, whereby the need for additional internal lighting of the readily portable facility can be greatly reduced or eliminated and a naturally bright interior and workspace is created. This can lead to a reduction in utility and operation costs, and help to further illuminate the working environment within the readily portable facility, thus creating a safer more pleasant working environment.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that the readily portable facility of the present invention can be quickly disassembled and removed from one manufacturing site and transported to a new manufacturing site, where it can then be quickly re-assembled and reused to construct further houses or buildings at the new manufacturing site.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the readily portable facility of the present invention can be utilized to assemble houses or buildings for placement on foundation sites in smaller subdivision sites or other locations, whereby, due to the smaller size of the subdivision site or other location, the readily portable facility of the present invention improves the cost-effectiveness and capital efficiency by using a smaller, less expensive and easy to erect facility such as the readily portable facility in the house manufacturing process. Further, where the type of homes which are to be constructed are of a variety requiring custom construction methods, the readily portable facility of the present invention additionally improves the cost-effectiveness and capital efficiency of the building process.
The present invention thus allows for an improved method of manufacturing a house in a portable facility which is cost-effective, efficient and reliable, and which possesses sufficient flexibility to manufacture houses of significantly different sizes, designs and/or customizations, utilizing stick building techniques, assembly line techniques, subassembly line techniques, or a combination of these techniques, which houses can then be transported to the installation site.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a simplified graphical representation in plan view form of one embodiment of the interior of a readily portable facility , the readily portable facility being shown adjacent to the subdivision being built;
Figure 2 is a simplified graphical representation of a plan view of the interior of an embodiment of a readily portable facility of the present invention, illustrating a production line and a fabrication area where the houses or buildings may be constructed;
Figure 3 is a simplified graphical representation of a plan view of a further embodiment of a readily portable facility of the present invention, illustrating a production line and a fabrication area;
Figures 4A and 4B illustrate two alternative embodiments of support truss components for supporting the walls and roof of the readily portable facility and Figures 4C
and 4D illustrate these embodiments in exploded views, respectively;
Figures SA and SB are perspective views illustrating two alternative embodiments of the uncovered support trusses illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B respectively, arranged above the floor of the facility for installation of a covering fabric or material;
Figure 6A and 6B illustrate perspective views of alternative embodiments of the readily portable facility of the present invention, showing the covering fabric or material in place over the support trusses shown in Figures SA and SB respectively; and Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the readily portable facility of the present invention, showing an entrance at one end of the readily portable facility.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to Figure 1, in the preferred embodiment, a readily portable house manufacturing facility 1 is established within, or in close proximity to, a subdivision 2 which is being built. The proximity of the readily portable facility 1 to the subdivision 2 beneficially allows for the manufacture of complete or substantially complete houses or buildings within the readily portable facility 1, and allows for the subsequent delivery of the house to a foundation site in the subdivision 2, with reduced or entirely eliminated likelihood of interference during the delivery of the house from the readily portable facility 1 to its foundation in the subdivision 2 as a result of bridges, wires, narrow roads or other impediments and with reduced or entirely eliminated need to utilize public access roads and highways (that is, roads and highways to which the public generally has access) during such transport of the house.
In the preferred embodiment, the readily portable facility 1 is designed to be a selectively highly mobile facility, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings have been placed at the installation location or subdivision 2, the readily portable facility 1 can be quickly disassembled, packaged for transport, and removed from its location closely proximate to the subdivision 2, and thereafter transported to a new site, where it may be quickly erected and re-utilized in the manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or other buildings at a new subdivision or other installation location. In doing so, the readily portable facility 1 is readily transportable, repositionable, and reusable as a facility for the manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or buildings within, or in close proximity to, the new subdivision or other installation location.
In selecting the height of a readily portable facility, it is understood that the height in a portion of the readily portable facility 1 must be sufficient to enable the construction, as more fully described herein, of completed or substantially completed houses or buildings therein, it being understood that where multi-story houses are being constructed, or where overhead cranes or other equipment which will require additional height are to be utilized, the height selected for the readily portable facility would take into account these criteria.
Having regard to Figures 4A, 4B, SA, and SB, which illustrate the support trusses 4 which may be utilized in two embodiments of the present invention, Figures 4A and SA
illustrate a semi-circular support truss system, while Figures 4B and SB illustrate an angular support truss system, it being understood that a worker skilled in the art could select or modify the truss support system to be utilized in accordance with the physical needs of the facility, the environmental loads expected to be placed on the facility and other factors which are known to persons skilled in the art.
Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a perspective view of two embodiments of the facility, which, in the preferred embodiment has a sheet of covering fabric or other material securely mounted to the support trusses 4, to provide a weather-tight structure in which to fabricate houses or other buildings.
The readily portable facility 1, in the embodiments as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, are constructed using, for example, support trusses 4 such as those illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B
respectively. As illustrated in Figure 4A, in the preferred embodiment, each of the support trusses 4 has an inner support member 6 and an outer support member 9, which in the preferred embodiment are formed from steel tubing of circular cross-section, it being understood that alternative materials and alternative configurations for these members which are known to persons skilled in the art, may alternatively be utilized. In the preferred embodiment, the inner support member 6 is securely connected, and in the preferred embodiment, welded to outer support member 9 utilizing steel truss webbing 8, positioned between the inner support member 6 and the outer support member 9, which provides a truss component 10 having significant load bearing characteristics with relatively light weight.
Truss webbing 8 in the preferred embodiment is a steel tube of circular cross section, it being understood that tubing or channel with various different cross-sections could also be utilized. It is also understood that the inner and outer support members (6,9), and the truss webbing 8 could be constructed from aluminum of suitable thickness and strength, from laminated wood, or from other materials known to persons skilled in the art.
To provide additional ease in relation to the transport, assembly and disassembly of the support trusses 4, in the preferred embodiment, each of the support trusses 4 are formed from truss components 10, which, when connected together, provide a complete support truss 4. As illustrated in Figures 4C and 4D, the preferred embodiment of the support trusses 4 illustrated in Figure 4A and 4B are shown in exploded view. The coupling plates 12 which are securely attached to the truss components 10 permit the truss components 10 to be securely connected together to form a complete support truss 4. As is demonstrated in Figures 4A and 4B, a support truss 4 is made up of a plurality of truss components 10 in end to end alignment with each other. In the preferred embodiment, the truss components 10 are joined by bolts 13 through coupling bolt holes 14 in coupling plates 12, thus forming the support truss 4. While bolts and mating holes are shown in this embodiment as the manner in which to connect the truss components 10 together, it will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art that alternative connection means could be used and are contemplated within the scope of the invention. For example, clamps or other types of fasteners might be used.
Base plates 15 are securely attached to the ends of those truss components 10 which will form the ends of the support truss 4, allowing the support truss 4 to be firmly anchored to the ground, floor or wall. Preferably, the base plates 15 are welded to the ends of the truss components 10 which will form the end of the support truss 4. The base plates 15 are secured by securing anchor bolts (not shown) through the holes in the base plate (not shown) to the base surface, or, alternatively, a floor or wall, it being understood that a base surface implies the surface that the support trusses rests upon, including, but not limited to, a ground surface, a concrete pad, a wooden platform or the like. For example, the base surface upon which each of the support trusses 4 rest may be a concrete pad, wherein holes would be drilled into the concrete pad to receive the anchor bolts passed through the holes in the base plates 15. While anchor bolts are used in this embodiment as the foundation anchoring means, it will also be readily understood by persons skilled in the art that other foundation anchoring means might be employed as well and are contemplated within the scope of the invention.
In an alternative embodiment, the bottom of each of the support trusses, which are essentially, the base plates connected to the ends of the support trusses, can be mounted to a foundation or floor pad 16 (as seen in Figures SA and SB) or otherwise suitably anchored to securely and stably support the truss 4 and the covering fabric or other material 17 providing the outer skin of the facility and to provide additional structural integrity to the readily portable facility. In this embodiment, the base plates 15 are secured to the foundation or floor pad 16 by securing anchor bolts (not shown) through holes in the base plate (not shown) into the foundation or floor pad 16, which rests on a ground surface.
Referencing Figures SA and SB, to erect the readily portable facility 1 of the present invention, a number of completed support trusses 4 are laterally spaced on the readily portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16, the support trusses 4 are raised, and the base plates 15 are secured by securing the base plates 15 to anchor bolts (not shown) extending from the readily portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16 through holes in the base plate (not shown). While bolts are used in this embodiment as the foundation anchoring means, it will also be readily understood by persons skilled in the art that other foundation anchoring means might be employed as well and are contemplated within the scope of the invention. To provide additional support for the covering fabric or material 17 (as hereinafter described) which will cover the readily portable facility 1, horizontal support members 18 can be attached by conventional means between adjacent support trusses 4 at several locations along the perimeter of the support trusses 4. As noted previously, the height of the readily portable facility 1 can be increased by connecting together further truss components 10 to form the support truss 4, so that the interior height of the readily portable facility 1 is sufficient to permit the assembly of the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings therein. Conversely, removing truss components in forming the truss support will result in the interior height of the readily portable facility 1 being lowered.
A covering fabric or material 17 is then pulled over the now aligned support trusses 4 of the readily portable facility l and secured by ropes or cables (not shown) to the readily portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16 and secured by ropes or cables to the truss supports 4, as can be seen in Figures 6A and 6B. Generally, at least one opening (which is designated as reference numeral "19" in Figure 7), should be provided in the covering fabric or other material 17, preferably at each end of the portable facility 1, whereby building materials can be introduced into the readily portable facility 1, and where completed or substantially completed houses or buildings can be removed from the readily portable facility 1. Preferably however, two or more openings should be provided in the readily portable facility.
It is also understood that other means may be used to secure the covering fabric or material 17 over the support trusses 4 of the readily portable facility 1, and these could include, but are not limited to, clamps, fasteners, or the like. Preferably, a covering fabric 17 will be used to cover the readily portable facility 1, and will be of a light color having some translucent characteristics to permit a significant amount of natural light to permeate through the fabric, and thus help to further illuminate the working environment within the readily portable facility 1, whereby the internal lighting of the readily portable facility 1 can be greatly enhanced. In this manner, a naturally bright interior is created, and visibility of the working areas within the readily portable facility 1 can be vastly improved.
While Figures SA and SB show the readily portable facility 1 as being covered by a covering fabric material 17, it will be understood that other means could be used to cover the readily portable facility 1, and those are contemplated within the scope of the invention as well. These could include, but are not limited to, covering the support trusses 4of the readily portable facility 1 with, for example, sheets of metal, or wood or plastic with the addition of suitable cross supports.
It is a relatively simple and expedient process to disassemble and remove the readily portable facility 1 for transportation and relocation to another site. First, the ropes, cables or other fastening means holding the covering fabric or other material 17 over the support trusses 4 of the portable facility 1 are removed and the covering fabric or other material 17 is then removed. Next, the support trusses 4 of the readily portable facility 1 are taken down, whereby each of the support trusses 4 are removed from the readily portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16. Any horizontal support members 18 are also removed from their attachment between any of the support trusses 4. By utilizing this simple manner of construction, the readily portable facility 1 can be easily and quickly disassembled and then removed from the manufacturing site or installation location, ready for relocation, placement and quick erection at a new manufacturing site or installation location.
The manufacture of complete or substantially complete houses or buildings within the readily portable facility 1 can be accomplished by utilizing traditional stick building techniques or by using fully or partially automated processes, including one or more assembly production lines and/or one or more sub-assembly production lines for the manufacture of the segments or components houses or buildings, or by any other suitable manner known to persons skilled in the art.
When required, for example, building materials may be brought from material storage areas 3 and 5 to the production line or area 11, or, directly to the fabrication area 7, as shown in Figure 2, where they may then be used in the construction of the house or building at the fabrication area 7. It is understood that the production line or area 11 may simultaneously or sequentially be used for the manufacture of various different factory manufactured building components. By way of example only, it is conceivable that the production line or area would be used for constructing floors (or floor sections, or components of floor sections), and simultaneously or immediately thereafter for walls (or wall sections, or components of wall sections), and simultaneously or immediately thereafter for trusses (or for components of a roof section), it being understood that the production line or area may be utilized for the construction of a wide variety of combinations of factory manufactured building components in various different sequences, according to, amongst other things, the specific fabrication needs of the portable facility, and the available supply of building materials and labor.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the production line or area 11 can be adapted to produce a wide assortment of factory manufactured building components of significantly different, sizes, designs and/or customizations, as required, for later installation in the house or building. For example, the production line or area 11 may, when required, be used to firstly produce, for example, prefabricated floor panels which are then transported via transporter or forklift (not shown) for delivery and installation to the house or building being fabricated in the fabrication area 7. Next, or simultaneously, the production line or area 11 may then be used to manufacture an entirely different factory manufactured building component, for example, wall components, which are to be installed in the house or building being fabricated in the fabrication area 7. Next, or simultaneously, the production line or area 11 may then be used to build roof trusses for use and installation in the house, and so forth, the production line or area 11 of the present invention being adaptable to produce factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and/or customizations, on an "as required basis" or for pre-utilization storage at or near the readily portable facility. It is understood that factory manufactured building components which may be built on a production line or area 11 include, for example, floors, walls, roofs, trusses, gables, cabinets, cupboards, partitions, or parts of any of these components. In this manner, the production line or area 11 can be used to flexibly manufacture homes or buildings of significantly different sizes, designs and/or customizations within the readily portable facility 1.
As inferred in Figure 3, a completed or substantially completed factory manufactured building component can be placed on, for example, a transporter or forklift (not shown) for delivery from the production line or area 11 to the house or building being constructed in the fabrication area 7. Alternatively, the factory manufactured building components may be removed, upon completion or substantial completion, from the production line or area 11 for storage in storage areas 3, 5 for later delivery to the fabrication area 7 as required.
In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of production lines or areas, each of which are adaptable to produce factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and/or customizations, can be provided in the readily portable facility.
As referred to above, in the preferred embodiment, once the factory manufactured building components have been completed, or substantially completed, the factory manufactured building components may be placed on a transporter or forklift for delivery to the fabrication area 7 or to storage for subsequent utilization. It is understood that a transporter or forklift may alternatively take 1 S one of many different configurations including one or more carts, wagons, trailers, or other suitable transport devices known to persons skilled in the art, provided that they are suitably adapted for transporting the finished or substantially completed factory manufactured building components from the production line or area 11 to the fabrication area 7, and is generally capable of efficiently handling and transporting the factory manufactured building components to its destination, it being understood that the transporter or forklift may be self propelled or may be propelled by some other means, for example a truck or tractor or similar device or (where available) an overhead crane.
Once the factory manufactured building components arrive at the fabrication area 7, further preparation of the factory manufactured building components may be necessary, such as, for example, specific modifications to the factory manufactured building components may be required which were not contemplated when the factory manufactured building components were at the production line or area 11, or any other necessary on-site adjustments or alterations to the factory manufactured building components during the installation process. It is understood that in the fabrication area 7, the factory manufactured building components may be incorporated into the house being constructed therein.
It is also understood that the readily portable facility 1 may contain more than one building sites within the fabrication area 7 where houses are being constructed, it being understood that in other embodiments the readily portable facility may contain only one building site within a fabrication area 7, while in other embodiments two, or more than two building sites may be utilized.
A house or building which is completed or substantially completed at the readily portable facility may then be moved from the readily portable facility to the subdivision or installation location for installation on footings or a foundation located therein.
In an alternative embodiment, a significant segment, section or portion of a house (or, one or more segments of a house) or building can be constructed in a readily portable facility of the present invention, in which the significant segment, section or portion of the house (or, one or more segments of a house) or building can thereafter be combined with one or more other similarly constructed significant segments, sections or portions of a house or building at the installation location or foundation site to form a complete or substantially complete house or building, the segments, sections or portions each representing a significant volumetric aspect of the completed house or building, and typically greater than 10% of the volume of the completed house or building.
The segment or segments can be transported from the readily portable facility to the installation location or foundation site by way of a transporter, such as a truck trailer or similar device known to a person skilled in the art, and thereafter unloaded therefrom and installed at the installation location or foundation site. It is also understood that the segments may be moved to or from the transporter, or at the installation location by crane or by other devices known to a person skilled in the art.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a compact version of the readily portable facility of the present invention can be erected and placed so as to directly cover one or more foundation sites in the subdivision or other location. In this manner, the house or building can be assembled within the readily portable facility directly upon the foundation site, utilizing traditional stick building techniques or may be assembled from building components or pre-manufactured building components. In this manner, numerous readily portable facilities can be used in a subdivision at any time, upon multiple foundation sites. In this embodiment, the readily portable facility of the present invention can be erected and placed upon, for example, multiple tracked vehicles or other similar devices to permit the movement of the facility from foundation to foundation. Once the house or building has been completed or substantially completed, the house or building can be transferred from the transporter onto the foundation site.
In this embodiment, the readily portable facility will have at least two openings, preferably at either end of the facility, whereby materials can be introduced and the completed or substantially completed house or building can be removed.
It is also understood that the method of the present invention may be utilized to construct dwellings in various formats, including, but not limited to, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, row houses, semi-detached houses and singles, and may be utilized in the construction of office, retail and other commercial buildings.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments.
However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention provides an improved readily portable facility and method for manufacturing at least one house or other building in a readily portable facility for later transportation and installation of the house or other building to a foundation site. When the house or building has been removed from the readily portable facility and placed at the installation location, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from its location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacturing site, and easily and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of further houses or buildings at a new installation location, the new manufacturing site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the readily portable facility of the present invention can be utilized to assemble houses or buildings for placement on foundation sites in smaller subdivision sites or other locations, whereby, due to the smaller size of the subdivision site or other location, the readily portable facility of the present invention improves the cost-effectiveness and capital efficiency by using a smaller, less expensive and easy to erect facility such as the readily portable facility in the house manufacturing process. Further, where the type of homes which are to be constructed are of a variety requiring custom construction methods, the readily portable facility of the present invention additionally improves the cost-effectiveness and capital efficiency of the building process.
The present invention thus allows for an improved method of manufacturing a house in a portable facility which is cost-effective, efficient and reliable, and which possesses sufficient flexibility to manufacture houses of significantly different sizes, designs and/or customizations, utilizing stick building techniques, assembly line techniques, subassembly line techniques, or a combination of these techniques, which houses can then be transported to the installation site.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a simplified graphical representation in plan view form of one embodiment of the interior of a readily portable facility , the readily portable facility being shown adjacent to the subdivision being built;
Figure 2 is a simplified graphical representation of a plan view of the interior of an embodiment of a readily portable facility of the present invention, illustrating a production line and a fabrication area where the houses or buildings may be constructed;
Figure 3 is a simplified graphical representation of a plan view of a further embodiment of a readily portable facility of the present invention, illustrating a production line and a fabrication area;
Figures 4A and 4B illustrate two alternative embodiments of support truss components for supporting the walls and roof of the readily portable facility and Figures 4C
and 4D illustrate these embodiments in exploded views, respectively;
Figures SA and SB are perspective views illustrating two alternative embodiments of the uncovered support trusses illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B respectively, arranged above the floor of the facility for installation of a covering fabric or material;
Figure 6A and 6B illustrate perspective views of alternative embodiments of the readily portable facility of the present invention, showing the covering fabric or material in place over the support trusses shown in Figures SA and SB respectively; and Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the readily portable facility of the present invention, showing an entrance at one end of the readily portable facility.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to Figure 1, in the preferred embodiment, a readily portable house manufacturing facility 1 is established within, or in close proximity to, a subdivision 2 which is being built. The proximity of the readily portable facility 1 to the subdivision 2 beneficially allows for the manufacture of complete or substantially complete houses or buildings within the readily portable facility 1, and allows for the subsequent delivery of the house to a foundation site in the subdivision 2, with reduced or entirely eliminated likelihood of interference during the delivery of the house from the readily portable facility 1 to its foundation in the subdivision 2 as a result of bridges, wires, narrow roads or other impediments and with reduced or entirely eliminated need to utilize public access roads and highways (that is, roads and highways to which the public generally has access) during such transport of the house.
In the preferred embodiment, the readily portable facility 1 is designed to be a selectively highly mobile facility, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings have been placed at the installation location or subdivision 2, the readily portable facility 1 can be quickly disassembled, packaged for transport, and removed from its location closely proximate to the subdivision 2, and thereafter transported to a new site, where it may be quickly erected and re-utilized in the manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or other buildings at a new subdivision or other installation location. In doing so, the readily portable facility 1 is readily transportable, repositionable, and reusable as a facility for the manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or buildings within, or in close proximity to, the new subdivision or other installation location.
In selecting the height of a readily portable facility, it is understood that the height in a portion of the readily portable facility 1 must be sufficient to enable the construction, as more fully described herein, of completed or substantially completed houses or buildings therein, it being understood that where multi-story houses are being constructed, or where overhead cranes or other equipment which will require additional height are to be utilized, the height selected for the readily portable facility would take into account these criteria.
Having regard to Figures 4A, 4B, SA, and SB, which illustrate the support trusses 4 which may be utilized in two embodiments of the present invention, Figures 4A and SA
illustrate a semi-circular support truss system, while Figures 4B and SB illustrate an angular support truss system, it being understood that a worker skilled in the art could select or modify the truss support system to be utilized in accordance with the physical needs of the facility, the environmental loads expected to be placed on the facility and other factors which are known to persons skilled in the art.
Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a perspective view of two embodiments of the facility, which, in the preferred embodiment has a sheet of covering fabric or other material securely mounted to the support trusses 4, to provide a weather-tight structure in which to fabricate houses or other buildings.
The readily portable facility 1, in the embodiments as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, are constructed using, for example, support trusses 4 such as those illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B
respectively. As illustrated in Figure 4A, in the preferred embodiment, each of the support trusses 4 has an inner support member 6 and an outer support member 9, which in the preferred embodiment are formed from steel tubing of circular cross-section, it being understood that alternative materials and alternative configurations for these members which are known to persons skilled in the art, may alternatively be utilized. In the preferred embodiment, the inner support member 6 is securely connected, and in the preferred embodiment, welded to outer support member 9 utilizing steel truss webbing 8, positioned between the inner support member 6 and the outer support member 9, which provides a truss component 10 having significant load bearing characteristics with relatively light weight.
Truss webbing 8 in the preferred embodiment is a steel tube of circular cross section, it being understood that tubing or channel with various different cross-sections could also be utilized. It is also understood that the inner and outer support members (6,9), and the truss webbing 8 could be constructed from aluminum of suitable thickness and strength, from laminated wood, or from other materials known to persons skilled in the art.
To provide additional ease in relation to the transport, assembly and disassembly of the support trusses 4, in the preferred embodiment, each of the support trusses 4 are formed from truss components 10, which, when connected together, provide a complete support truss 4. As illustrated in Figures 4C and 4D, the preferred embodiment of the support trusses 4 illustrated in Figure 4A and 4B are shown in exploded view. The coupling plates 12 which are securely attached to the truss components 10 permit the truss components 10 to be securely connected together to form a complete support truss 4. As is demonstrated in Figures 4A and 4B, a support truss 4 is made up of a plurality of truss components 10 in end to end alignment with each other. In the preferred embodiment, the truss components 10 are joined by bolts 13 through coupling bolt holes 14 in coupling plates 12, thus forming the support truss 4. While bolts and mating holes are shown in this embodiment as the manner in which to connect the truss components 10 together, it will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art that alternative connection means could be used and are contemplated within the scope of the invention. For example, clamps or other types of fasteners might be used.
Base plates 15 are securely attached to the ends of those truss components 10 which will form the ends of the support truss 4, allowing the support truss 4 to be firmly anchored to the ground, floor or wall. Preferably, the base plates 15 are welded to the ends of the truss components 10 which will form the end of the support truss 4. The base plates 15 are secured by securing anchor bolts (not shown) through the holes in the base plate (not shown) to the base surface, or, alternatively, a floor or wall, it being understood that a base surface implies the surface that the support trusses rests upon, including, but not limited to, a ground surface, a concrete pad, a wooden platform or the like. For example, the base surface upon which each of the support trusses 4 rest may be a concrete pad, wherein holes would be drilled into the concrete pad to receive the anchor bolts passed through the holes in the base plates 15. While anchor bolts are used in this embodiment as the foundation anchoring means, it will also be readily understood by persons skilled in the art that other foundation anchoring means might be employed as well and are contemplated within the scope of the invention.
In an alternative embodiment, the bottom of each of the support trusses, which are essentially, the base plates connected to the ends of the support trusses, can be mounted to a foundation or floor pad 16 (as seen in Figures SA and SB) or otherwise suitably anchored to securely and stably support the truss 4 and the covering fabric or other material 17 providing the outer skin of the facility and to provide additional structural integrity to the readily portable facility. In this embodiment, the base plates 15 are secured to the foundation or floor pad 16 by securing anchor bolts (not shown) through holes in the base plate (not shown) into the foundation or floor pad 16, which rests on a ground surface.
Referencing Figures SA and SB, to erect the readily portable facility 1 of the present invention, a number of completed support trusses 4 are laterally spaced on the readily portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16, the support trusses 4 are raised, and the base plates 15 are secured by securing the base plates 15 to anchor bolts (not shown) extending from the readily portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16 through holes in the base plate (not shown). While bolts are used in this embodiment as the foundation anchoring means, it will also be readily understood by persons skilled in the art that other foundation anchoring means might be employed as well and are contemplated within the scope of the invention. To provide additional support for the covering fabric or material 17 (as hereinafter described) which will cover the readily portable facility 1, horizontal support members 18 can be attached by conventional means between adjacent support trusses 4 at several locations along the perimeter of the support trusses 4. As noted previously, the height of the readily portable facility 1 can be increased by connecting together further truss components 10 to form the support truss 4, so that the interior height of the readily portable facility 1 is sufficient to permit the assembly of the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings therein. Conversely, removing truss components in forming the truss support will result in the interior height of the readily portable facility 1 being lowered.
A covering fabric or material 17 is then pulled over the now aligned support trusses 4 of the readily portable facility l and secured by ropes or cables (not shown) to the readily portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16 and secured by ropes or cables to the truss supports 4, as can be seen in Figures 6A and 6B. Generally, at least one opening (which is designated as reference numeral "19" in Figure 7), should be provided in the covering fabric or other material 17, preferably at each end of the portable facility 1, whereby building materials can be introduced into the readily portable facility 1, and where completed or substantially completed houses or buildings can be removed from the readily portable facility 1. Preferably however, two or more openings should be provided in the readily portable facility.
It is also understood that other means may be used to secure the covering fabric or material 17 over the support trusses 4 of the readily portable facility 1, and these could include, but are not limited to, clamps, fasteners, or the like. Preferably, a covering fabric 17 will be used to cover the readily portable facility 1, and will be of a light color having some translucent characteristics to permit a significant amount of natural light to permeate through the fabric, and thus help to further illuminate the working environment within the readily portable facility 1, whereby the internal lighting of the readily portable facility 1 can be greatly enhanced. In this manner, a naturally bright interior is created, and visibility of the working areas within the readily portable facility 1 can be vastly improved.
While Figures SA and SB show the readily portable facility 1 as being covered by a covering fabric material 17, it will be understood that other means could be used to cover the readily portable facility 1, and those are contemplated within the scope of the invention as well. These could include, but are not limited to, covering the support trusses 4of the readily portable facility 1 with, for example, sheets of metal, or wood or plastic with the addition of suitable cross supports.
It is a relatively simple and expedient process to disassemble and remove the readily portable facility 1 for transportation and relocation to another site. First, the ropes, cables or other fastening means holding the covering fabric or other material 17 over the support trusses 4 of the portable facility 1 are removed and the covering fabric or other material 17 is then removed. Next, the support trusses 4 of the readily portable facility 1 are taken down, whereby each of the support trusses 4 are removed from the readily portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16. Any horizontal support members 18 are also removed from their attachment between any of the support trusses 4. By utilizing this simple manner of construction, the readily portable facility 1 can be easily and quickly disassembled and then removed from the manufacturing site or installation location, ready for relocation, placement and quick erection at a new manufacturing site or installation location.
The manufacture of complete or substantially complete houses or buildings within the readily portable facility 1 can be accomplished by utilizing traditional stick building techniques or by using fully or partially automated processes, including one or more assembly production lines and/or one or more sub-assembly production lines for the manufacture of the segments or components houses or buildings, or by any other suitable manner known to persons skilled in the art.
When required, for example, building materials may be brought from material storage areas 3 and 5 to the production line or area 11, or, directly to the fabrication area 7, as shown in Figure 2, where they may then be used in the construction of the house or building at the fabrication area 7. It is understood that the production line or area 11 may simultaneously or sequentially be used for the manufacture of various different factory manufactured building components. By way of example only, it is conceivable that the production line or area would be used for constructing floors (or floor sections, or components of floor sections), and simultaneously or immediately thereafter for walls (or wall sections, or components of wall sections), and simultaneously or immediately thereafter for trusses (or for components of a roof section), it being understood that the production line or area may be utilized for the construction of a wide variety of combinations of factory manufactured building components in various different sequences, according to, amongst other things, the specific fabrication needs of the portable facility, and the available supply of building materials and labor.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the production line or area 11 can be adapted to produce a wide assortment of factory manufactured building components of significantly different, sizes, designs and/or customizations, as required, for later installation in the house or building. For example, the production line or area 11 may, when required, be used to firstly produce, for example, prefabricated floor panels which are then transported via transporter or forklift (not shown) for delivery and installation to the house or building being fabricated in the fabrication area 7. Next, or simultaneously, the production line or area 11 may then be used to manufacture an entirely different factory manufactured building component, for example, wall components, which are to be installed in the house or building being fabricated in the fabrication area 7. Next, or simultaneously, the production line or area 11 may then be used to build roof trusses for use and installation in the house, and so forth, the production line or area 11 of the present invention being adaptable to produce factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and/or customizations, on an "as required basis" or for pre-utilization storage at or near the readily portable facility. It is understood that factory manufactured building components which may be built on a production line or area 11 include, for example, floors, walls, roofs, trusses, gables, cabinets, cupboards, partitions, or parts of any of these components. In this manner, the production line or area 11 can be used to flexibly manufacture homes or buildings of significantly different sizes, designs and/or customizations within the readily portable facility 1.
As inferred in Figure 3, a completed or substantially completed factory manufactured building component can be placed on, for example, a transporter or forklift (not shown) for delivery from the production line or area 11 to the house or building being constructed in the fabrication area 7. Alternatively, the factory manufactured building components may be removed, upon completion or substantial completion, from the production line or area 11 for storage in storage areas 3, 5 for later delivery to the fabrication area 7 as required.
In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of production lines or areas, each of which are adaptable to produce factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and/or customizations, can be provided in the readily portable facility.
As referred to above, in the preferred embodiment, once the factory manufactured building components have been completed, or substantially completed, the factory manufactured building components may be placed on a transporter or forklift for delivery to the fabrication area 7 or to storage for subsequent utilization. It is understood that a transporter or forklift may alternatively take 1 S one of many different configurations including one or more carts, wagons, trailers, or other suitable transport devices known to persons skilled in the art, provided that they are suitably adapted for transporting the finished or substantially completed factory manufactured building components from the production line or area 11 to the fabrication area 7, and is generally capable of efficiently handling and transporting the factory manufactured building components to its destination, it being understood that the transporter or forklift may be self propelled or may be propelled by some other means, for example a truck or tractor or similar device or (where available) an overhead crane.
Once the factory manufactured building components arrive at the fabrication area 7, further preparation of the factory manufactured building components may be necessary, such as, for example, specific modifications to the factory manufactured building components may be required which were not contemplated when the factory manufactured building components were at the production line or area 11, or any other necessary on-site adjustments or alterations to the factory manufactured building components during the installation process. It is understood that in the fabrication area 7, the factory manufactured building components may be incorporated into the house being constructed therein.
It is also understood that the readily portable facility 1 may contain more than one building sites within the fabrication area 7 where houses are being constructed, it being understood that in other embodiments the readily portable facility may contain only one building site within a fabrication area 7, while in other embodiments two, or more than two building sites may be utilized.
A house or building which is completed or substantially completed at the readily portable facility may then be moved from the readily portable facility to the subdivision or installation location for installation on footings or a foundation located therein.
In an alternative embodiment, a significant segment, section or portion of a house (or, one or more segments of a house) or building can be constructed in a readily portable facility of the present invention, in which the significant segment, section or portion of the house (or, one or more segments of a house) or building can thereafter be combined with one or more other similarly constructed significant segments, sections or portions of a house or building at the installation location or foundation site to form a complete or substantially complete house or building, the segments, sections or portions each representing a significant volumetric aspect of the completed house or building, and typically greater than 10% of the volume of the completed house or building.
The segment or segments can be transported from the readily portable facility to the installation location or foundation site by way of a transporter, such as a truck trailer or similar device known to a person skilled in the art, and thereafter unloaded therefrom and installed at the installation location or foundation site. It is also understood that the segments may be moved to or from the transporter, or at the installation location by crane or by other devices known to a person skilled in the art.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a compact version of the readily portable facility of the present invention can be erected and placed so as to directly cover one or more foundation sites in the subdivision or other location. In this manner, the house or building can be assembled within the readily portable facility directly upon the foundation site, utilizing traditional stick building techniques or may be assembled from building components or pre-manufactured building components. In this manner, numerous readily portable facilities can be used in a subdivision at any time, upon multiple foundation sites. In this embodiment, the readily portable facility of the present invention can be erected and placed upon, for example, multiple tracked vehicles or other similar devices to permit the movement of the facility from foundation to foundation. Once the house or building has been completed or substantially completed, the house or building can be transferred from the transporter onto the foundation site.
In this embodiment, the readily portable facility will have at least two openings, preferably at either end of the facility, whereby materials can be introduced and the completed or substantially completed house or building can be removed.
It is also understood that the method of the present invention may be utilized to construct dwellings in various formats, including, but not limited to, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, row houses, semi-detached houses and singles, and may be utilized in the construction of office, retail and other commercial buildings.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments.
However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention provides an improved readily portable facility and method for manufacturing at least one house or other building in a readily portable facility for later transportation and installation of the house or other building to a foundation site. When the house or building has been removed from the readily portable facility and placed at the installation location, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from its location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacturing site, and easily and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of further houses or buildings at a new installation location, the new manufacturing site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
Claims (43)
1. A readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building, comprising:
a manufacturing site located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
a support framework positioned on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of upright support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced;
a sheet of material secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework;
anchoring means for anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a base surface;
and a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the product fabrication area being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building within the product fabrication area utilizing building materials, characterized in that the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the product fabrication area and placed at the installation location, whereby the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
a manufacturing site located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
a support framework positioned on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of upright support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced;
a sheet of material secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework;
anchoring means for anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a base surface;
and a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the product fabrication area being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building within the product fabrication area utilizing building materials, characterized in that the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the product fabrication area and placed at the installation location, whereby the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
2. A readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building for later placement at an installation location in a subdivision comprising:
a manufacturing site located closely proximate to the installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
a support framework positioned on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of upright support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced;
a sheet of material secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework;
anchoring means for anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a base surface;
a fabrication area located in the manufacturing site, the fabrication area being used for converting house building materials into factory manufactured building components; and transporting means for transferring the completed or substantially completed house from the fabrication area for placement at the installation location whereby, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been removed from the fabrication area, the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the manufacturing site closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
a manufacturing site located closely proximate to the installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
a support framework positioned on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of upright support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced;
a sheet of material secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework;
anchoring means for anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a base surface;
a fabrication area located in the manufacturing site, the fabrication area being used for converting house building materials into factory manufactured building components; and transporting means for transferring the completed or substantially completed house from the fabrication area for placement at the installation location whereby, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been removed from the fabrication area, the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the manufacturing site closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
3. The readily portable facility of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the plurality of support trusses each further comprise a plurality of truss components connected together in end to end alignment.
4. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sheet of material covers a whole surface of the support framework.
5. The readily portable facility of claim 3, characterized in that the plurality of support trusses are secured together by horizontal support members which extending between adjacent truss components of each of the support trusses.
6. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the readily portable facility is of an interior height sufficiently high enough to assemble the completed or substantially completed house or building.
7. The readily portable facility of claim 2, characterized in that the fabrication area is adaptable to construct the factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and customizations.
8. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a plurality of fabrication areas can be utilized in the readily portable facility.
9. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a plurality of completed or substantially completed houses or buildings can be simultaneously constructed at one time in the readily portable facility.
10. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a production line or area can be used to construct the factory manufactured building components for the house or building of significantly different sizes, designs and customizations.
11. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a plurality of production lines or areas can be utilized in the readily portable facility.
12. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that when the building materials are not immediately required, the building materials are stored in a storage area in the readily portable facility.
13. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the building materials can be stored in a plurality of storage areas in the readily portable facility.
14. The portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that each of the plurality of completed or substantially completed houses manufactured in the readily portable facility will each utilize a production line or area to construct the factory manufactured building components.
15. The readily portable facility of claim 3, characterized in that each of the plurality of truss components further comprises:
a substantially hollow upper member and a substantially hollow lower member;
a substantially continuous hollow trussing web, bent so as to alternately contact a lower surface of the upper member and an upper surface of the lower member at a number of contact points, at which contact points the trussing web is attached to the respective member;
and a coupling means at each end of each of the plurality of truss components which is to be connected together to another of the plurality of truss components, the coupling means being attached to both the upper member and the lower member; characterized in that the coupling means of one of the truss components is connected to the coupling means of an adjacent truss section such that their respective upper members are in alignment.
a substantially hollow upper member and a substantially hollow lower member;
a substantially continuous hollow trussing web, bent so as to alternately contact a lower surface of the upper member and an upper surface of the lower member at a number of contact points, at which contact points the trussing web is attached to the respective member;
and a coupling means at each end of each of the plurality of truss components which is to be connected together to another of the plurality of truss components, the coupling means being attached to both the upper member and the lower member; characterized in that the coupling means of one of the truss components is connected to the coupling means of an adjacent truss section such that their respective upper members are in alignment.
16 The readily portable facility of claim 2, characterized in that the readily portable facility is disassembled and removed from the manufacturing site closely proximate to the installation location upon completion of the subdivision.
17. The readily portable facility of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a base plate is connected to the bottom ends of each of the plurality of support trusses, the base plates being secured to the base surface by the anchoring means.
18. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the anchoring means are bolts.
19. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that each of the plurality of support trusses are positioned on and secured to a foundation or floor pad, the foundation or floor pad being placed upon the base surface.
20. A method for manufacturing completed or substantially completed houses or buildings, comprising the steps of:
manufacturing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings within a readily portable facility located closely proximate to an installation location for the houses or buildings;
transporting the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings to the installation location; and installing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings at the installation location, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings have been removed from the readily portable facility for placement at the installation location, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the installation location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected to begin manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or buildings at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
manufacturing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings within a readily portable facility located closely proximate to an installation location for the houses or buildings;
transporting the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings to the installation location; and installing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings at the installation location, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings have been removed from the readily portable facility for placement at the installation location, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the installation location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected to begin manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or buildings at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
21. A method for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building within a readily portable facility, comprising the steps of:
receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility, the readily portable facility being located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building in a product fabrication area within the readily portable facility utilizing the building materials;
receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility, the readily portable facility being located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building in a product fabrication area within the readily portable facility utilizing the building materials;
22 transporting the completed or substantially completed house or building from the product fabrication area within the readily portable facility to the installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building; and installing the completed or substantially completed house or building at the installation location, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been placed at the installation location, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and transported from the location closely proximate to the installation location to a new manufacture site, whereby the readily portable facility may then be quickly erected to begin manufacture of an additional completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
22. A method for manufacturing at least one house or building at a readily portable facility for later transportation to and installation at a foundation site utilizing a transporter, the at least one house or building including factory manufactured building components which are each installed separately therein to form a completed or substantially completed house or building, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility, the readily portable facility being located closely proximate to an installation location for the at least one house or building;
providing at least one production line or area where the house building materials can be received;
transferring at least some of the house building materials to the at least one production line or area;
constructing at least some of the house building materials into the factory manufactured building components on the at least one production line or area in the readily portable
22. A method for manufacturing at least one house or building at a readily portable facility for later transportation to and installation at a foundation site utilizing a transporter, the at least one house or building including factory manufactured building components which are each installed separately therein to form a completed or substantially completed house or building, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility, the readily portable facility being located closely proximate to an installation location for the at least one house or building;
providing at least one production line or area where the house building materials can be received;
transferring at least some of the house building materials to the at least one production line or area;
constructing at least some of the house building materials into the factory manufactured building components on the at least one production line or area in the readily portable
23 facility;
transporting the constructed factory manufactured building components from the at least one production line or area to a product fabrication area within the readily portable facility;
installing the factory manufactured building components constructed at the at least one production line or area in the at least one house or building, so as to form the completed or substantially completed house or building in the product fabrication area;
utilizing the transporter to transport the completed or substantially completed house or building from the product fabrication area to the foundation site for installation; and installing the completed or substantially completed house or building at the foundation site, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been placed at the foundation site, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and transported from the location closely proximate to the installation location to a new manufacture site, whereby the portable facility can then be quickly erected to begin manufacture of an additional completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
23. The method of claim 21 or claim 22, characterized in that the step of receiving house building materials at the portable facility further comprises, when the house building materials are not immediately required, storing the house building materials in a storage area in the readily portable facility.
transporting the constructed factory manufactured building components from the at least one production line or area to a product fabrication area within the readily portable facility;
installing the factory manufactured building components constructed at the at least one production line or area in the at least one house or building, so as to form the completed or substantially completed house or building in the product fabrication area;
utilizing the transporter to transport the completed or substantially completed house or building from the product fabrication area to the foundation site for installation; and installing the completed or substantially completed house or building at the foundation site, characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been placed at the foundation site, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and transported from the location closely proximate to the installation location to a new manufacture site, whereby the portable facility can then be quickly erected to begin manufacture of an additional completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
23. The method of claim 21 or claim 22, characterized in that the step of receiving house building materials at the portable facility further comprises, when the house building materials are not immediately required, storing the house building materials in a storage area in the readily portable facility.
24. The method of claim 21 or claim 22, characterized in that the step of receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility further comprises, when the house building materials are not immediately required, storing the house building materials at a storage area proximate to the readily portable facility.
25. The method of claim 23 or claim 24, characterized in that, when the house building materials are required, the house building materials are transferred from the storage area to the production line or area for further refinement of the house building materials.
26. The method of claim 23 or claim 24, characterized in that, when the house building materials are required, the house building materials are transferred from the storage area to the product fabrication area.
27. The method of claim 26, characterized in that, when the factory manufactured building components have been constructed at the production line or area, the factory manufactured building components can be transferred to and stored in the storage area when the house building materials are not immediately required.
28. The method of any one of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that the house building materials are transferred to the product finishing area by the transporter.
29. The method of any one of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that the house building materials can be stored in a plurality of storage areas in the readily portable facility.
30. The method of any one of claims 22 to 29, characterized in that the step of constructing the factory manufactured building components at the least one production line or area further comprises the at least one production line or area being adapted to construct the factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and customizations in varying sequences.
31. The method of any one of claims 22 to 30, characterized in that a plurality of production lines or areas can be utilized in the readily portable facility.
32. The method of claim 31, characterized in that the plurality of production lines or areas can be used to construct the at least some of the house building materials into the factory manufactured building components.
33. The method of claim 22, characterized in that each house or building manufactured in the readily portable facility will each utilize a corresponding production line or area to construct the factory manufactured building components.
34. The method of any one of claims 21 to 33, characterized in that more than one house or building can be constructed in the readily portable facility at one time.
35. The method of claim 22, characterized in that the step of constructing the at least some of the house building materials into the factory manufactured building components at the production line or area for later installation in the at least one house or building further comprises:
a) utilizing the at least one production line or area to construct the factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and customizations;
b) transferring the factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and customizations to another production line or area to continue constructing the factory manufactured building components; and c) transporting the constructed factory manufactured building components from the another production line or area to the product fabrication area.
a) utilizing the at least one production line or area to construct the factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and customizations;
b) transferring the factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes, designs and customizations to another production line or area to continue constructing the factory manufactured building components; and c) transporting the constructed factory manufactured building components from the another production line or area to the product fabrication area.
36. The method of any one of claims 22 to 35, characterized in that the transporter is self-propelled.
37. The method of any one of claims 22 to 35, characterized in that the step of installing the factory manufactured building components in the at least one house or building further comprises installing, at the installation location for the house or building, at least one factory manufactured building component of the house or building with at least one other factory manufactured building component of the house or building so as to form the completed or substantially completed house or building, the at least one other factory manufactured building component being pre-positioned at the installation location.
38. Method of using a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building, comprising:
selecting a manufacturing site located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
positioning a support framework on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced;
covering at least a portion of the support framework with a sheet of covering material, the securing material being secured to the support framework;
anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a ground surface; and positioning a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the product fabrication area being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building within the product fabrication area utilizing building materials, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been completed, the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the product fabrication area and placed at the installation location, whereby the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
selecting a manufacturing site located closely proximate to an installation location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
positioning a support framework on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a plurality of support trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced;
covering at least a portion of the support framework with a sheet of covering material, the securing material being secured to the support framework;
anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a ground surface; and positioning a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the product fabrication area being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or building within the product fabrication area utilizing building materials, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been completed, the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the product fabrication area and placed at the installation location, whereby the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the location closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
39. The method of claim 38, characterized in that each of the plurality of support trusses are comprised of a plurality of components connected together in end to end alignment.
40. The method of claim 39, characterized in that each of the plurality of support trusses are secured together by horizontal support members extending between adjacent truss components of each of the support trusses.
41. Use of a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building at a manufacturing site closely proximate to an installation location, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been completed, the completed or substantially completed house or building is removed from the readily portable facility and placed at the installation location, whereby the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the manufacturing site closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacturing site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed house or building at a new installation location, the new manufacturing site being closely proximate to the new installation location.
42. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that at least one opening is provided in the sheet of material secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework, through which materials can be introduced into the readily portable facility to construct the house or building and whereby the completed or substantially completed house or building can exit through to be transported to the installation location.
43. The readily portable facility of any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the readily portable facility is placed directly upon the installation location.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2469429 CA2469429A1 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2004-06-01 | Readily portable facility for the manufacture of houses or other buildings |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2469429 CA2469429A1 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2004-06-01 | Readily portable facility for the manufacture of houses or other buildings |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2469429A1 true CA2469429A1 (en) | 2005-12-01 |
Family
ID=35452295
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2469429 Abandoned CA2469429A1 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2004-06-01 | Readily portable facility for the manufacture of houses or other buildings |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2469429A1 (en) |
-
2004
- 2004-06-01 CA CA 2469429 patent/CA2469429A1/en not_active Abandoned
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