EP1095191A1

EP1095191A1 - Prefabricated building systems

Info

Publication number: EP1095191A1
Application number: EP99955511A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Quentin George
Original assignee: I-Lok Multi-Structural International Ltd
Current assignee: I-Lok Multi-Structural International Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-09
Filing date: 1999-06-09
Publication date: 2001-05-02
Also published as: WO1999064688A1; JP2002517647A; CN1311840A; CA2334703A1; KR20010071447A; ZA200100250B; ID29024A; AUPP399598A0; BR9911121A

Abstract

A relocatable building structure which is formed from transportable prefabricated modules (11F) which include wall, floor and/or roof panel sections (14, 15). Each panel is formed from panel sections (12) which have frame side members (19) which are joined together during erection, either directly or indirectly, through joining members (21) positioned between the frame side members to form the panels. The joining members (21) extend beyond the joined wall panel sections (14) and provide the interconnection between the floor (15), wall (14) and roof panel sections. Selected wall panel sections (12) are connected by hinges (18) to selected floor panel sections (15) such that they may be raised pivotally one after the other from a stacked overlying position to their operative standing positions. An adjustable building support post is described together with a method of erecting a floor section with adjustable posts.

Description

"PREFABRICATED BUILDING SYSTEMS"

This invention relates to building structures and the construction and erection of prefabricated buildings. In particular this invention relates to prefabricated buildings utilising prefabricated steel framing such as relocatable buildings.

In our earlier International Patent Application No. PCT/AU 94/00335 there is disclosed a prefabricated building system in which a plurality of similar wall panel frame sections are arranged with the frame side members of adjacent wall panel frame sections adjacent but spaced apart by joining members located therebetween and rigidly fastening the frame side members to one another. The spaced interconnected side frame members define vertical load paths centered on the space between the frame side members. The top and bottom joining member extend vertically beyond the frame side members for interconnection to complementary frame members thereabove or therebelow. Suitably the load paths align with grid lines of a fixed floor plan grid whereby wall panel sections are medially intersected by respective vertical grid planes. This arrangement enables standardisation and economical fabrication of close tolerance steel framed panels sections.

Our present system provides significant advantages over existing systems especially in freedom of layout/roof design without sacrificing the advantages provided thereby. However it does not specifically address the provision of relocatable or remote area accommodation such as is required for mines or to facilitate cost effective provision of comfortable housing in underdeveloped areas.

Preferably such relocatable accommodation is able to be containerised for transport to or from erection sites where erection and local transport may be accomplished using unskilled labour and with minimum requirement for mechanised assistance such as cranes and concrete batching plants. It is also preferred that the building panels be pre-sheeted and have window and door frames installed and services where possible.

Furthermore in many such applications it is necessary to form accommodation structures which provide individual accommodation units for several persons or groups which are noise insulated from one another by respective walls with air gaps therebetween.

This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a relocatable building structure formed from transportable prefabricated panels including:- wall, floor and/or roof panels each formed from one or a plurality of panel sections; the respective panel sections include frame side members which are joined together during erection , either directly or indirectly, through joining members positioned between said frame side members to form the wall panels, the floor panels and/or the roof panels; the joining members joined to the ends of the wall frame side members extend beyond the joined wall panel sections and provide the interconnection to the floor and roof panels, being joined to the frame side members thereof, and selected wall panel sections being hingedly connected to selected floor panel sections such that they may be raised pivotally one after the other from a stacked overlying position to their operative standing positions. The joining members may provide opposed threaded apertures into which the wall frame side members may be bolted for direct connection to one another.

Alternatively there may be provided as a separate joining member associated with each wall frame side member which extends beyond the beyond the joined wall panel sections and provide the interconnection to the floor and/or roof panels, the separate joining members joining the wall frame side members together indirectly by joining the respective wall frame side members to joined frame side members of the floor and/or roof panels. In the context where it admits such a structure, a reference to a roof panel may be taken as a reference to a ceiling panel.

The separate joining panels which join the wall frame side members to the floor panels may form the hinge parts mounted on the wall panel sections of the hinge connection between the wall panel sections and the floor panel sections.

Preferably the hinge mechanisms or mountings therefore reside alongside the frame side members and/or in the space between the adjacent frame side members of mating panel sections whereby the hinge mechanism or mountings therefore in the erected structure may reside concealed between the opposed faces of the erected panels. Alternatively temporary hinges which are removable after erection may be used to elevate the wall panel sections to their operative positions.

The wall panel sections which are hingedly connected to the floor panel sections may also incorporate service connections such as ducting for cables or pipes for fluids. These may be flexible hose type connections but preferably they are in the form of rigid upper and lower complementary tubes including an arcuate tube centered on the hinge axis, the complementary tubes being fixed to respective ones of the wall and floor panel sections for pivotal movement with the wall panel sections to a mating attitude. This may be an operative substantially abutting alignment for threaded connection of one with the other or both upper and lower tubes may be arcuate and arranged to fit one within the other so as to maintain a constant encasement for services such as pre-wired electrical or data cabling. Preferably such arcuate tubes are set in from the outer wall cladding.

The floor panels may be of any desired configuration such as square hexagonal or triangular in plan form but it is preferred that each floor panel is rectangular and selected floor panels have respective wall panels hinged thereto by elevated pin type hinges providing hinge points spaced above the floor panels, and the elevated hinges enable pivotal movement to a standing position of successive uppermost ones of the wall panels which overlie the non-erected wall panels. Suitably in the standing position the wall panels extend across the ends of floor panels and are joined thereto by joining members disposed between spaced side frame members of respective panel sections. The wall panels may be clad both sides with a suitable sheet material or the like.

The cladding may have inner and outer skins provided with offset lateral extensions along the vertical edges and extending beyond the frame side members such that adjacent wall panel sections may be hinged upwardly to their standing position permitting the junction between the outer skins at each joint to be juxtaposed the frame side member of one of the adjacent wall panel sections and the junction between the inner skins at each corresponding joint to be juxtaposed the frame side member of the other of the adjacent wall panel sections.

Suitably the offset is such that the offset edges extend partway across the frame side member of the adjacent wall panel whereby the offset edges may be supported by and secured directly to the adjacent frame side members when erected. The outer cladding may also extend down beyond the wall frame so as to provide an overlap across the floor edge or foundation when the wall panels are erected.

The or each wall panel may include a support panel section hingedly connected to a floor panel section and a fill-in panel to extend between the support panel sections. The or each fill-in panel sections may be erected independently on site but preferably each is pivotally connected to a frame side member of a support panel section and is raised therewith and then may be pivoted about the frame side member to its operative position.

Suitably the wall panel sections hinge above further joining members disposed alongside the frame side members and/or in the space between the adjacent frame side members of mating panel sections and at the upper edge thereof providing direct load transfer paths to footings associated with further joining members.

Suitably the frame side members are formed as major load bearing members which extend between the upper and lower extremities of the panel sections providing load paths or composite columns at the junction of wall panel sections permitting roof, wall and floor loads to be transferred through the composite columns to the footings or floor, such as a concrete foundations or screw-in piles or the like. Alternatively, if desired the wall, floor and/or roof panel sections may be adapted to transfer imposed loads as a distributed load through horizontal edges thereof. The roof panel sections may also be hingedly attached to the upper ends of the wall panel sections whereby their upper ends may be elevated with or after raising the wall panel sections, enabling erection by hinging the roof panels upwardly from their inverted position to an operative inclined position.

Alternatively the roof panels may be transported separately to the erection site as a separate prefabricated structure. This structure may include ceiling panels having roof and suitably any verandah roof panels pivotally connected thereto for raising to their operative positions. In one form the roof panel sections are formed in opposing pairs each pivotally connected to the upper end of spaced parallel side wall panel sections whereby they may be raised to connect their upper ends to one another to form a ridge type roof. If desired the side frame members of the roof panel sections may be arranged to lie in respective common vertical planes and form the upper chords of a truss assembled after erection of the roof panel sections. Preferably these common vertical planes lie intermediate the frame side members of the panel sections of the wall panels and if desired the floor panels and suitably they coincide with fixed equally spaced horizontal grid lines. In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of erecting a transportable prefabricated floor panel section, the method comprising:- providing the floor panel section with supporting posts which are length adjustable downwardly from the floor; lifting the floor panel section from a sling whereby the floor hangs horizontally; positioning the floor panel section at the required level; adjusting the posts to engage prepared support surfaces, and locking the posts in that adjusted position before removing the sling so that the floor panel section is supported horizontally by the posts.

Preferably the floor is lifted by a crane, and suitably by a central point sling and craned to its operative position. The posts may be provided with feet for capture by prepared support surfaces. The posts may be fixed length posts which slide through clamps on the floor but preferably the posts are length adjustable posts provided with self leveling feet. Suitably the posts include a foot, an adjustable leg assembly having a lower end portion adapted for cooperation with a foot assembly in such manner that the leg assembly receives substantially axial support from the foot assembly irrespective of the relative angles between the leg assembly and the foot assembly within the range of adjustment provided. Preferably the foot assembly is plate like and is provided with a regular shaped dome supporting portion having a base width which is significantly greater than the tubular lower end portion which it is adapted to support and suitably either the tubular lower end portion or the dome portion has a cylindrical section whereas the other may have a polygonal section enabling the foot assembly to provide full support for the lower end portion at any position on the dome shaped portion. It is also preferred that the lower end portion be telescopically engaged with an upper end portion and that locking means be provided for selectively locking the lower end portion to the upper end portion at the selected length adjustment. For this purpose, one may be adapted to be through bolted to the other through an axial slot permitting length adjustment prior to clamping by bolting or each may be adapted to be through bolted to the other through one pair of mating holes which may constitute one of many mating holes providing length adjustment of the leg assembly. It is also preferred that the lower end portion be interconnected with the foot assembly in a manner which permits free movement between the leg assembly and the foot assembly over the selected range of adjustments and which does not inhibit engagement of the lower end portion with the dome portion of the foot assembly. For this purpose it is preferred that in one embodiment the dome assembly is provided with a loop which may engage captively about a pin extending through the lower end portion of the leg assembly.

The frame side members are suitably side members of clad panel section frames which may be ladder type frames formed from box, tubular or open section members. The joining members may be formed from plate steel with threaded bolt holes therethrough or they may be formed as rectangular hollow section members having threaded bolt apertured formed in the opposite faces. Suitably the threaded apertures are formed as flow drilled apertures thereby forming internal threaded collars extending the thread length. n order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention and wherein:-

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of erected framework of a relocatable structure having an elevated floor, walls, ceilings and a roof structure, the panel sections being shown unclad; FIGS. 2a to 2i illustrate the sequence of erection of the framework associated with one floor panel section of the floor illustrated in FIG. 1 , which is formed from four such floor panel sections and verandah sections;

FIGS. 2j to 2m illustrate the sequence of erection of the verandah, ceiling and roof framework associated with the structure illustrated in Figs. 2a to 21; FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate typical hinging arrangements for a wall panel section;

FIGS. 4a to 4c illustrate details of an alternate hinge mechanism for hinging adjacent wall panel sections to an upstanding attitude;

FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c illustrate the various arrangements of the supporting posts for the framework of FIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 6a to 6g illustrate a floor panel section frame and its construction details for both fillet welded and spot welded versions;

FIGS. 7a to 7c illustrate hinge details in plan view for infill panel sections which swing from the end panel sections to form a corner;

FIGS. 8a to 8i illustrate the sequence of erecting the roof structure;

FIGS. 9a and 9b provide enlarged views of the roof ridge connecting means and the sequence of the roof erection;

FIGS. 10a to 10d illustrate the pivot arrangement for connecting the verandah roof to the main roof;

FIGS. 11a to 11c illustrate the erection sequence of an alternate form of wall hinge and Figs. 12d to 12 are corresponding views from the opposite side of the hinge; FIGS. 12a to 12c illustrate an offset wall cladding arrangement for use with the hinges of Fig. 12;

FIGS. 13a to 13c illustrate details of the services connections between walls and floor;

FIG. 14 provides a construction sequence of a typical building according to an alternate form of this invention, and

FIGS. 15 is an exploded view of a support post.

The structure 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 is formed from four prefabricated floor/wall modules 11 F as illustrated in Fig. 2a and corresponding roof /ceiling modules 11 R as shown in Fig. 2k, both of which are formed to facilitate containerised transportation with other modules.

The floor module 11 F includes panel sections 12 which overlay one another in their transport configuration with wall panel sections 14 above and connected pivotally to a floor panel section 15 or to one another.

All panel sections of the framework illustrated in Fig. 1 are factory formed with welded unitary ladder frames having frame side members 19 interconnected by rung members 20. In the structure 10 the frame side members 19 of the adjacent floor, wall and roof panel sections are spaced apart by interposed joining members 21 each provided with threaded apertures 22 which receive opposing bolts 23 extending through complementary apertures 66 in the adjacent webs 24 of the floor frame side members 19. These joints are illustrated in Fig. 5.

The end wall panel sections 14 are connected to the floor side frame members 19 by pin type hinge assemblies 18. Each hinge assemblies 18 has a leg member 25 formed integrally with the adjacent side face of a joining member 21 and extending to a single pin connection 26 extending through the web 24 of the floor side frame members 19.

The joining member 21 is bolted to the side face of the end wall frame side members 19 and protrudes therefrom so as to effect a bolted connection to the floor side frame members 19 when elevated to a standing position. The pin connection is positioned medially of the web 24 and inward from the ends of the side frame members 19 as the length of the leg members 25 is such as to hold the end wall panel sections 14 elevated above the stack of remaining wall panel sections. Thus, in the illustration, the right hand leg members 25 are the longest enabling the right hand end panel section 14 to overlie all other panel sections.

As shown in Fig. 2b, the right hand end wall panel section 14 is the first elevated and it pivots directly to its operative position such that the lower pairs of threaded apertures 22 in the lower joining members 21 bolted thereto may be through bolted through the corresponding apertures 66 in the webs 24. The upstanding end wall panel section 14 may then be bolted in position.

The left hand end wall panel section 14 is similarly raised as shown in Fig. 2c. It will be seen that each end panel section 14 carries an in-fill panel section 13a. It will also be seen that the leg members 25 are not as thick as the joining members 21 such that they may lie unobtrusively between frame side members 19 joined by the joining members 21.

As illustrated in Fig. 2d, the rear one of the side wall panel sections 14 is then pivoted to its operative position and the rear wall panel is completed by hinging the infill panel sections 13a to join the side wall panel section 14 to the end wall panel sections 14. Thereafter as shown in Figs. 2g to 2i, the front wall panel section 12 is raised and infill panel sections 13b suspended therefrom are pivoted to their operative positions to complete the perimeter wall frame about the floor panel section 15.

It will be seen that the wall panel sections 14 terminate inwardly of the leg members 25 and couple to the floor panel section 15 through joining members 21 bolted to the outer side face of the web 24 and adapted in the erected position to transfer vertical loads directly to complementary lower joining members which are also through bolted to the web 24 but extend upwardly from telescopically adjustable intermediate posts 28. The hinge detail enabling the wall panel sections 12 to pivot from their stowed position to their operative supporting position are illustrated in Fig. 6.

The joining members 21 are formed from the same hollow rectangular section and are open along their underside for location about the upwardly converging deflector members 30 mounted along the upper end of the joining members 21 . The upper joining member 27 illustrated in Fig. 4 s a composite member having substantially identical upper and lower sections 27a and 27b interconnected through a welded-in bar 31 . The upper section 27a is provided with spaced threaded apertures 32 adapted for through bolting to the apertures 33 formed in the open corner member 34 of each wall panel section 14. The corresponding threaded apertures 32 in the lower composite joining members 27 are bolted to the web 24 through vertical slots 35 formed in the web 24 as illustrated in Fig 4a. The open corner members 34 terminate each frame side member 19 of the wall panel sections 14 and enable rigid through bolting to joining members 21 and 27. As illustrated in Fig. 4a, in order to permit the lower of the stacked wall sections

14 to be raised pivotally its their upright position, it pivots about the bolt which passes through one of the apertures 33 in the open corner member 34 to engage threadedly in the innermost one of the threaded apertures 32 of the upper portion 27a. Thus the side panel sections 12 may be pivoted about these opposed engaged bolts until the other aperture 33 aligns with the adjacent threaded aperture 32 in the upper portion of the joining member 27 when the wall is vertical, enabling the bolted connection through the open corner member 34 to be completed.

At the same time, the slotted apertures 35 for the bolts securing the lower portion 27a permit that portion to move downwardly to nest against the upper end of the joining member 21 secured to the post assembly 26, as illustrated in Fig. 4b. The four bolts holding the upper and lower sections of the joining member 27 to the side frame member 19 and the open corner member 34 of the side panel section 12 may then be tightened to effect the joint between the side panel section 12 and the floor panel section 15.

It will also be seen that each infill panel section 13 is hinged by upper and lower two part drop hinges 36 which are removable once the bolted connection is effected to the frame side members 19 of the side panel section 12. The hinges 36 permit the infill panel sections 13 to be pivoted to an in-line position accompanied by a dropping action at full pivot at which the upper leaf clears the blocking projection such that the apertures 33 in the open corner member 34 of the infill panel section 13 align with the apertures 32 in the upper part of the joining member 27. In this manner the infill panel sections 13 are rigidly bolted to the side panel section 12 through the upper part of the joining member 27. This sequence is illustrated in Fig 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d.

The joining member 27 at the upper end of the adjacent side frame members 19 is initially bolted to the infill panel section 13 through a single bolt 39 whereby it may rock to and from about this bolted connection to the upper open corner member 34 for the purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. Also, the upper portion of this joining member 38 is relatively wide to provide for side by side bolted connection of the adjoining ceiling frame sections thereto.

An alternate hinging arrangement between the rear infill panels 13 and the end panel sections 14 is shown in Fig. 7. These pivotal connections 41 are simple pin connections bolted into the corner members 34 providing vertical pins 42 which engages in the open upper end of the adjacent infill frame side member. As the infill panels 13 pivot outwardly to their operative position, they must pass across the flange 44 of the floor side frame member 19F before dropping to their operative bolted positions. Thus the upper and lower hinges 41 are configured as drop hinges permitting this downward movement at the full pivot position. Each infill panel section 13 is maintained in its elevated position by a blocking section 45 fixed to the underside of its side frame member 19. In their operative positions, the infill panels at the rear side panel sections are secured in this same manner as those at the front and previously described. After the walls have been secured in position about the floor panel section 15 with the upright side frame members 19 forming load paths having upper and lower joining members 21/27 for receiving and transferring loads direct from the roof to the support posts 28, the roof module 11 R is craned into position to rest on the upper edges of the wall panel sections. This and the subsequent sequence of erection is shown in Figs. 2k to 2m.

Fig. 5 illustrates the arrangement of supporting posts 28 and their integral joining members 21 to provide a structure having double internal walls separated by an air gap providing four separate accommodation modules. Thus the centre post 28c has four joining members 21 as illustrated in Fig. 5b and the intermediate end posts 21 i have opposed joining members 21 as illustrated in Fig. 3c.

Referring to Figs. 2i to 2m, it will be seen that the roof module 10r includes three roof and ceiling panel sections each having frame side members 19 which bolt to the joining members 21/27 interconnecting the wall panel sections 12 and the infill panel sections 13. This arrangement provides direct vertical load paths to the supporting posts through the composite posts formed by the interconnected frame side members, with free spans therebetween.

As the ceiling panel sections 16 fit closely between the front and rear joining members 27 these members may be to pivoted outwardly during placement of the ceiling panel sections to permit them to pass downwardly therebetween to their operative positions whereupon the joining members 27 may be pivoted inwardly to an upright position and be securely bolted to the ceiling panel section 16. Furthermore, the joining members 21 for the front corners of the floor modules 11 F and ceiling panel sections 16 are positioned on the pivotable infill panels 13 at the front such that they may swing outwardly to a slight degree to permit the ceiling panel section 16 to be installed before final bolting together in their operative position in a similar manner to the joining members 27. Referring to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the roof panel sections 17 are initially disposed with their inner edges 38 adjacent one another above the centre line of the structure. They also carry verandah panel sections 50 hingedly connected to their outer ends by removable hinges 53 and stowed in an overlying attitude above the roof panel sections 17. One of these panel sections 17 is moved inwardly beyond the centreline position so that its outer end may be connected to a spaced joining members 21/27, disposed between and interconnecting ceiling panel sections 16, by one bolt in each to form a hinge point about which that section may be raised.

The apex brackets 51 are bolted in place and the opposing roof panel section 17 is then moved inwardly over the top of the connected panel section 17. Both roof panel sections 17 are then elevated so that the upper ends 54 of some of the side frame members 19 of the uppermost roof panel section 17 is trapped upon moving over-centre to form the ridge as illustrated in Fig. 12b. Thereafter, the verandah panel sections 50 are pivoted outwardly on the removable brackets 53 before finally being secured in place with fixed brackets 52 as illustrated in the detail to the exposed upper portions of the joining members 21.

As shown in Fig. 9, the trap arrangement 55 comprises respective camming surfaces 47 on the apex brackets 51 and base plates 65 upon which the ends 38 of the adjacent uncoupled but spaced side frame members 19 will rest upon capture. Thereafter they are through bolted at 47 to the apex bracket 51 to complete the upper cord of the truss.

Bracing members 46 are also bolted into the gap between adjacent end frame side members 19 of the ceiling panel sections 16 and the roof panel sections 17 to form trusses in line with the supporting posts such that all roof loads are transferred directly along the vertical load paths to the supporting posts.

In order to provide a floor structure which has adequate strength for spanning between opposed side walls and which is economical to manufacture and transport, the floor panel section 15 as illustrated in Fig. 6 is formed as a ladder frame in which the frame frame side members 19 and the rung members 20 are formed as open C-section members. The frame side members 19 are provided with upper and lower pairs of apertures 66 at each end for through bolting to the lower joining members 21 on the end posts and intermediate pairs of apertures 67 and slots 35 for securing these members above the intermediate post 28i.

It will be seen that the verandah floor panels 60 rest upon the same foot plate 62 which supports the floor panel section but it is constructed of shallower open frame sections to provide the necessary step down to the verandah floor.

It will be seen in the exploded view that the web portion 70 of each rung 20 is scalloped at its ends at 71 to provide upper and lower mating end portions which are welded to the flanges 44 of the frame frame side members 19. Vertical bracing members 72 extend between the flanges 44 intermediate the respective pairs of apertures 66 and slots 35 to reinforce the vertical load path through the side frame members 19. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6b which illustrates a fillet welded version of the floor frame.

The spot welded version of the floor frame is illustrated in Figs. 6e to 6g and it will be seen that extra reinforcing pieces 73 which co-operate with a formed end portion 74 of the rung member 20 so as to provide the necessary rigid spot welded connection of the rung members 20 to the frame frame side members 19.

It will be seen that the structure 10 can be assembled from four prefabricated floor modules 11f and roof modules 1 r to form four separate accommodation units, separated by double walls with air gaps therebetween, which can be quickly erected as described in relation to the illustrated embodiment above and, if desired, with the floor being placed by a crane according to the method described above to facilitate fast and simple erection by unskilled labour.

While the structure is shown with open frames, these frames can be pre-clad in the factory for erection of prefabricated structures to the lock up stage without the need for on-site fabrication.

The hinge mechanism 80 illustrated in Figs 11a to 11 c provides a separate hinging arrangement whereby side by side wall panel sections 14 can be pivoted to an upstanding attitude from an overlying attitude. Each hinge mechanism 80 is formed from a connector plate 81 provided with a spacing leg 82 as per the previous embodiment which extends to a pin type pivot 83. The connector plate 81 is provided with upper and lower pairs of threaded apertures 84. The upper pair of threaded apertures 84 are bolted to the wall frame side members 19 and the lower pair extend below the wall panel section 14 for alignment with the complementary apertures 86 formed in the side members 19 of the floor panel sections 87. The lower pair are through bolted when erected to secure the wall frame side members to the floor frame side members which, in use, are connected by the joining members 21 to an adjacent floor frame side member. The lower ends of the connector plates wedge behind the deflector members 30 and the joining members 21 provide the indirect interconnection of adjacent wall frame side members 19.

The use of such joining members 80 enables a row of wall panel sections to be raised and interconnected in succession to form a wall panel. Further, as illustrated in Figs. 12, the cladding on the wall panels which includes an inner skin 90 and an outer skin 91 is provided with offset lateral extensions 92 and 93 from the opposing wall frame side members 19. Thus the outer extension 93 of one panel provides an abutment for the partly exposed outer edge 94 of the adjacent wall frame side member 19 as it is raised to its upstanding attitude. At the same time, the offset inner extension 93 of that adjacent panel simultaneously abuts the partly exposed inner edge 96 of that one panel. This enables each skin 90 and 91 to be screwed or otherwise attached to the frame side members 19 of the adjacent wall frame side members 19 which facilitates an flush joint being formed between the skins of the panel sections. The panels may be shipped with the services connected, being per-wired in conduits and with plumbing installed. As illustrated in Figs 13a to 13c, the wiring conduits include upper and lower arcuate tubular portions 100 and 101 fixed to respective ones of the wall and floor panel sections 14 and 15 which pivot from an overlying attitude as per Fig. 13b to a standing attitude as per Fig. 13c. The pivoting occurs about a pivot pin 102 shown in the exploded view of Fig. 13a. The complementary arcuate tubes are slidably engaged with one another and are positioned concentrically with the wall hinge axis through the pins 102 for sliding engagement as the wall pivots between its stowed and standing attitude. Cable slackness in the conduit which may result from such concertina movement may be drawn out at the wall or floor ends of the conduits.

The water conduit assembly 104 has a similar upper conduit 106 terminated at its free end by a threaded coupling 105 which is pivoted into an operative substantially abutting alignment with a mating connector 103 in the floor cavity through an access aperture 107. The connection can thus be readily made once the wall panel section 14 is positioned and/or bolted in its upstanding attitude. All the conduits are set in from the outer wall cladding 91 so that it is concealed by the downward extension 108 of the external cladding in the erected attitude.

The adjustable support assembly 28 includes a length adjustable leg 1 1 1 supported by a foot assembly 1 12. The leg 1 1 1 includes upper and lower cylindrical members 1 13 and 1 14 which engage telescopically with respect to one another and which are through bolted by bolts 1 15 for length adjustable interlocking engagement with one another. The lower end portion 1 14 is loosely connected to the foot assembly 1 12 by the captive engagement of a transverse pin 1 16 extending through the opposite side walls of the lower portion 1 14 and through a relatively broad loop 1 17 extending upwardly from and fixed to the foot assembly 1 12.

The engagement of the pin 1 16 in the loop 1 17 is such that the engagement does not prevent relative rotation of the foot assembly and the leg assembly about the longitudinal axis of the leg assembly through a wide range of adjustments in the order of 15°. Furthermore, it will be seen that the loop 1 17 extends upwardly from the crest of a dome portion 120 disposed substantially centrally in the rectangular plate like foot assembly 1 12.

The outer planar portion 121 of the base plate is provided with bolt apertures 122 in each corner. It will also be seen that the captive connection of the pin 1 16 by the loop 1 17 permits a substantial extent of axial movement of the leg assembly relative to the foot assembly such that in addition to the relative axial rotation the captive mounting of the pin 1 16 within the loop does not inhibit support of the leg assembly on a portion of the domed portion 120 offset from the crest at any position therearound.

Thus, within the range of allowable adjustments of the support assembly, the base plate 121 may be supported on an inclined surface such as the ground or the upper end of a bored footing to which the foot assembly is connected by through bolting through the apertures 122 and the leg assembly may be adjusted to lie in a vertical plane with axial loads thereon being transferred through the annular bottom face of the lower portion 1 14 engaged fully with the corresponding portion of the dome portion 120.

Infinite height adjustment within the range of adjustment of the support assembly is provided by arranging vertically spaced slots 125 in the larger upper tube 113 having a length equal to the distance between the equally spaced threaded apertures 126 in the inner tube 1 14. Locking in the selected adjustment is achieved by inserting the bolts 1 15 through the slots 125 into the appropriate threaded apertures 126 and tightening the bolts to clamp the inner tube to the outer tube upon the selected adjustment length being achieved.

For the purposes of a building foundation after initial adjustment has been achieved, both lengthwise and in order to secure the post in a vertical orientation, the bottom face of the lower tube 1 14 may be welded to the domed portion 120 and if desired the outer tube 1 13 may be welded to the inner tube 1 14 about their junction. The upper end of the upper member 1 13 is closed by a plate 127 upon which is mounted a hollow rectangular sectioned joining member 21 . This member 123 is provided with rolled thread connections 129 formed in the opposing side walls 130 in an operation in which metal is forced inwardly to form a threaded open socket having a depth much greater than the wall thickness of the joining member 21 the deflector member 30 is welded across the open top of the joining member 21 .

The task sequence of Figs. 14/1 to 14/32 illustrates erection of a structure utilising the alternate features of Figs. 1 1 to 13. The paragraph describing each task commences with the drawing suffix number and the estimated time sequence for performing the tasks.

14/1 . TIME: 0 Hrs, 0 Mins: The truck carrying the full building module arrives at site. Screw-in-foundations are installed using a hydraulically driven power head attached to truck crane jib, which carries the modules. Alternatively, screw-in- foundations can be installed in advance. Bored concrete piers can be used instead of Screw-in-foundations.

14/2. TIME: 1 Hrs, 20 Mins: Once the screw-in-foundations installation is complete, the site is ready for erection of the modules. 14/3. TIME: 1 Hrs, 25 Mins: The first floor/wall module is unloaded and held elevated by the crane sling.

14/4. TIME: 1 Hrs, 30 Mins: The self leveling support posts are attached while the frame is elevated still in the sling.

14/5. TIME: 1 Hrs, 35 Mins: The module is craned over the screw-in- foundation's, self leveling footing's are dropped down to the screw-in-foundation's, and temporary adjustment bolts tightened up. The outer telescoping tube of the self leveling footing finds its own level, and the "footing plate", with its convex upper face, will sit flat on top of the screw-in-foundation, even if it is not installed vertically. The first installed floor/wall module provides a datum for the remaining floor/wall modules. Once this frame is level, all of the other frames have only to be leveled on one side, since the frame-side closest to the already leveled frame sits on top of the leveled self leveling footing. The next frame is unloaded.

14/6. TIME: 1 Hrs, 50 Mins: The last main floor frame is in position. Ideally the module should be erected down one side first to ensure that SCREW-IN- FOUNDATION'S have been installed correctly they can be reinstalled.

14/7. TIME: 1 Hrs, 55 Mins: The verandah frame is craned into position and bolted off.

14/8. TIME: 2 Hrs, 0 Mins: All floors are in position, their level is checked.

The first wall to be folded up is an inside blank frame-end "dry" wall, so called because is does not form part of a wet area. It is bolted off. The next series of steps takes place from right to left, back of module to front.

14/9. TIME: 2 Hrs, 5 Mins: The opposite frame-end window wall is unfolded, and bolted off.

14/10. TIME: 2 Hrs, 10 Mins: The sequence in Fig. 14i is repeated. The bay- end window wall is attached to the frame-end blank dry wall. There is a double "sound proof" wall along the common room axis in this module, hence there are two inside blank frame-end walls.

14/1 1 . TIME: 2 Hrs, 15 Mins: The front facing frame-end window wall is folded up.

14/12. TIME: 2 Hrs, 20 Mins: The back verandah frame is folded up. It has a telescoping section allowing it to be extended up to 2450mm when upright, but sit over a 2200mm wide frame when flat-packed.

14/13. TIME: 2 Hrs, 30 Mins: Both sets of ceiling-verandah-main roof assemblies are craned in. The roof frames have a three-way acting connector plate which allows the roof frame to move inboard and outboard of the ceiling frame, establishing an overlap. A boomerang shaped plate with a "trap" allows opposing roof frames to be pushed up in one action. When fully deployed at the correct angle of roof pitch the connector plate locks the frames together, which are then bolted off.

14/14. TIME: 2 Hrs, 35 Mins: Both roof frames are pushed up, either with an air-bag, a pneumatic jack or by crane. The front veranda frame is folded up. 14/15. TIME: 2 Hrs, 40 Mins: The truss web is bolted into place, and the verandah posts telescoped up.

14/16. TIME: 2 Hrs, 45 Mins: The verandah roof is rotated into position. This completes the first segment of construction. The next wall to be unfolded is an internal blank frame-end wet/dry wall. 14/17. TIME: 2 Hrs, 50 Mins: The back facing frame-end blank wall is unfolded, and bolted off. Plumbing connections are completed from the back of walls to the under floor area. The opposing frame-end window wall is unfolded. The pre-fixed electrical loom is connected between walls that have power outlets, switches or lights. 14/18. TIME: 2 Hrs, 55 Mins: The back facing frame end-wall is upright, and bolted off.

14/19. TIME: 3 Hrs, 0 Mins: The front facing frame-end blank wet/dry wall is unfolded. This shows the blank bay-end frame folded inside of it.

14/20. TIME: 3 Hrs, 5 Mins: The front frame-end window/door wall is folded up. 14/21 . TIME: 3 Hrs, 10 Mins: Ceiling-verandah-main roof assemblies are craned in. 14/22. TIME: 3 Hrs, 15 Mins: The roof is folded up, and truss webs bolted off.

14/23. TIME; 3 Hrs, 20 Mins: The frame-end blank wet-dry wall is folded up.

14/24. TIME: 3 Hrs, 25 Mins: The opposing frame end window/door wall is folded up. 14/25. TIME: 3 Hrs, 30 Mins: The verandah frame is rotated up.

14/26. TIME: 3 Hrs, 35 Mins: Ceiling-verandah-main roof assemblies are craned-in.

14/27. TIME: 3 Hrs, 40 Mins: Verandah roof frame is rotated over.

14/28. TIME: 3 Hrs, 45 Mins: The last segment of wall frames is rotated up, and bolted off.

14/29. TIME: 3 Hrs, 55 Mins: Ceiling-verandah-main roof assemblies are craned in.

14/30. TIME: 4 Hrs, 10 Mins: Roof frames are folded up and gable end trusses are bolted in. 14/31. TIME: 4 Hrs, 20 Mins: The gable end piece is added, and hydraulics connected. Stairs are added.

14/32. TIME: 4 Hrs, 25 Mins: The module is ready for finishing off.

The above times are given as a guide to illustrate that a structure according to this invention may be erected systematically and rapidly and are not intended as actual times which can be achieved.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A relocatable building structure formed from transportable prefabricated panels including:- wall, floor and/or roof panels each formed from one or a plurality of panel sections; the respective panel sections include frame side members which are joined together during erection, either directly or indirectly, through joining members positioned between said frame side members to form the wall panels, the floor panels and/or the roof panels; the joining members joined to the ends of the wall frame side members extend beyond the joined wall panel sections and provide the interconnection to the floor and roof panels, being joined to the frame side members thereof, and selected wall panel sections being hingedly connected to selected floor panel sections such that they may be raised pivotally one after the other from a stacked overlying position to their operative standing positions.

2. A relocatable building structure as claimed in claim 1 and including separate joining member associated with each wall frame side member which extends beyond the beyond the joined wall panel sections and provide the interconnection to the floor and/or roof panels, the separate joining members joining the wall frame side members together indirectly by joining the respective wall frame side members to joined frame side members of the floor and/or roof panels.

3. A relocatable building structure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the mountings for the hinge mechanism reside alongside the wall panel side members and concealed between the opposed faces of the wall panels.

4. A relocatable building structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall panel sections which are hingedly connected to the floor panel sections incorporate service connections.

5. A relocatable building structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the service connections include, the complementary tubes fixed to respective ones of the wall and floor panel sections for relative pivotal movement with the wall panel sections to a mating attitude.

6. A relocatable building structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the service connection includes a cable conduit assembly having a complementary arcuate tubes slidabiy engaged with one another and disposed concentrically with the wall hinge axis for sliding engagement as the wall pivots between a stowed and standing attitude.

7. A relocatable building structure as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the service connection includes a water conduit assembly having a threaded coupling which is pivoted into an operative substantially abutting alignment for threaded connection of one with the other or both upper and lower coupling members.

8. A relocatable building structure as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the service connections are set in from the outer wall cladding.

9. A relocatable building structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cladding on the wall panels includes inner and outer skins provided with offset lateral extensions along the vertical edges thereof and extending beyond the frame side members.

10. A relocatable building structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lateral extensions are offset such that the edge extensions extend partway across the frame side member of the adjacent wall panel.

11. A relocatable building structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including a wall panel section hingedly connected to a floor panel section and a fill-in wall panel section pivotally connected to a frame side member of said wall panel section.

12. A relocatable building structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall panel sections hinge above further joining members disposed alongside the frame side members and/or in the space between the adjacent frame side members of mating panel sections and at the upper edge thereof providing direct load transfer paths to footings associated with further joining members.

13. A relocatable building structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame side members are formed as major load bearing members which extend between the upper and lower extremities of the panel sections providing load paths through composite columns formed by the joined frame side members at the junction of wall panel sections permitting roof, wall and floor loads to be transferred through the composite columns to the footings or floor.

14. A relocatable building structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame the roof panel sections are formed in opposing pairs each pivotally connected to the upper end of spaced parallel side wall panel sections whereby they may be raised to connect their upper ends to one another to form a ridge type roof.

15. A relocatable building structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the frame side members of the roof panel sections are arranged to lie in respective common vertical planes and form the upper chords of a truss assembled after erection of the roof panel sections.

16. A method of erecting a transportable prefabricated floor panel section, the method comprising:- providing the floor panel section with supporting posts which are length adjustable downwardly from the floor; lifting the floor panel section from a sling whereby the floor hangs horizontally; positioning the floor panel section at the required level; adjusting the posts to engage prepared support surfaces, and locking the posts in that adjusted position before removing the sling so that the floor panel section is supported horizontally by the posts.

17 An adjustable post for use with the method of claim 16, including an adjustable leg assembly having a lower end portion adapted for cooperation with a foot assembly in such manner that the leg assembly receives substantially axial support from the foot assembly irrespective of the relative angles between the leg assembly and the foot assembly within a selected range of relative angles.

18. An adjustable post as claimed in claim 17, wherein the foot assembly is plate like and is provided with a regular shaped dome supporting portion having a base width which is significantly greater than the tubular lower end portion of the leg which it is adapted to support.

19. An adjustable post as claimed in claim 18, wherein either the tubular lower end portion or the dome portion has a cylindrical section whereas the other may have a polygonal section enabling the foot assembly to provide full support for the lower end portion at any position on the dome shaped portion.

20. An adjustable post as claimed in claim 17, 18 or 19, wherein the lower end portion is telescopically engaged with an upper end portion and locking means are provided for selectively locking the lower end portion to the upper end portion at the selected length adjustment.