EP0015984A1

EP0015984A1 - Prefabricated building for storage or the like

Info

Publication number: EP0015984A1
Application number: EP19790900497
Authority: EP
Inventors: Francis Lloyd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-23
Filing date: 1979-12-17
Publication date: 1980-10-01
Also published as: WO1979001107A1; GB1569750A

Abstract

Un batiment prefabrique demontable, par exemple pour l'emmagasinage, possede un toit (11) supporte par au moins deux modules de support (12) comprenant une pluralite de montants (13) relies les uns aux autres par des entretoises horizontales (14) dans une structure tri-dimensionnelle. Les extremites superieures des montants sont pourvues de brides qui servent a fixer de maniere amovible des elements de support pour le toit. Un revetement approprie (32) peut etre fixe sur les faces exterieures des modules de support pour former des parois externes pour le batiment.A dismountable prefabricated building, for example for storage, has a roof (11) supported by at least two support modules (12) comprising a plurality of uprights (13) connected to each other by horizontal spacers (14) in a three-dimensional structure. The upper ends of the uprights are provided with flanges which are used to removably fix support elements for the roof. A suitable covering (32) can be fixed on the external faces of the support modules to form external walls for the building.

Description

TITLE

Prefabricated Building for Storage or the like

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a demountable prefabricated building incorporating novel roof support modules which also serve to support storage racks or shelves in the building.

BACKGROUND ART

It is well known that on all manufacturing sites a portion of the site must be used as a storage area for the raw materials or components used in the manufacturing process. The allocation of a large portion of the site for storage limits the area which can actually be used for the manufacturing process and all manufacturers seek to restrict the space used for the storage of raw materials and components to a minimum.. Generally the storage area takes the form of a warehouse in which the materials are protected from damage by extreme weather conditions although in some manufacturing industries the raw materials can be left in the open. Where it is essential to keep the stored materials under cover the warehouse represents a fixed part of the manu¬ facturing site which can only be used for storage. If a manufacturer should wish to expand the production area into the storage area it is necessary to remove a portion of the existing warehouse. This is of course an extremely expensive procedure.

A typical conventional storage, building is shown in the U.K. Patent Specification No.1406449 and comprises several solid partitions made up of frameworks of horizontal and vertical rods supporting storage racks or shelves. However, the partitions include concrete walls and the upper, ends of the vertical rods are embedded in a concrete roof so that it is not feasible for the building to be dismantled and moved to a different location. U.K. Patent Speci ication No.1173520 shows how a field stores dump can be constructed from cubic stores containers which can be stacked or linked together by means of mating metal loops. While such units are quite versatile for example for military use, they would be of limited use for industrial purposes.

OMPI WIPO DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a demountable prefabricated building comprising at least two support modules supporting a roof extending between

5 them, characterized in that each said support module (12) comprises a plurality of uprights (13) connected to one another by horizontal struts (14) in a three dimensional structure, the upper ends of the uprights being provided with flanges (20) to which are releasably

10 secured supporting elements (25,27) for the roof (11) and at least some of said horizontal struts (18) also serving to support storage racks (34) or shelves.

The building can be made up of any number of modules preferably arranged in rectangular formation.

15. The modules are themselves preferably rectangular in plan view, and those supporting outer edges of the roof can be provided with cladding on their outer sides to form walls for the building.

20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building for storing materials,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a primary roof support module, 25 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a roof support link module, Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing a roof supported on roof support modules,

Figure 5 is a portion of an alternative roof, support module, and Figures 6 and 7 are elevations, each showing a portion of a roof and the associated roof support module.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a warehouse for storing materials comprising a roof 11 supported on rows 12 formed of alternate primary and link roof support modules.

Each primary roof support module, as shown in Figure 2, consists of six vertical columns 13 interconnected- by horizontal steel angle girders 14. The module is reinforced by diagonal steel angle girders 15, 16, extending between the columns 13 on one side of the module and between the columns 13 at each end of the module. The top of each coluinn 13 is provided with a rafter connection 20 by which the module is connected to rafters in the roof 11. Each roof support link module, as shown in Figure 3, comprises two vertical columns 19 each provided at their top with a rafter connection 20. The vertical columns 19 are interconnected by a series of steel angle girders 21 and horizontal girders 22 extends from either side of the vertical columns 19 for connection at their ends to a primary roof support module. The connection of the link module to the primary module is achieved by means of a series of cleats 28 which connect to the horizontal angle girders 21 on the link module.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 4 the roof 11 of the warehouse has a central ridge 23 with ridge rafters 24 on either side. Support units 25,27 of suitable size and shape rest on the horizontal flanges 20 and are bolted to them. These units in turn support the rafters 24. The connection of the ridge rafters 24 to a rafter connection 20 of a roof support module is shown in Figure 6. In the construction of large warehouses it is necessary to arrange two rows of roof support modules back to back between the outer wall of the warehouse ' and the central ridge. In this case, as shown in Figure 7, valley rafters 31 which connect to form a valley gutter 32 are used, the valley gutter 32 being connected to the rafter connections 20 of the roof support modules. The roofing rafters are covered with a suitable form of cladding, for example Perspex Nylon (Registered Trade Mark) sheet. As can be seen in Figure 1 the rows 12 of roof support modules may be used to form the outer walls of the

B _ R E4 £/- _ OMPI

~ warehouse and in this case they are also covered with a suitable cladding 32 such as asbestos sheet or glass fibre-reinforced plastics corrugated sheet. In addition the roof support modules at each end of the warehouse are provided with hinges for carrying doors for closing the warehouse.

The rows of roof support modules provide racks which can be used for the storage of materials in the warehouse. In a preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figure 5, a plurality of tubes 34 may be welded between the horizontal steel angle girders 18 to provide storage shelves particularly suitable for storing drums. Alternatively steel, mesh or chipboard shelves may be carried by the angle girders 18.

As shown in Figure 6 a spray line 26 may be provided along the central ridge 23 of the roof for sprinkling water onto material stored in the warehouse in the event of fire. It will be appreciated that the combination of rack and link modules designed for supporting the roof rafters make it possible to quickly erect a storage building of any design, shape or size.

Substantial cost savings are achieved and it has been found, in some instances, that a storage warehouse constructed of the rack and link modules according to the present invention can be erected for approximately one third of the cost of erecting a warehouse of the same size using conventional building methods. The modules are particularly suitable for erecting a building on an existing concrete area, for example a dock and goods receiving compound, because there is no need to prepare the ground before installing the modules. However where a previously unused area is to be used as. a site for the storage building it is normally desirable to reduce the ground level to provide a foundation for the building. The ground level is reduced to take a hard core layer of 15-20 cm which is consolidated with strips of reinforced concrete 10-15 cm thick laid lengthwise to correspond with the rows of roof support modules.

The roof support modules can be built in standard units on jigs and generally are about 3 metres long, one metre wide and 3.5 metres high. In the errection of a building they are set in single rows at the sides and back to back below the valley rafters and central ridge. The primary roof support modules are approximately 2.5 metres apart and the link modules introduced between the primary modules. All the modules are bolted to the floor and to each other as necessary.

The roof is formed by connecting the standard roof rafters to the rafter connections on the modules, four connections being made for each five metres of roof span with a maximum distance between the rafter connections of three metres. Sheeting angles, jig made, are fitted to the rafters to mount the roof cladding. Cladding for covering the side walls is bolted direct to the lateral angles at the rear of the modules.

It is envisaged that some of the horizontal angle girders could be movable so that the racks can be located at different positions on the modules. The building shown in Fig.l is a free standing building. However, it will be appreciated that a building according to the invention could also be -used to extend existing buildings,for example in the form of a "lean to".

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A demountable prefabricated building comprising at least two support modules supporting a roof extending between them, characterized in that each said support module (12) comprises a plurality of uprights (13) connected to one another by horizontal struts (14) in a three dimensional structure, the upper ends of the uprights being provided with flanges (20) to which are releasably secured supporting elements (25,27) for the roof (11) and at least some of said horizontal struts (13) also serving to support storage racks (34) or shelves.

2. A building according to claim 1 characterized in that at least one of said support modules (12) is rectangular in plan view.

3. A building according to claim 2 characterized in that said module (12) of rectangular plan view comprises at least six said uprights (13) arranged at the four corners and along the major sides of the rectangle.

4. A building according to claim 2 or claim 3 characterized in that at least one edge of the roof (11) is supported by two said rectangular modules (12) arranged end to end.

5. A building according to claim 4 characterized in that the two 'said rectangular modules (12) are secured in end to end formation by means of cleats (28) .

.

6. A building according to any preceding claim characterized in that said horizontal struts (18) supporting racks (34) or shelves are provided at more than one level in at least one said module (12) .

7. A building according to any preceding claim characterized in that it includes shelves or racks supported by said uprights (13) , their positions being vertically adjustable within the module (12) .

8. A building according to any preceding claim characterized in that at least one said module (12) supports a central part (23) of the roof, at least two further said modules being provided to support the outer edges of the roof .(11) .

. A building according to claim 8 characterized in that the said central part of the roof (11) is supported by two said modules (12) arranged in baσk- to-back formation.

10. A building according to claim 7 or claim 8 characterized in that the said central part of the roof comprises a central ridge (23) supported by at least one said module (12) , a plurality of rafters (24) extending from the ridge and supported by modules (12) at each end.

11. A building according to any one of claims 8 to 10 characterized in that a central portion of the roof supported by at least one said support module (12) includes a valley-gutter (32) from which rafters (24) one each side extend outwardly and upwardly, their ends remote from the gutter being supported by other said support modules (12) .

12. A building according to any preceding claim characterized in that modules supporting the outer edges of the roof (11) are provided with cladding on their outer sides to form walls for the building.

^"B-R-- ,

OMPI

. A 'Λ -_* WiPO

13. A building according to any preceding claim characterized in that the said flanges (20) at the upper ends of the uprights (13) are horizontal, the roof supporting elements (25,27) resting directly thereon and being secured thereto .

14. A building according to any preceding claim characterized in that the said modules also support spraying means (26) for spraying liquid onto the modules.