EP0362323B1 - Prefabricated building - Google Patents

Abstract

Prefabricated building at ground level or with at least one floor, which can be transported, in particular by road, and composed of elements assembled and linked to one another so that the building can, by simple modification of the position of its component parts, occupy two extreme volumes, the first volume in which the overall dimensions of said building are reduced to the loading dimensions, in particular for road transport, and a second volume corresponding to the building as deployed and fit for occupation.

Description

The subject of the present invention is a prefabricated building, on one level or on at least one storey, which can be transported, in particular by road and made up of elements assembled and articulated to each other so that the building can, by simple modification of the position of its constituent elements, occupy two extreme volumes, a first volume in which the overall dimensions of said building are reduced to the loading gauge, in particular for road transport and a second volume corresponding to the deployed and habitable building.

According to document FR-A-2 557 620, a transportable folding building is known which, when deployed, is on one level and, when folded, is in the form of a "container" compact and homogeneous throughout its length, inside which are folded all the other elements of the building.

The structure of the building according to this document FR-A-2 557 620 comprises an axial span produced in the form of a beam-ladder intended to provide stability and bracing to the deployed building, this beam-ladder ensuring the "container", which constitutes the building in the folded position, a longitudinal flexural strength to allow its handling and transport. The aforementioned ladder beam also aims to prevent bending stresses which could hinder the folding of the longitudinal panels of the building.

This ladder beam, which extends along the longitudinal axis of the building, over the entire length of the latter, over a very large part of its height and over a non-negligible part of its width, has the drawback, although 'it is envisaged to house the technical equipment of the building, on the one hand, to separate the living area of said building into two distinct areas arranged on either side of said ladder beam and partitioned by the latter and, d On the other hand, to significantly reduce the total surface area actually habitable offered by the single floor of the building.

The object of the invention is to remedy this drawback and to provide a prefabricated building either on one level or on at least one floor, which can occupy the two above-mentioned volumes and which comprises a rigid and non-deformable structure which is formed of a chassis, at least one movable deck, pillars and uprights on which the various rigid panels of the building are articulated and which makes it possible, when the building is deployed, to obtain a floor or several superposed floors offering a practically equal living area on the surface of the floor (s).

The invention also aims to provide a building whose design and equipment are such that it can be habitable immediately as soon as it has been installed on the chosen site, after having been entirely produced and assembled in the workshop, at shelter from bad weather. Its location on the site; which consists only in modifying the position of its constituent elements which have been placed for the transport of the building towards the site in their position which makes it possible to reduce the total volume of the building to the road gauge, practically does not require manpower, which does not have to be specialized, and can be carried out with a very reduced material which is is integrated into the building, either removable and which can be actuated either manually, or using a driving force, such as a pressurized fluid, supplied for example by the vehicle having transported the building. The latter, in addition to the advantages resulting from its method of manufacture which assures it a very high quality, in particular in terms of finishing and insulation, as well as its immediate habitability, also offers the advantage of being able to be, all as easily as for its first installation, reduced to its volume corresponding to the road gauge in order to be transported and erected in another site.

To this end, according to the invention, said building comprises a chassis, rigid and non-deformable, rectangular and horizontal, capable of supporting and / or recovering the weight and all the stresses of the building in the latter's living conditions and whose the dimensions are less than the corresponding dimensions of the above-mentioned template; means intended to ensure the stability of the building under living conditions and which are assembled to said chassis and articulated on the latter so as to be able to occupy two extreme positions, a first position corresponding to the first aforementioned volume in which they are located at the 'interior of an imaginary rectangular parallelepiped whose chassis constitutes one of the bases and a second position corresponding to the second volume mentioned above and in which they are arranged projecting with respect to said rectangular parallelepiped; means provided on the chassis and arranged to allow attachment temporary of a towable, removable and recoverable bearing system, used for transporting the building; at least four vertical pillars, of lengths equal to and less than the corresponding dimension of the aforementioned template, located and fixed to the corners of the frame; a horizontal rectangular platform, rigid and undeformable, which is movable and arranged between the aforementioned four pillars to be guided on the latter so as to be able to be moved, parallel to itself, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the aforementioned pillars, between two extreme positions, a first position corresponding to the first aforementioned volume in which the decking is located near the chassis and a second position corresponding to the aforementioned second volume in which said decking is located in the vicinity of the tops of the pillars; at least two vertical uprights, fixed to the decking, so that their longitudinal axis is substantially situated in the vertical plane which passes through the point of intersection of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of the frame and which is parallel to the long sides of this rectangle ; rigid, mobile and substantially planar panels, articulated to one another and at least to the abovementioned pillars, to form at least part of the decking of the ground floor of the building as well as the external walls and the roof of the latter, and which are arranged for, when the building occupies the first aforesaid volume, to be housed, parallel to the long sides of the aforementioned rectangle, on either side of the pillars fixed to the frame and mainly in the space between these pillars; deck locking means supporting the aforementioned uprights and various movable panels arranged to immobilize them when the building occupies one or the other of its extreme positions and means arranged to facilitate the movements of the deck and panels to bring the building in either of its extreme positions.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the building comprises four facades, a ground floor and a floor and is, when it occupies the second volume mentioned above, in the form of a straight prism whose bases , which are triangular and which constitute the front and rear facades of the building, have at least two equal sides and whose edges have a length equal to the length of one of the long sides of the frame, the latter, which supports part of the floor of the ground floor, being located in the middle part of the lateral face of the prism, which is horizontal and which includes the bases of the triangles formed by the aforementioned front and rear facades, while the lateral facades of the building coincide with the two other side faces of the prism, the pillars fixed to the frame being located inside the prism as well as the uprights fixed to the decking, which supports the floor of the building floor, the vertical plane, p assant by the longitudinal axes of the above amounts constituting a plane of symmetry of the building, these amounts supporting a fixed ridge piece whose two rectangular slopes are equal and constitute the upper part of the side facades, each of the latter being formed by two movable rectangular panels, the panel closest to the ridge piece being hinged thereon about a horizontal axis and the dimension of its short sides being less than the height of the above uprights, the other panel being articulated, around a horizontal axis, at the top of the abovementioned pillars, the dimension of the short sides of the latter panel being greater than the height of the pillars, the length of the ridge piece as well as the dimension of the long sides of these two panels being equal to the length of one of the long sides of the frame, each of these latter panels being articulated, about a horizontal axis and along the long free side of said panel, a third panel intended to support part of the floor on the ground floor and whose long side opposite the joint, which is equal in length to that of the long sides of the other panels, is juxtaposed along the large corresponding side of the chassis, the articulations of said panels being arranged so that the panels hinged to the aforementioned ridge piece can be folded against the aforementioned uprights, on either side of the latter and so that the face internal of the third panel folds down on the internal face of the panel articulated on the abovementioned pillars, these two panels folded back one on the other, thus being able to fold back against the pillars fixed to the frame, on either side of the latter , the front and rear facades of the building each being constituted by two groups of movable panels separated from each other at the level of the deck in the position it occupies when the the building is deployed, the first group of panels constituting one of these facades at the ground floor level comprising two equal rectangular panels and two equal panels, in the shape of a rectangular trapezoid, articulated in pairs, around a vertical axis, on the corresponding pillars fixed to the chassis, these articulations being arranged so that the external faces of a rectangular panel and of a panel in the shape of a rectangular trapezoid articulated to the same pillar can be folded one over the other substantially in the extension a long side of the corresponding frame, the second group of panels constituting one of said facades at the level of the floor comprising two equal panels in the shape of a right triangle which are articulated along one of the sides of the right angle, and around a vertical axis, on one of the uprights fixed to the decking, these articulations being arranged so that the external faces of these last two panels can be ra battered one on the other on either side of the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the uprights and in the extension of the chassis.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the building comprises means arranged to allow it to pivot around a vertical axis passing through the point of intersection of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of the aforementioned chassis, these means advantageously comprising a ball or roller crown whose axis coincides with the above vertical axis and which is associated with the frame and supported by the latter, a platform, parallel to the frame, of same shape and same area as those of said chassis, being associated with and supported by the ball ring, the abovementioned pillars being fixed to said decking, said means also comprising a circular rail, coaxial with the ball ring and produced in several sections, which is fixed to the aforementioned decking and to the movable panels intended to support the floor of the ground floor of the building, rollers carried by the aforementioned means intended to ensure the stability of the building being provided and arranged to be able to cooperate with said rail in order to contribute to the stability of the building, means, such as motor-brake, with control either manual or automatic depending on the position of the sun, being provided to drive the building in rotation around the above vertical axis.

Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description of the drawings appended to this specification and which represent, by way of non-limiting examples, various particular embodiments of the prefabricated building according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic view, in elevation and in section, a half view illustrating the building in the deployed position, while the other half view shows the building in the folded position to the road gauge.

Figures 2 and 3 are views similar to Figure 1, on a larger scale, which illustrate how the movable panels are brought from their deployed building position to their building position folded to the road gauge.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view, in plan and with partial breaks, corresponding to FIG. 1.

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view and partially broken, of the building illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 when it is the road gauge.

Figure 6 is a schematic view, in elevation and in section, showing a variant of the building illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, this variant can be driven in a rotational movement around the above vertical axis.

Figures 7 to 9 are views similar to Figure 6, which illustrate how the movable panels are brought from their deployed building position to their building position folded to the road gauge.

Figure I0 is a schematic plan view with partial breaks, corresponding to Figure 6 (building deployed).

Figure 11 is a schematic view, in plan and partially broken, corresponding to Figure 9 (building folded to the road gauge).

FIG. 12 is a schematic view, in elevation and in section, showing a second variant of the building illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12, on a larger scale, showing how the movable panels are presented when the building occupies its folded position to the road gauge.

Figure 14 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 12, a portion of the movable panels constituting some of the facades of the building being shown in an intermediate position between the road gauge position and the deployed position.

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 13.

Figure 16 is a schematic half-view, in elevation and in section, showing a third variant of the building illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the latter variant being a two-story building.

Figures 17 to 25 are views similar to Figure 16, which show how the movable panels are brought from the position they occupy when the building is deployed to their position when the building is placed at the road gauge.

FIG. 26 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a view, on a larger scale than that of FIG. 26, showing a detail of this FIG. 26.

In the different figures, the same reference notations designate identical or analogous elements.

The prefabricated building according to the invention and illustrated in the drawings is either on one level, or on at least one storey, and can be transported, in particular by road, under normal conditions using current means of transport. To do this, the building is made up of elements which are entirely assembled in the factory and which are hinged to each other so that the building can, by simply changing the position of its constituent elements, occupy two extreme volumes, a first volume in which the overall dimensions of said building are reduced to a loading gauge for road transport and a second volume corresponding to the deployed and habitable building. According to the invention, said building comprises a chassis 1, rigid and non-deformable, rectangular and horizontal, capable of supporting and / or taking up the weight and all the stresses of the building in residential conditions and whose dimensions are smaller than the dimensions corresponding to the road gauge. This building comprises means 2 intended to ensure its stability in living conditions and which are assembled to the frame 1 and articulated on the latter so as to be able to occupy two extreme positions, a first position corresponding to the first aforementioned volume in which they are situated inside an imaginary rectangular parallelepiped whose chassis 1 constitutes one of the bases and a second position corresponding to the second volume mentioned above and in which they are arranged projecting with respect to said rectangular parallelepiped. Means, not shown, are provided at the base of the chassis 1 and arranged to allow the temporary fixing of a towable bearing system, constituted for example by two carrying axles, which is removable and recoverable when it has been used for transport of the building. The building also comprises four vertical pillars 3, of lengths equal to and less than the corresponding dimension of the road gauge, which are located and fixed to the corners of the chassis 1 as well as a rectangular, rigid, horizontal platform 4, which is movable and arranged between the four pillars 3 to be guided on these, so that it can be moved, parallel to itself, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pillars 3, between two extreme positions, a first position corresponding to the first aforementioned volume in which the deck 4 is located near the chassis 1 and a second position corresponding to the second aforementioned volume in which said deck 4 is located in the vicinity of the tops of the pillars 3. Two vertical uprights, 5, the length of which is at most equal to the length of the pillars 3, are fixed to the decking 4, so that their longitudinal axis is substantially located in the vertical plane, of trace 11, which passes through the point of intersection of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of the frame 1 and which is parallel to the long sides of this rectangle. The building also essentially comprises panels, mobile and substantially planar, which are articulated to each other and to the pillars 3 and to the uprights 5, to form at least part of the decking of the ground floor of the building as well as the external walls. and the roof of the latter, and which are arranged so that, when the building occupies the above-mentioned first volume, be housed, parallel to the long sides of the above-mentioned rectangle, on either side of the pillars 3 fixed to the frame 1 and for the most part in the space between these pillars 3. Locking means, not shown, are provided to immobilize the deck 4 supporting the uprights 5 and the various movable panels, relative to each other, when the building occupies one or more the other from its extreme positions. Means, not shown, are also provided and arranged for facilitate the movements of the deck 4 and the movable panels to bring the building into one or the other of its extreme positions.

In the embodiment of the building according to the invention, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, said building appears, when it occupies the aforementioned second volume, that is to say when it is deployed, under the form of a straight prism whose bases, which are triangular and which constitute the front and rear facades 6 and 7 of the building, have at least two equal sides and whose edges have a length equal to the length of one of the long sides of frame 1, the latter, which supports part of the ground floor floor, is located in the middle part of the side face of the prism, which is horizontal and which includes the bases of the triangles formed by the front and rear facades 6 and 7, while the lateral facades 8 and 9 of the building coincide with the other two lateral faces of the prism. The pillars 3 fixed to the frame 1 are located inside the prism as well as the uprights fixed to the deck 4 which supports the floor of the floor 10 of the building. The vertical plane, of trace 11 and which passes through the longitudinal axes of the uprights 5, constitutes a plane of symmetry of the building. These uprights 5 support a fixed ridge piece 12 whose two rectangular slopes 13 are equal and constitute the upper part of the side facades 6 and 7. Each of these latter facades is formed by two movable rectangular panels 14 and 15. The panel 14, the closer to the ridge piece 12, is articulated on the latter, at 16, around a horizontal axis and the dimension of its short sides is less than the height of the uprights 5. The other panel 15 is articulated, in 17, around a horizontal axis, at the top of the pillars 3 of the chassis 1, the dimension of the short sides of this panel 15 is greater than the height of the pillars 3. The length of the ridge piece 12 as well as the dimension of the long sides of these two panels 14 and 15 are equal to the length of one of the long sides of the frame 1. At each of these panels 14 and 15 is articulated around a horizontal axis and, in 18, along the long free side of said panel, a third panel 19, intended to support a part of the floor of the ground floor and whose large opposite side at the joint 18, which is of length equal to that of the long sides of the other panels 14 and 15, is juxtaposed, at 20, along the corresponding long side of the chassis 1. The joints 16 of the panels 14 are arranged so as to what, when the ridge piece 1 2 is moved along the arrow 21 by the rise of the decking 4 (see Figure 2), these panels 14 can be folded freely against the aforementioned uprights 5, on either side of the latter. The joints 17 and 18 are arranged in such a way that the internal face of the third panel 19 folds down, along arrow 22, on the internal face of the panel 15 articulated at 17 at the top of the abovementioned pillars 3. These two panels 15 and 19, when folded over one another, can then be folded against the pillars 3 fixed to the frame 1, according to arrow 23, on either side of the latter. The front and rear facades 6 and 7 of the building are each made up, as shown in the Figure 4, by two groups of movable panels separated from each other at the level of the deck 4 in the position it occupies when the building is deployed. The first group of panels constituting one of these facades 6 and 7, at the ground floor level, comprises two equal rectangular panels 24 and two equal panels 25, in the shape of a rectangular trapezoid, articulated in pairs, at 26 and around a vertical axis, on the corresponding pillars 3 fixed to the chassis 1. These articulations 26 are arranged, as shown more particularly in FIG. 4, so that the external faces of a rectangular panel 24 and of a panel 25 in the form of rectangular trapezium, articulated to the same pillar 3, can be folded one over the other substantially in the extension of a long side of the corresponding frame 1. The second group, the panels constituting one of said facades 6 and 7, at level 10, comprises two equal panels 27, in the shape of a right triangle, which are articulated along one of the sides of the right angle and around a vertical axis, at 28, on one of the uprights 5 fixed to the decking 4. These articulations 28 are arranged so that the external faces of these last two panels 27 can be folded one over the other on both sides and d 'other of the vertical plane, trace 11, passing through the longitudinal axes of the uprights 5 and in the extension of the chassis. When the movable panels 14 are folded over the uprights 5 and the movable panels 24, 25 and 27 constituting the front and rear facades 6 and 7 are placed in the extension of the chassis 1 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), the decking 4 can be brought closer to the chassis 1, along arrow 29, to bring the building to the height of the road gauge, the folding of the movable panels 15 and 19 on the pillars 3 bringing the building to the width of said road gauge. The means 2 stabilizing the building are constituted, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, by four pivoting arms 30, articulated around a vertical axis 31 ′ on the chassis 1, which are either spaced from the chassis (FIG. 4) to stabilize the building in the deployed position, or placed in the overall dimensions of the chassis (see right part of Figure 1) when the building is at road gauge. These arms 30 rest, by means of boxes 31 which are advantageously removable and adjustable in height, on foundation studs 32.

In the embodiment of the building illustrated in Figures 6 to 11, it includes four facades 6,7,8 and 9, a ground floor and a floor 10 and it appears, when it occupies the second volume above (deployed building) in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The frame 1, which supports part of the ground floor floor, occupies the entire middle part of the lower base of the parallelepiped, this base also comprises two movable panels 33, which are rectangular and equal and which are intended to support the two other parts of the ground floor floor. These panels 33 are articulated, at 34 and around horizontal axes, on either side of the chassis 1 and along the long sides of the latter, so that their internal face can be folded down, as shown in Figures 9 and 11, on the corresponding pillars 3 fixed to the chassis 1. The above-mentioned decking 4, whose surface is substantially equal to that of the chassis 1 and which is intended to support the middle part of the floor of the floor 10, is associated with two mobile panels 35, rectangular and equal, intended to support the other two parts of the floor of the floor and substantially the same area as the two panels 33 articulated to the frame. These panels 35 are articulated, at 36 and around horizontal axes, on elements 37 fixed to the corresponding tops of the pillars 3, themselves fixed to the frame 1. The articulations of these last two panels 35 are arranged so that their lower face can be folded down, as shown in Figures 9 and 11, on the outer face of the corresponding panel 33 hinged to the frame 1, when the latter panel 33 has been folded down on the corresponding pillars 3. The roof of the building, which is located in the upper base of the rectangular parallelepiped, is flat and consists, on the one hand, of a fixed median panel 38, rectangular and assembled at the top of the aforementioned uprights 5 which are telescopic and fixed to the decking 4, the area of which is less than that of the latter and on the other hand, by two rectangular mobile panels 39 which are equal and articulated, at 40 and around horizontal axes, along the long sides of the fixed panel 38. The lateral facades 8 and 9 of the building coincide with two opposite lateral faces of the parallelepiped, parallel to the long sides of the frame, and each consist of two mobile panels 40 and 4I which are rectangular and substantially equal, whose area is at most equal to that of the two movable panels 39 of the roof; a first panel 40 hinged, about a horizontal axis and at 42, along the free edge of the movable panel 39 hinged to the fixed panel 38 and which is parallel to this latter hinge 40 and a second panel 41 hinged, at 43 and around a horizontal axis, along the free edge of the first movable panel 40 and which is parallel to the articulation 42 of the latter on the movable panel 39. The dimensions of these four fixed 38 and movable panels 39,40,41 and their joints 40, 42 and 43 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 8, so that the external face of the second panel 41 can be folded over the external face of the first panel 40, so that the internal face of this panel 40 can be folded down on the internal face of the movable panel 39 articulated to the fixed panel 38 and so that these three movable panels 39, 40 and 41, folded in accordion, can be folded over the uprights 5 so that the internal face of the second panel 41 is opposite uprights 5, the vertical plane cal, of trace 11, passing through the longitudinal axes of the latter constituting a plane of symmetry of the building. The front and rear facades 6 and 7 of the latter, which are perpendicular to this plane of symmetry, are each formed by two groups of rectangular and movable panels separated from each other at the aforementioned decking 4 in the position that it occupies when the building is deployed. The first group of panels constituting one of these facades 6, 7 at the ground floor level, comprises four rectangular panels 44 and 45 equal two by two and articulated two by two, at 46 and around a vertical axis, on the corresponding pillars 3 fixed to the frame 1. The dimension of the two panels 44 and 45, fixed to the same pillar 3, taken perpendicular to the plane of trace symmetry 11, corresponds respectively to half of one of the short sides of the chassis 1 and to one of the short sides of the movable panel 33 articulated along one of the long sides of the chassis. The articulations 46 of this first group of panels 44 and 45 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 11, so that the external faces of the panels 44 and 45 articulated on a pillar 3 can be folded one over the other in the extension of the corresponding large side of the chassis 1. The second group of panels constituting one of said facades 6, 7 at the level of stage 10, comprises two equal rectangular panels 47 articulated, at 48 and around a vertical axis, on the upright 5 corresponding fixed to the decking 4. These articulations 48 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 11, so that the external faces of these two panels 47 can be folded down one on the other, parallel to the plane of symmetry of trace 11 and in the extension of the chassis 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the mobile panels 39, 40 and 41 are folded over the uprights 5 and the mobile panels 44, 45 and 47 constituting the facades 6 and 7 are placed in the extension of the chassis 1, the decking 4 can be brought closer to said chassis, along arrow 49, to bring the building up to the road gauge, the folding of the movable panels 33 and 35 on the pillars 3 bringing the building at the width of said road gauge. To allow the aforesaid folding, in accordion, of the movable panels 39, 40 and 41, the fixed panel 38 is moved, by virtue of the telescopic structure of the uprights 5, vertically and upwards, according to arrow 50 (see FIG. 9). As shown in Figures 6 and 10, the building according to the invention advantageously comprises means 51 which are arranged to allow it to pivot around a vertical axis 52 passing through the point of intersection of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of frame 1 and this, to allow the orientation of the building according to the position of the sun. These means 51 advantageously comprise a ball or roller crown 53 whose axis coincides with the vertical axis 52 and which is associated with the frame 1 and supported by the latter, a platform 54 (FIG. 6) parallel to the frame, likewise shape and same area as those of said chassis, is associated with the ball crown 53 and supported by it, the abovementioned pillars 3 being fixed to said decking 54. Said means 51 also comprise a circular rail 55, coaxial with the crown to balls 53 and produced in several sections, which is fixed to the above-mentioned decking 54 and to the movable panels 33 intended to support the floor of the ground floor of the building. Rollers 56, carried by the pivoting arms 30 of the aforementioned means 2 intended to ensure the stability of the building, are provided and arranged to be able to cooperate with said rail 55 in order to contribute to the stability of the building. Means, such as brake motor 57, with manual control or automatic depending on the position of the sun, are also provided to rotate the building around the vertical axis 52.

The building illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 15, which comprises, like the buildings described above, a ground floor and a floor 10, presents itself, when it occupies its deployed position corresponding to the second aforementioned second volume, in the form a straight prism with octagonal bases. Frame 1, which supports part of the ground floor floor, occupies the middle part of the lower base of the prism between two opposite sides of the octagon. This base also comprises two mobile panels 58, equal and in the form of an isosceles trapezoid which are intended to support the two other parts of the floor of the ground floor and which are articulated, along their large base, on either side. other of the chassis 1, along the long sides of the latter, at 59 and around horizontal axes, so that their internal face can be folded down on the corresponding pillars 3 fixed to the chassis 1. The above-mentioned decking 4, of which the surface is substantially equal to that of the chassis 1 and which is intended to support the middle part of the floor the stage 10, is associated with two movable panels 60, equal and in the form of an isosceles trapezium whose surface is substantially equal to that movable panels 58 articulated to the frame 1, which are intended to support the two other parts of the floor of the floor and which are articulated, at 61 and around horizontal axes, to elements 62 fixed to the vertices corr of the pillars 3 fixed to the frame. The joints 61 of these two movable panels 60 are arranged, as shown in Figure 13, so that their lower face can be folded down on the outer face of the corresponding panel 58 articulated to the frame, when this panel 58 has been folded down on the corresponding pillars 3. The roof of the building, located in the upper base of the prism, is flat and consists, on the one hand, of a fixed central panel 63, which is rectangular and assembled at the top of the above-mentioned uprights 5, which are fixed to the decking 4 and telescopic, and whose area is less than that of this decking 4 and, on the other hand, by two equal mobile panels 64 which are articulated, at 65 and around horizontal axes, on either side of the fixed panel 63 and along the long sides of the latter. The perimeter of each of these two movable panels 64 comprises, in addition to the side along which the panel is articulated, at 65, a fixed panel 63 and the length of which is equal to the length of the long sides of said fixed panel, three sides of the octagon and two sides 66, contiguous to the side along which the movable panel 64 is articulated to the fixed panel 63, the length of which is substantially equal to half of one side of the octagon reduced by half of one of the small sides of the fixed panel 63. The eight facades of the building coincide with the lateral faces of the prism and are formed by two similar groups 67 of mobile rectangular panels located on either side of the vertical plane, of trace 11, passing through the longitudinal axes uprights 5 fixed on the aforementioned decking 4 and which constitutes a plane of symmetry of the building. Each of these groups 67 of panels is also subdivided into two series 68 and 69 of panels superimposed (see Figures 12 and 14). Each of the groups of panels 67 comprises on either side of the movable rectangular panel 70, which is parallel to the plane of symmetry the trace 11 and which is articulated, at 71 and around a horizontal axis, along the corresponding free edge of the movable panel 64 forming a part of the roof of the building, two movable rectangular panels 72 and 73, a first panel 72 whose area is substantially equal to that of one of the side faces of the prism and a second panel 73 whose area is substantially equal to half the area of a side face of the prism taken parallel to the edges of the latter. These panels 70, 72 and 73 are hinged together, at 74 and around vertical axes (see FIG. 14), so that the panels of each group 67 can be placed in the extension of one another. in a direction parallel to the above-mentioned plane of symmetry. These two series 68 and 69 of panels forming each group of panels 67 are obtained by subdividing the panels this group substantially at the level of the decking 4 when the latter occupies its position corresponding to the aforementioned second volume (that is to say building deployed) and along a plane parallel to the bases of the prism. These two series the panels are articulated, along this plane, at 75 and around a horizontal axis (see FIGS. 12 and 13), so as to be able, when the panels d 'a group are located in the extension of each other, be folded over each other so that the outer faces of the panels come opposite each other (see Figure 15). The fixed panel 63 and the movable roof panels 64 as well as the panels of the two groups 67 of panels forming the above-mentioned facades and joints 65, 71 and 75 are arranged so that the series 68 and 69 of panels of the same group and the corresponding roof panel 64 can be folded in accordion to finally be folded against the uprights 5 fixed to the above-mentioned decking 4, on either side of these uprights.

The building according to the invention and which is illustrated in Figures 16 to 27 is of the same type as the building shown in Figures 6 to 11 but has two floors 10 and 78. It appears, when deployed and when it occupies the second volume mentioned above, in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The chassis 1, which supports part of the ground floor floor, occupies the entire middle part of the lower base of the parallelepiped while the decking 4, whose surface is substantially equal to that of the chassis 1 and which is intended to support the middle part of the floor of the first floor 10, supports four vertical profiles 76, of lengths equal to and less than the corresponding dimension of the aforementioned template, which are located and fixed to the corners of the decking 4 so that the pillars 3 above fixed to the frame can slide in said profiles 76 (see Figures 16 and 27), in a direction parallel to their longitudinal axis. A second deck 77, whose surface is substantially equal to that of the deck 4 and which is intended to support the middle part of the floor of the second floor, is arranged between the four sections 76 to be guided on the latter so as to be able to be moved , parallel to itself, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of these profiles, between two extreme positions. A first position which corresponds to the first volume mentioned above, that is to say the road gauge, in which the second deck 77 is located near the deck 4 and a second position, which corresponds to the second volume above, that is that is to say a deployed building, in which said second deck 77 is located in the vicinity of the tops of the profiles 76 fixed to the deck 4 and in which the pillars fixed to the frame slide. Two telescopic vertical uprights 5 are fixed to the second deck 77 so that their longitudinal axis is substantially located in the vertical plane of symmetry of the building, of trace 11, which passes through the point of intersection of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of the frame 1 and which is parallel to the long sides of this rectangle. The roof of the building, which is located in the upper base of the rectangular parallelepiped, is flat and consists, on the one hand, of a fixed central panel 79, which is rectangular and assembled at the top of the uprights 5 fixed to the second deck 77 and whose area is less than that of the latter and, on the other hand, by two mobile rectangular panels 80 which are equal and articulated, at 81 and around horizontal axes, along the long sides of the fixed panel 79. The parts lateral facades 8, 9 of the building corresponding to the first and second floors 10 and 78 and which coincide with the corresponding parts of the two opposite lateral faces of the rectangular parallelepiped which are parallel to the long sides of the frame 1, each consist of two rectangular and equal movable panels 82 and 83 whose area is at most equal to that of the two movable roof panels 80, a first panel 82 articulated, at 84 and around a horizontal axis, along the free edge of the movable roof panel 80 and a second panel 83 hinged, at 85 and around a horizontal axis, along the free edge of the first movable panel 82 and which is parallel to the articulation 84 thereof on the movable roof panel 80. The dimensions of these four fixed 79 and movable panels 80, 82 and 83 as well as their articulations 8I, 84 and 85 are arranged so that the external face of the panel 83 can be folded down, as shown in FIG. I8 , on the external face of the panel 82, so that the internal face of the latter can be folded down on the internal face of the panel 80 (as shown in FIG. I9) and so that these three mobile panels 80, 82 and 83, folded in accordion (figure I9), can be folded down (as shown in FIG. 20), parallel to the above-mentioned uprights 5 so that the internal face of the panel 83 is turned towards these uprights, after the movable panels 86, which will be described below, have been folded against the uprights 5 (Figures 18 and 19). The second deck 77, which supports the middle part of the floor of the second floor 78, is associated with two mobile panels, rectangular and equal 86, intended to support the two other parts of the floor of the second floor 78 and which are articulated, at 87 and on either side of the base of the uprights 5 fixed to the second deck 77, around horizontal axes, so that their upper face can be folded against the uprights 5 so that each of these panels 86 are located between said uprights 5 and the three corresponding panels 80, 82 and 83, which fold in accordion. The folding of the panels 80, 82, 83 and 86 takes place after the panel 79 has been raised by the telescopic uprights 5, according to arrow 88 (FIG. I7). The deck 4, which supports the middle part of the floor of the first floor I0, is associated with two groups 89 similar to three mobile panels 90, 9I and 92, rectangular and substantially equal. These groups 89 are arranged on either side of the long sides of said deck 4 and each comprise a first panel 90, articulated to the deck, at 93 and along one of the long sides thereof and around an axis horizontal, and intended to support part of the floor of the first stage I0, a second panel 91 articulated, at 94 and around a horizontal axis along the free edge of the panel 90 opposite the articulation of the latter to the deck 4 , intended to constitute the part of the facade 8,9 of the building corresponding to the ground floor and which coincides with the corresponding part of one of the opposite lateral faces of the parallelepiped which are parallel to the long sides of the frame 1 and a third panel 92 articulated, at 95 and around a horizontal axis along the free edge of the panel 9I opposite the articulation 94 thereof to the panel 90, intended to support part of the floor of the ground floor. These three panels 90, 91 and 92 of each group 89 and their joints 93, 94 and 95 are arranged so that the upper face of the panel 92 can be folded down, as shown in FIG. 22, on the internal face of the panel 91, so that the underside of the panel 92 can then be, as shown in FIG. 23, folded down on the underside of the panel 90 and so that finally, the face upper of said panel 90 can be folded down, as shown in FIG. 24, against the profiles 76 fixed to the decking 4. The front and rear facades 6 and 7 (FIG. 26) of the building, which are perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, of trace 11 , are each formed by three groups of rectangular and mobile panels separated from each other at the level of the two decks 4 and 77 in the position which these occupy when the building is deployed. The first group of panels constituting one of these facades 6,7, at the ground floor level, comprises four rectangular panels 96 and 97, equal two by two and articulated two by two, in 98 and around a vertical axis , on the corresponding pillars 3 fixed to the chassis 1, the dimension of the two panels fixed to the same pillar 3, taken perpendicular to the above-mentioned plane of symmetry of trace 11, corresponding respectively and substantially to half of one of the short sides of the chassis 1 ( panel 97) and to one of the short sides of the aforementioned panel 92 (panel 96). The joints 98 of this first group of panels 96 and 97 are arranged so that the external faces of the panels articulated on a pillar 3 can be folded back one on the other, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, substantially in the extension of the corresponding large side of the frame 1. The second group of panels, which constitutes one of the two facades 6 and 7 at the level of the first stage I0, comprises four rectangular panels 99 and 100, equal two by two and articulated two by two, around a vertical axis and in I0I, on the corresponding profiles 76 fixed to the above-mentioned decking 4. The dimension of the two panels 99 and I00, fixed to the same profile 76, taken perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of trace 11, corresponds respectively and substantially to half of one of the short sides of the deck 77 (panel 100) and to one of the small sides of the aforementioned panel 90 (panel 99). The joints 101 of this second group of panels 99 and I00 are arranged so that the external faces of the panels articulated on a profile 76 can be folded down one on the other substantially in the extension of the corresponding large side of the chassis 1. The third group of panels, which constitutes one of said facades 6,7, at the level of the second stage 78, comprises two equal rectangular panels I02 articulated, around a vertical axis and in I03, on the corresponding uprights 5 fixed to the second decking 77. These joints I03 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 26, so that the external faces of these two panels I02 can be folded down one on the other, parallel to the plane of symmetry of trace 11 and in the extension of the chassis 1.

When the panels 96, 97, 99, I00 and I02 constituting the facades 6 and 7 have been placed in the extension of the chassis 1, the decking 77 can be brought, after folding the panels 86, 80, 82 and 83 against the uprights 5 and as shown in Figure 21, and, along arrow I04, near the deck 4, while the latter can, as shown in Figure 25 and after the panels 90, 9I and 92 have been folded against the profiles 76 (Figure 24), be brought, according to arrow I05, near the frame 1, which places the building in the road gauge.

In the embodiment of the building illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the means arranged to facilitate the movements of the decking 4 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pillars 3 fixed to the frame 1 and from there, the movements of all the panels mobile, are advantageously constituted by mechanical cylinders with screw or fluid pressure associated either temporarily with the chassis 1 to rest on the latter and on the decking 4, or definitively inside the abovementioned pillars 3 so as to take support on chassis 1 and deck 4.

In the embodiments of the building illustrated respectively in FIGS. 6 to 11 and in FIGS. I2 to I5, the means arranged to facilitate the movements, in a vertical direction of the deck 4 and the movements of all the movable panels of the building, are constituted, on the one hand, by mechanical screw or fluid pressure cylinders associated either temporarily with the chassis 1 to rest on the latter and on the decking 4, or definitively inside the abovementioned pillars 3 so as to bear on the chassis and the decking and, on the other hand, by cylinders associated temporarily or permanently with the telescopic uprights 5 fixed to the decking 4 and supporting the fixed roof panel 38.

In the embodiment of the building illustrated in FIGS. I6 to 27, the means arranged to facilitate the movements of the plates 4 and 77, in a vertical direction, and the movements of all the movable panels of the building, are constituted by a first set of screw or fluid pressure associated with the chassis 1 and the deck 4 supporting the profiles 76 sliding on the pillars 3 fixed to the chassis, so as to bear on the latter and the deck 4, by a second set of jacks associated with the deck 4 and the second deck 77 to which the telescopic uprights 5 are fixed supporting the fixed roof panel 79 in order to bear on these two decks 4 and 77 and by a third set of jacks which is associated with the telescopic uprights 5.

The movable panels are advantageously provided, on their periphery, with seals not shown. The aforementioned means facilitating the movements of the decks and panels are arranged for, when the building passes from the second volume (deployed position) to the first volume (road gauge), to eliminate the pressure prevailing on the joints and to release the latter from their contact surfaces so as to avoid any damage to them during the movements of the mobile panels and for, when the building passes from its first to its second volume, compress the joints when the mobile panels occupy their position corresponding to the deployed building, to ensure sealing.

The building according to the invention can also be advantageously equipped, in the workshop, in particular with an electrical installation, with water pipes. and gas, a heating installation, sewage pipes and means of treatment of the latter, as well as means of connection and connection of various household appliances and equipment.

Claims (12)

1. A prefabricated building of only one level or with at least one story, which can be transported, in particular by road transport and which is made of elements assembled and hinged to each other so that the building can occupy, by a single modification of the position of its component elements, two extreme volumes, one first volume in which the overall sizes of said building are reduced to the loading gauge, in particular for road transport, and a second volume corresponding to the expanded and habitable state of the building, this building comprising a rigid and indeformable, rectangular and horizontal frame (1) which is able to support and/or take up the weight and all the building strains under the habitation conditions of this building, the sizes of this frame being lower than the corresponding sizes of the above mentioned gauge ; means (2) able to ensure the stability of the building under habitation conditions and which are assembled to said frame (1) and hinged to the latter so as to be able to take two extreme positions, one first position corresponding to the aforesaid first volume, in which said means are inside a fictious rectangle parallelipiped of which the frame (1) is one of the bases, and a second position corresponding to the aforesaid second volume and in which said means are arranged in projection with respect to said rectangle parallelepiped ; means provided on frame (1) and arranged to allow temporary fixation of a tractable, removable and reusable rolling system for the building transportation ; at least four vertical posts (3), of the same length which is lower than the corresponding dimension of the aforesaid gauge, this posts being located and fixed at the corners of the frame (1) ; a horizontal, rigid, indeformable and rectangular flooring (4), which is movable and arranged between said four posts in order to be guided on the latter so as to be able to be moved in a parallel direction to itself along a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axes of said posts (3), between two extreme positions, one first position corresponding to the aforesaid first volume, in which the flooring (4) is located near the frame (1), and a second position corresponding to the aforesaid second volume, in which this flooring (4) is located near the tops of the posts (3) ; at least two vertical pillars (5), which are fixed to this flooring (4), so that their longitudinal axis is substantially located in the vertical plane which passes through the intersection point of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of the frame (1) and which is parallel to the large sides of this rectangle ; rigid, movable and substantially plane panels, which are hinged to each other and at least to the aforesaid posts (3), so as to form at least a part of the flooring of the ground level floor of the building, as well as the external walls and the roof of the latter, which panels are arranged in order to be lodged, when the building occupies the first volume, in a parallel direction to the large sides of the rectangle, on both sides of the posts (3) fixed to the frame and for the most part in the space comprised between said posts (3) ; locking means for the flooring supporting the aforesaid pillars (5), and for the various movable panels, said means being arranged to secure the latter against motion when the building occupies either of its extreme positions ; and means arranged to make easier the movements of the flooring (4) and panels so as to bring the building into either if its extreme positions.

2. A prefabricated building according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises four facades, a ground level floor and a story and looks, when it occupies the second volume, like a right prism of which the bases, which are triangular and form the front and rear facades (6 and 7) of the building, have at least two equal sides, and of which the ridges have a length equal to the length of one of the large sides of the frame (1), the latter which supports a part of the floor of the ground level being situated in the median portion of the lateral face of the prism, which portion is horizontal and comprises the bases of the triangles formed by the front and rear facades (6 and 7), while the side facades (8 and 9) of the building coincide with the other two lateral faces of the prism, the posts (3) fixed to the frame (1) being situated inside the prism, and also the pillars (5) fixed to the flooring which supports the floor of the building story (10), the vertical plane, of trace 11, passing along the longitudinal axes of said pillars (5) forming a symmetry plane of the building, said pillars (5) supporting a fixed ridge-pole piece (12) of which both rectangular slopes (13) are equal and form the upper part of the side facades (8 and 9), of the latter being formed of two movable rectangular panels (14 and 15), the panel (14) which is the nearest to the ridge-pole piece (12) being hinged to the latter about a horizontal axis and the dimension of its small sides being lower than the height of aforesaid pillars (5), the other panel (15) being hinged about a horizontal axis at the top of said posts, the dimension of the small sides of this latter panel (15) being higher than the height of the posts (3), the length of the ridge-pole piece (12) as well as the dimension of the large sides of said two panels (14 and 15) being equal to the length of one of the large sides of the frame (1), a third panel (19) being hinged (in 18) to each of said latter panels (14 and 15) about a horizontal axis and along the free large side of said panels, this third panel (19) being intended to support a portion of the floor of the ground level and of which the large side which is opposite the hinge (18) and is of a length equal to that of the large sides of the other panels (14 and 15), is placed (in 20) side by side along the corresponding large side of the frame (1), the hinges (16, 17 and 18) of said panels (14, 15 and 19) being arranged so that the panels (14) hinged to the ridge-pole piece (12) can fold back against to the aforesaid pillars (5), on both sides of the latter and so that the internal face of the third panel (19) folds back onto the internal face of the panel (15) hinged to said posts (3), these two panels (15 and 19), so folded back onto each other being thus able to fold back against the posts (3) fixed to the frame (1), on both sides of the latter, the front and rear facades (6, 7) of the building being each made of two groups of movable panels separated from each other at the level of the flooring (4) in the position taken by it when the building is expanded, the first group of panels constituting one of said facades (6, 7) at the level of the ground floor comprising two equal rectangular panels (24) and two equal panels (25) having the shape of a rectangle trapezium, which are hinged two by two (in 26) about a vertical axis to the corresponding posts (3) fixed to the frame, said hinges (26) being arranged so that the external faces of a rectangular panel (24) and of a rectangle trapezium-shaped panel (25), hinged to the same post can be folded back onto each other substantially in prolongation of a corresponding large side of the frame, the second group of panels forming one of said facades (6 and 7) at the level of the story (10) comprising two equal rectangle triangle-shaped panels (27), which are hinged along one of the sides of the right angle (in 28) and about a vertical axis, to one of the pillars (5) fixed to the flooring, such hinges (28) being arranged so that the external faces of both said last panels (27) can be folded back onto each other on both sides of a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the pillars (5) and in prolongation of the frame (1).

3. A prefabricated building according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises four facades (6 to 9), a ground level floor and a story (10) and that it looks, when it occupies the aforesaid second volume, like a right parallelepiped, in particular as a rectangle parallelepiped, said frame (1) which supports a portion of the floor of the ground level floor occupying the whole median portion of the lower base of the parallelepiped, said base also comprising two movable, rectangular and equal panels (33), which are intended to support to other two portions of the floor of the ground level floor and which are hinged on both sides of the frame, along the large sides of the latter and about horizontal axes, so that their internal face can be folded back onto the corresponding posts (3) fixed to the frame, said flooring (4) the arca of which is substantially equal to that of the frame (1) and which is intended to support the median portion of the floor of the story (10) being associated with two movable, rectangular and equal panels (35) which are intended to support the other two portions of the floor of the story, and which are substantially of the same area as the two panels (33) hinged to thc frame, which panels (35) are hinged about horizontal axes to the corresponding tops of posts (3) fixed to the frame (1), the hinges of both said latter panels (35) being arranged so that their lower face can be folded back onto the external face of the corresponding panel (33) hinbed to the framc, when the latter panel (33) has been folded back onto the corresponding posts (3), the building roof situated in the upper base of the parallelepiped being plane and made, on the one hand, of a fixed median panel (38), which is rectangular and assembled to the top of said pillars (5), which are telescopic, fixed to the flooring (4), the area of which is lower than that of the latter and, on the other hand, of two movable rectangular panels (39) which are equal and hinged about horizontal axes, along the large sides of the fixed panel (38), the side facades (8, 9) of the building coinciding with two lateral opposed faces of the parallelepiped, which are parellel to the large sides of the frame, being each made of two movable, rectangular and substantially equal panels (40, 41) the area of which is at the most equal to that of the two movable panels (39) of the roof, one first panel (40) which is hinged about a horizontal axis, along the free edge of said movable panel (39) hinged to the fixed panel (38) and which is parallel to this latter hinge, and a second panel (41) which is hinged about a horizontal axis, along the free edge of the first movable panel (40) and which is parallel to the hinge of the latter to the movable panel (39) hinged to the fixed panel, the dimensions of said four fixed (38) and movable (39, 40 and 41) panels and their hinges being arranged so that the external face of the second panel (41) can be folded back onto the external face of the first panel (40), also so that the internal face of the latter can be folded back onto the internal face of the movable panel (39) hinged to the fixed panel (38), and so that said three movable, accordion-pleated panels (39, 40 and 41) can be folded back onto the pillars (5) in order that the internal face of the second panel (41) is facing the pillars, the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the latter forming a symmetry plane of the building, the front and rear facades (6 and 7) of said building, which are perpendicular to this symmetry plane being each formed of two groups of rectangular and movable panels which are separated from each other at the level of the flooring (4) in the position of the latter when the building is expanded, the first group of panels which forms one of said facades (6, 7) at the level of the ground floor comprising four rectangular panels (44, 45) which are equal two by two and hinged two by two about a vertical axis, to the corresponding posts (3) fixed to the frame, the dimension of the two panels (44, 45) fixed to the same post, when considered perpendicularly to the aforesaid symmetry plane, corresponding to half of one of the small sides of the frame (1) and to one of the small sides of the movable panel (33) hinged along one of the large sides of the frame respectively, hinges of said first group of panels (44, 45) being arranged so that the external faces of the panels (44, 45) hinged to one post (3) can be folded back onto each other in prolongation of the corresponding large side of the frame (1), the second group of panels forming one of these facades (6, 7) at the level of the story (10) comprising two equal and rectangular panels (47) hinged about a vertical axis onto the corresponding pillar (5) fixed to the flooring (4), said hinges being arranged so that the external faces of both said panels (47) can be folded back onto each other, in a direction parallel to the aforesaid symmetry plane in prolongation of the frame (1).

4. A prefabricated building according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a ground level floor and one story (10) and in that it looks, when it occupies the said second volume, like a right prism the bases of which are regular polygons, in particular octagons, said frame (1) which supports a portion of the floor of the ground level substantially occupying the median portion of the lower base of the prism, which portion is comprised between two opposed sides of the octagon, this base also comprising two movable panels (58), which are equal and substantially as an isosceles trapezium and are intended to support the other two portions of the floor of the ground level, said panels being hinged along their large bases, on both sides of the frame, along the large sides of the latter and about horizontal axes, so that their internal face can be folded back onto corresponding posts (3) fixed to the frame (1), the aforesaid flooring (4) the area of which is substantially equal to that of the frame (1) and which is intended to support the median portion of the floor of the story (10) being associated with two movable panels (60), which are equal and as isosceles trapezium the area of which is substantially equal to that of said movable panels (58) which are hinged to frame (1) and are intended to support the other two portions of the story floor, which panels are hinged about horizontal axes to the corresponding tops of posts (3) fixed to the frame, hinges of said last two movable panels (60) being arranged so that their lower face can be tolded back onto the external face of the corresponding panel (58) hinged to the frame, when this latter panel (58) has been tolded back onto the corresponding posts, the building roof situated in the upper base of the prism being plane and made, on the one hand, of a fixed median panel (63), which is rectangular and assembled to the top of the aforesaid pillars (5), which are fixed to the flooring (4) and telescopic, and the area of which is lower than that of said flooring (4) and, on the other hand, of two equal movable panels (64) which are hinged about horizontal axes, on both sides of the fixed panel (63) and along the large sides of the latter, the perimeter of each of these two movable panels (64) comprising, in addition to the side along which the panel is hinged to the fixed panel (63) and the length of which is equal to the length of the large sides of said fixed panel, three side of the octagon and two sides (66) contiguous to the side along which the movable panel (64) is hinged to the fixed panel (63), the length of which is substantially equal to half of one side of the octagon less half of one of the small sides of the fixed panel (63), the eight facades of the building coinciding with the lateral faces of the prism being constituted by two similar groups (67) of movable rectangular panels, which are located on both sides of the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axes of two pillars (5) fixed on nthe aforesaid flooring, which vertical plane is a symmetry plane of the building, cach of said panel groups (67) being in addition subdivided into two series (68, 69) of superimposed panels, each of panel groups (67) comprising, on both sides of the movable rectangular panel which is parallel to said symmetry plane and which is hinged about a horizontal axis, along the corresponding free edge of the movable panel (64) forming a part of the building roof, two movable rectangular panels (72, 73), one first panel (72) the area of which is substantially equal to that of one of the lateral faces of the prism, and a second panel the area of which is substantially equal to halt the area of a lateral face of the prism, when considered in a direction parallel to the ridges of the latter, said panels (70, 72, 73) being hinged to each other, about vertical axes, so that the panels of each group (67) can be located in prolongation to each other according to a direction parallel to the aforesaid symmetry plane, both, series (68, 69) of panels forming each panel group (67) being obtained by subdividing the panels of said group substantially at the level of the flooring (4) when the latter occupies its position corresponding to the second volume and according to a plane parallel to the bases of the prism, said two series of panels being hinged along this plane about a horizontal axis so as to be able, when the panels of one group are located in prolongation to each other, to be folded back onto each other in order that the external faces of the panels are facing each other, the fixed panel (63) and the movable roof panels (64), and also the panels of the two panel groups (67) which form the facades and the hinges (65, 71, 75) being arranged so that the panel series of a same group and the corresponding roof panel can be accordian-pleated so as to be finally folded back against the pillars (5) fixed to the flooring (4), on both sides of these pillars.

5. A prefabricated building according to claim 1, charaterized in that it comprises four facades, a ground level floor and two stories (10, 78) and in that it looks, when it occupies the second volume, like a right parallelepiped, in particular a rectangle parallelepiped, the aforesaid frame (1) which supports a portion of the floor of the bround level occupying the whole median portion of the lower base of the parallelepiped, the aforesaid flooring (4), the area of which is substantially equal to that of the frame (1) and which is intended to support the median portion of the floor of the first story, supporting four vertical shaped pieces (76), which are of equal lengths lower than the corresponding dimension of aforesaid gauge, which shaped pieces are situated and fixed to the corners of the flooring (4) so that said posts (3) fixed to frame (1) can slide into said shaped pieces (76) along a direction parallel to their longitudinal axis, a second flooring (77), the area of which is substantially equal to that of said flooring (4) and which is intended to support the median portion of the floor of the second story being arranged between the form shaped pieces (76) so as to be guided on the latter in order to be able to be moved, in parallel direction to itself, along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of these shaped piece, between two extreme positions, one first position corresponding to the first volume, in which the second flooring (77) is situated near the flooring (4), and a second position corresponding to the second volume, in which said second floor (77) is located near the tops of the shaped pieces (76) which are fixed to flooring (4) and in which the posts fixed to frame (1) slide, at least two telescopic vertical pillars (5) being fixed to the second flooring (77) so that their longitudinal axis is substantially located in the vertical symmetry plane of the building, which plane passes through the intersection point of the rectangle diagonals delimiting the upper face of frame (1) and is parallel to the large sides of this rectangle, the building roof situated in the upper base of the parallelepiped being plane and made, on the one hand, of a fixed median panel (79), which is rectangular and assembled to the top of the pillars (5) fixed to the second flooring (77) and the area of which is lower than that of the latter, and, on the other hand, of two rectangular movable panels (80) which are equal and hinged about horizontal axes along the large sides of the fixed panel (79), the portions of side facades (8, 9) of the building, which correspond to the first and the second stories (10, 78) and which coincide with the corresponding parts of the two opposed lateral faces of the parallelepiped, which are parallel to the large sides of frame (1) being each made of two rectangular and equal, movable panels (82, 83) the area of which is at the most equal to that of both movable roof panels (80), one first panel (82) which is hinged about a horizontal axis along the free edge of the movable roof panel (80) hinged to the fixed panel (79) and which is parallel to said latter hinge, and a second panel (83) hinged about a horizontal axis, along the free edge of the first movable panel (82) and which is parallel to hinge (84) of the latter to the movable roof panel (80), the dimensions of said four fixed (79) and movable (80, 81, 83) panels and their hinges (81, 84, 85) being arranged so that the external face of the second panel (83) can be folded back onto the external face of the first panel (82), also so that the internal face of the latter can be folded back onto the internal face of the movable roof panel (80), which is hinged to the fixed panel (79), and so that said three movable panels (80, 82, 83) when accordion-pleated, can be folded back in a direction parallel to the pillars (5) so that the internal face of the second panel (83) is orientated towards said pillars, the second flooring (77) which supports the median portion of the floor of the second story (78) being associated with two movable, rectangular and equal panels (86) which are intended to support the other two portions of the floor of the second story and which are hinged, on both sides of the base of the pillars (5) fixed to the second flooring (77), about horizontal axes, so that their upper face can be folded back against the pillars (5) in order that each of said panels (86) is situated between said pillars (5) and the three aforesaid corresponding panels (80, 82, 83) which pleat in accordion, the flooring (4) which supports the median portion (89) of the floor of the first story being associated with two similar groups (89) of three movable panels (90, 91, 92), which are rectangular and equal, said groups (89) being arranged on both sides of the large sides of said flooring (4) and each comprising a first panel (90) hinged to the flooring about one of the large sides of the latter and around a horizontal axis, and intended to support a portion of the floor of the first story (10), a second panel (91) hinged about a horizontal axis along the free edge of the first panel (90) which is opposite the hinge of the latter to flooring (4), and intended to form the portion of the building facade (8,9) corresponding to the ground level floor and which coincides with the corresponding part of one of the opposed lateral faces of the parallelepiped which are parallel to the large sides of frame (1), and a third panel (92) hinged about a horizontal axis along the free edge of the second panel (91) opposite the hinge (94) of the latter to the first panel (90), which is intended to support a portion of the floor of the ground level, said three panels (90, 91 and 92) of each group (89) and their hinges (93, 94 and 95) being arranged so that the upper face of the third panel (92) can be folded back onto the internal face of the second panel (91), in order that the lower face of the third panel (92) can be then folded back onto the lower face of the first panel (90), and finally in order that the upper face of the first panel (90) can be folded back against the aforesaid shaped pieces (76) fixed to flooring (4), the front and rear facades (6, 7) of the building which are perpendicular to the said symmetry plane being each formed of three groups of movable and rectangular panels, separated from each other at the level of both floorings (4, 77) in the position of the latter when the building is expanded, the first group of panels which forms one of said facades (6, 7) at the level of the ground floor comprising four rectangular panels (96, 97) which are equal two by two and hinged two by two, about a vertical axis onto the corresponding post (3), fixed to the frame (1), the dimension of both panels fixed to the same post (3), considered perpendicularly to the aforesaid symmetry plane, respectively and substantially corresponding to half of one of the small sides of the frame (1) and to one of the small sides of the third panel (92), hinges (98) of said first group of panels (96, 97) being arranged so that the external faces of the panels hinged to a post (3) can be folded back onto each other substantially in prolongation of the corresponding large side of the frame (1), the second group of panels, which forms one of the two facades (6,7) at the level of the first story (10) comprising four rectangular panels (99, 100) which are equal two by two and hinged two by two about a vertical axis on the corresponding shaped pieces (76) fixed to the aforesaid flooring (4), the dimension of both panels (99, 100) fixed to the same shaped piece (76), when considered perpendicularly to the aforesaid symmetry plane, corresponding respectively and substantially to half of one of the small sides of the flooring (77) and to one of the small sides of the first panel (90), hinges (101) of said second group of panels (99, 100) being arranged so that the external laces of the panels hinged to a shaped piece (76) can be tolded back on each other substantially in prolongation of the corresponding large side of the frame (1), the third group of panels which forms one of said facades (6, 7) at the level of the second story (78) comprising two equal rectangular panels (102) hinged about a vertical axis onto the corresponding pillar (5) fixed to the second flooring (77), said hinges (103) being arranged so that the external faces of said two panels (102) can be folded back onto each other, into a direction parallel to said symmetry plane and in prolongation of the frame (1).

6. A prefabricated building according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that above mentioned means arranged to make easier the movements of the flooring (4) along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the posts (3) fixed to frame (1) and accordingly the movements of the movable panels are made of mechanical jacks of the screw or fluid pressure type, which are associated either temporarily with the frame (1) in order to bear on the latter and on the flooring (4), or permanently inside the aforesaid posts (3) so as to rest on the frame (1) and the flooring (4).

7. A prefabricated building according to any of claims 1, 3 and 4, characterized in that aforesaid means arranged to make easier the movements along a vertical direction of the flooring (4) and the movements of the movable building panels are constituted, on the one hand, by screw or fluid pressure mechanical jacks associated either temporarily with the frame (1) in order to bear on the latter and on the flooring (4), or permanently inside the posts (3), so as to rest on the frame and the flooring, and, on the other hand, by jacks which are temporarily or permanently associated with the telescopic pillars (5) fixed to the flooring (4) and supporting the fixed panel (38) of the roof.

8. A prefabricated building according to claim 5, characterized in that aforesaid means arranged to make easier the movements of the floorings (4, 77), along a vertical direction, and the movements of the movable building panels are made of a first set of screw or fluid pressure jacks associated with the frame (1) and the flooring (4) supporting the shaped pieces sliding onto the posts (3) fixed to the frame so as to rest on this latter and the flooring, of a second set of jacks associated with said flooring (4) and said second flooring (77) to which are fixed the telescopic pillars (5) supporting the fixed panel (79) of the roof so as to rest on said two floorings (4, 77), and of a third set of jacks which is associated with the aforesaid telescopic pillars (5).

9. A prefabricated building according to any of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the movable panels forming the building are provided, along their periphery, with sealing joints, the aforesaid means intended to make easier the movements of the floorings and panels being arranged in order to delete, when the building passes from the second volume to the first one, the pressure exerting on the joints and to separate the latter from their contact surfaces, so as to prevent any damage thereto, when the movable panels are moved, and in order that, when the building passes from its first volume to its second one, to compress the joints when the movable panels occupy their position corresponding to the expanded building.

10. A prefabricated building according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises means (51) arranged to allow the building to revolve around a vertical axis (52) passing through the intersection point of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of the frame (1).

11. A prefabricated building according to claim 10, characterized in that said means (51) allowing the building to revolve around the vertical axis (52) comprise a ball or roller race (53) the axis of which coincides with the aforesaid vertical axis (52) and which is associated with the frame (1), being supported by the latter, a flooring (54) which is parallel to the frame and of the same shape and surface area as those of said frame being associated with the ball race (53) and supported by the latter, the above mentioned posts (3) being fixed to the flooring (54), sais means (51) also comprising a circular rail (55), which is coaxial with the ball race (53) and is made of several sections, this rail being fixed to said flooring (54) and to the movable panels (33) intended to support the floor of the ground level of the building, rollers (56) borne by said means (2) intended to ensure the stability of the building being provided and arranged so as to cooperate with said rail (55) in order to contribute to the building stability, means such as a brake-motor (57), which are manually or automatically controlled depending on the sun position being provided in order to rotate the building around the aforesaid vertical axis (52).

12. A prefabricated building according to any of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that it is equipped in particular with an electrical equipment, water and gas pipes, a heating installation, sewage drain pipes and sewage tretment means, as well as means for plugging and connecting various appliances and equipment apparatus.

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