EP0039614B1

EP0039614B1 - A construction method and kit

Info

Publication number: EP0039614B1
Application number: EP81301972A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gavin Campbell Armstrong
Original assignee: Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd
Current assignee: Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-05
Filing date: 1981-05-05
Publication date: 1985-03-27
Also published as: ATE12416T1; JPS573945A; CA1151385A; ZM3481A1; EP0039614A3; ZW10381A1; EP0039614A2; DE3169507D1; BR8102777A

Abstract

The method includes the steps of placing a series of support blocks (10) around the periphery of the floor area of the structure, locating floor panels (16, 18) in engagement with grooves (12) on the upper sides of the blocks (10) and locating wall panels (38) against the edges of the floor panels (16, 18) in the grooves (12). Roof panels can be inserted loosely between the wall panels, which are then drawn and held together to frictionally engage the roof panels in position. Extra roof elements can be added to seal the joints between the roof panels and to provide eaves for the structure. The joints between adjacent wall panels can also be sealed.

Description

This invention relates to a method and kit for prefabricated construction. Despite the time-saving enjoyed in the erection of prefabricated structures, as compared to conventional building practices, this advantage is somewhat off-set by the procedures commonly used for secural of the components of the structure. Complicated bolting and fixing procedures are often necessary and may be time consuming. This is especially disadvantageous in the erection of temporary structures, such as the huts commonly employed on major construction sites, or by geologists and surveyors who frequently have to move their base of operations.
The invention accordingly seeks to provide a method for prefabricated construction which is simple and rapid, and a kit for use in such a method.
DE-A-2004914 has been drawn to our attention and discloses the formation of a walled space by the positioning of support blocks having grooves in their upper sides around the boundary of the floor area of the space, levelling the blocks, and positioning wall panels around the boundary in engagement with the grooves.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of forming a floored and walled space including the steps of positioning support blocks having grooves on their upper sides around the boundary of the floor area of the space, levelling the blocks, and positioning wall panels around the boundary in engagement with the grooves, characterised in that floor panels are positioned to span the floor area of the space with ribs depending from the floor panels engaging in the grooves alongside the wall panels the width of the grooves being chosen to accommodate both the ribs and wall panels with a slide fit.
Preferably the method includes the step of drawing the wall panels towards one another to hold them in position around the boundary.
The method may also include the step of sealing the joints between adjacent wall panels by positioning a deformable sealant between adjacent panels and drawing them towards each other to deform the sealant.
The method may also include the step of frictionally engaging at least one roof panel between opposite wall panels.
The invention also provides a kit for the construction of a floored and walled space including a plurality of support blocks having grooves formed on their upper surfaces for arrangement around the boundary of the floor area of the space, and a plurality of wall panels for location in an upright attitude around the boundary with their lower edges in engagement with the grooves, characterised by at least one floor panel for location in a position spanning the floor area of the space with ribs depending from the or each floor panel engaging in the grooves alongside the lower edges of the wall panels, the width of the grooves being chosen to accommodate both the ribs and wall panels with a slide fit.
The grooves on the upper sides of the support blocks may be formed by lengths of structural members in engagement with the blocks.
The kit may include a template engageable in the grooves to allow the blocks to be arranged correctly in the predetermined relationship around the floor area of the space.
The kit may also include at least one roof panel engageable frictionally between opposite wall panels of the space when the opposite wall panels are drawn together.
In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows support blocks being positioned with the aid of a template;
Figure 2 shows the engagement of ribs fixed to the floor panels with grooves on the upper surfaces of a support block;
Figure 3 shows the accommodation of a rib and a wall panel in a groove on the upper surface of a support block;
Figure 4 shows the connection of two adjacent wall panels, the connection being sealed;
Figure 5 shows the engagement of a roof panel by wall panels; and
Figure 6 shows a method of sealing joints between adjacent roof panels and of providing an eave.

Referring now to the drawings, as shown in Figure 1, a' number of support blocks 10 are roughly positioned on the ground. Each block is provided with a groove 12. The grooves 12 are formed by suitable lengths of channel section, which are fixed to the blocks by lugs welded to the underside of the webs of the channel sections and cast into the blocks.
Correct positioning of the blocks and the grooves may be achieved by the use of a template 14, which is removed before the laying of the floor panels.
Figure 2 shows two adjacent floor panels 16 and 18 each provided with ribs 20 and 22. The floor panels are made of timber planks 24 fixed by screws 26 in abutting relationship to respective peripheral frames which provide the depending ribs 20 and 22 and which are of square tubular section. The floor panels are laid with the ribs in the grooves 28. It will be appreciated that the blocks 10 in Figure 1 may be positioned solely with the use of the floor panels, instead of the template 14. Figure 3 shows a floor panel 30, which has a rib 32, in engagement with a channel section 34 fixed to a block 36. When all the floor panels required for the structure have been laid, the wall panels are erected.
In Figure 3 there is illustrated a wall panel 38 inserted into the channel section 34, in the space left after location of the rib 32. The size of the channel 34 is chosen so as to provide a reasonably good fit of the rib and wall panel -the width of the channel 34 being chosen to accommodate the rib and wall panel with a slide fit.
Figure 4 shows the connection of adjacent wall panels 42 and 44 by a clamping device 40. A sealant 46 may be provided against inclement weather, and the wall panels 42 may be hollow with a suitable insulating filler, such as fibreglass 48. The action of the clamping device draws the wall panels 42 and 44 together during connection, thus deforming the sealant 46 to effectively seal the joint. A suitable sealant is silicone rubber.
Wall panels are connected at various desirable elevations to provide a rigid structure.
Figure 5 shows a roof panel 50 of corrugated iron. Fixed to the bottom of the corrugated iron is an insulated ceiling 52. The roof panel is dropped between the wall panels 54 and 56 before final fastening of the clamping devices, such as 40 in Figure 4. As the wall panels are drawn together by the clamping devices, their top edges firmly engage the ceiling 52, holding it against the effects of wind.
The joint 58 between adjacent roof panels 60 and 62 is sealed by sliding a narrow section of corrugated iron 64, between the corrugated iron of the roof panels and the ceilings. Similarly, an eave is provided by sliding in a section of corrugated iron 66, the eave serving to direct rain water away from the wall panels of the structure.
The wall panels may have any combination of doors and windows, preferably of such a type that the panels have no projections. The windows may, for instance, be of a sliding variety, and the doors may have recessed handles. Wall panels may then be stacked far more economically when not in use.
The invention thus provides a simple and rapid method for erection of a structure, with no involved connection procedures. The components of the structure are easily transported and use up a minimum of space during transportation or storage. The use of clamping devices such as 40, which is described in our European Patent Application Publication No 39615 allows operator's access from only one side of the wall panels. Due to the simplicity of the operation the labour requirement is low.

Claims

1. A method of forming a floored and walled space including the steps of positioning support blocks (10) having grooves (12, 28) on their upper sides around the boundary of the floor area of the space, levelling the blocks, and positioning walls panels (38, 42, 44, 54, 56) around the boundary in engagement with the grooves (12, 28), characterised in that floor panels (16, 18, 30) are positioned to span the floor area of the space with ribs (20, 22, 32) depending from the floor panels (16, 18, 30) engaging in the grooves (12, 28) alongside the wall panels (38, 42, 44, 54, 56) the width of the grooves (12, 28) being chosen to accommodate both the ribs (20, 22, 32) and wall panels (38, 42, 44, 54, 56) with a slide fit.

2. A method according to claim 1, including the step of drawing the wall panels (38,42,44, 54, 56) towards one another to hold them in position around the boundary.

3. A method according to claim 2, including the step of sealing the joints between adjacent wall panels (38,42,44,54, 56) by positioning a deformable sealant (46) between adjacent panels and drawing them towards each other to deform the sealant.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, including the step of frictionally engaging at least one roof panel (50, 60, 62) between opposite wall panels (38, 42, 44, 54, 56).

5. A kit for the construction of a floored and walled space including a plurality of support blocks (10) having grooves (12, 28) formed on their upper surfaces for arrangement around the boundary of the floor area of the space, and a plurality of wall panels (38, 42, 44, 54, 56) for location in an upright attitude around the boundary with their lower edges in engagement with the grooves (12, 28), characterised by at least one floor panel (16, 18, 30) for location in a position spanning the floor area of the space with ribs (20, 22, 32) depending from the or each floor panel (16,18,30) engaging in the grooves alongside the lower edges of the walls panels (38, 42, 44, 54, 56) the width of the grooves (12, 28) being chosen to accommodate both the ribs (20, 22, 32) and wall panels (38, 42, 44, 54, 56) with a slide fit.

6. A kit according to claim 5, wherein the grooves on the upper sides of the support blocks (10) are formed by lengths of structural members (34) in engagement with the blocks (10).

7. A kit according to claim 5 or 6, including a template (14) engageable in the grooves (12, 28) to allow the blocks (10) to be arranged correctly in the predetermined relationship around the floor area of the space.

8. A kit according to any one of claims 5 to 7, including at least one roof panel (50, 60, 62) engageable frictionally between opposite wall panels (38, 42, 44, 54, 56) of the space when the opposite wall panels are drawn together.