GB2051173A - Transportable Buildings - Google Patents

Abstract

A transportable building (12) is adapted for towing by a tractor unit (94). The building (12) has wheels (20) at the rear, and a pair of legs (90) adjacent the towing connection (93). The wheels (20) and the legs (90) are retractable to permit the building (12) to be transported at one height above the ground, and lowered, on site, to a second height. The building may be supported at the second height by the retracted wheels, or by screw jacks to permit the building to be installed on uneven ground. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transportable Buildings This invention relates to transportable buildings of the kind equipped with wheels for use during transport and other supports by means of which the building can be supported instead of the wheels so that the building can be firmly installed at a desired location.

The transportable building may be in the form of a unit which is factory assembled for delivery to a prepared site complete with roof, floor, walls, and preferably fitted with all necessary doors and windows. Additionally, each such building may be adapted to be joined to one or more further units to form a larger building.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a transportable building comprising a body structure carried on a rigid floor structure, affording a habitable space and having a towing connection at one end of the body structure, a plurality of ground engageable wheels, a retractable leg structure, means to permit such wheels and leg structure to be moved relative to the body from respective operative positions in which they transmit the weight of the building to the ground to enable it to be supported at a first height above the ground, to respective inoperative positions in which the building is supported at a second, lower, height above the ground.

By a "habitable space" we mean a space bounded by the wall structure affording an undivided area of not substantially less than about 2.5 square metres with a minimum horizontal dimension of about 1.5 metres and a height of not substantially less than 1.8 metres. It will be understood that the total area may be much greater than this minimum value and is limited in practice only by restrictions imposed on widths and lengths of vehicles in general. Thus the habitable space may be up to about 3 metres wide and metres long and may be sub-divided by internal partition walls to form two or more rooms or compartments at least one of which conforms to the minimum area referred to above, although some of the area may be taken up by interior fittings anciliary to the intended use of the habitable space, for example cupboards.

Preferably the building is not less than 7 metres long, up to a maximum of 1 5 metres.

Typically such buildings are in the range 8 metres to 1 2 metres long.

Preferably said retractable leg structure is at or adjacent said one end of the body structure.

In use, when the building is to be transported the ground engageable wheels are conveniently maintained in their operative position and the leg structure in its inoperative position.

When the building is at a desired location the leg structure is moved to its operative position to permit the towing hitch to be disconnected from the towing vehicle and thereafter the wheels and leg structure are moved to their inoperative position so that the building structure is lowered to the ground.

When the structure is so lowered the building may be designed to rest directly on the ground either by means of the floor structure or a chassis beneath the floor structure.

If desired levelling jacks may be provided at appropriate positions to enable adjustments to be made for uneven ground. Alternatively the leg structure may support the building when in its inoperative position. Similarly the ground engageable wheels may carry part of the weight of the building when in their inoperative position.

The wheels may be movable relative to the body structure by virtue of being retractable relative to the floor structure from said operative to said inoperative position. In this case, wheels may be retracted by hydraulic, pneumatic or screw jack means and may be manually or power operated.

Alternatively the wheels may be movable relative to the body structure by virtue of being disconnectable from the body structure.

In the latter case a further retractable leg structure is preferably provided to support the building whilst the ground engageable wheels are disconnected from the building. Once the wheels have been thus disconnected from the building the additional leg structure may be movable to an inoperative position to permit the building to be moved into said second position wherein at least part of the weight of the building may be taken by the additional leg structure or by virtue of the building resting directly on the ground as hereinbefore described.

The leg structure and/or the additional leg structure may be retractable by hydraulic, pneumatic, or screw jack means and may be manually or power operated.

The towing connection may be a "fifth wheel" type of connection for connection to an articulated vehicle tractor unit or the towing connection may be of a "ball hitch" type or of any other type.

The building may be provided with ground engaging wheels on one or more than one axle.

The leg structure and/or the additional leg structure may comprise at least one telescopic leg. Alternatively the leg structure and/or the additional leg structure may comprise at least one foldable leg including at least two links pivotally interconnected at their one ends and the other end of one link being connected to the building and the other end of the other link being connected to a ground engaging wheel.

The or each leg structure may comprise two legs, each located adjacent opposite sides of the body structure.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a method of erecting, on site, a transportable building comprising a body structure carried on a rigid floor structure, affording a habitable space and having a towing connection at one end of the body structure, a plurality of retractable ground engageable wheels, and a retractable leg structure, comprising the steps of causing said wheels and leg structure to move relative to the body from respective operative positions in which they transmit the weight of the building to the ground to support the building at a first height above the ground, to respective inoperative positions in which the building is supported at a second, lower, height above the ground.

The towing connection may be a "fifth wheel" type of connection for connection to an articulated vehicle tractor unit and the method may include the steps of performing, prior to the steps specified in the paragraph above, the steps of extending said leg structure to take the weight off the "fifth wheel" connection and then disconnecting said "fifth wheel" connection.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a vehicle embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation, to an enlarged scale, with parts omitted for clarity and partly broken away and showing the mounting of a road wheel of the building of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a transportable building including a body structure 10 consisting of insulated wall panels 11 and a roof structure 12 supported on a rigid floor structure 1 3 and defining in combination a habitable space as herein defined with appropriate doors 14 and windows 15 provided in the wall panels 11.

The floor structure has a longitudinal stiffness of at least 900 Cm4 and comprises two longitudinally extending channel section members 1 6 each having a longitudinal moment of inertia of at least 450 Cm4. Such a floor structure can be constructed so as to have a static floor loading capability of at least 1 50 Kg/M2 and typically 290 Kg/M2, and a dynamic floor loading capability of at least 15 Kg/M2 and typically 54 Kg/M2.

A transportable building, to be suitable for its intended purpose, that is to be able to carry the loads for which it is intended in service and to be sufficiently robust for a wide variety of uses, must have a floor loading capacity and longitudinal stiffness not less than the minimum values set out above. A clear distinction will be noticed between the floor loading capacity and longitudinal stiffness of a transportable building embodying the present invention, and, for example, a conventional domestic caravan in which, by comparison, the floor loading capacity and longitudinal stiffness are considerably less than in the case of a transportable building embodying the invention.

In addition, the floor structure has a depth D of 200 mm. and it is preferred that the depth is not greater than 250 mm. so that when the wheels are retracted as described hereinafter, the height of the top of the floor structure is spaced relatively close to the ground thereby avoiding the inconvenience of a relatively high step-up into the building.

The floor structure also comprises a plurality of transverse members not shown which comprise galvanized steel 'C' section beams which are welded on top of the floor structure 13.

Road wheels 20 are carried on the floor structure adjacent the rear end thereof, and as shown in Figure 2 each wheel 20 is carried by a trailing box section swinging arm 21 which is pivotally mounted at 22 to an associated one of the members 1 6 of the floor structure 1 3. Also pivoted at 22 is an auxiliary inverted channel section swinging arm 24. A shock absorber 25 is connected between the two arms 21 and 24 at positions adjacent their free ends by bolts 26 and resilient bushes 27 in conventional manner. Also connected between the two arms are a pair of coil compression springs 28, the end coils of which are received in pans 29 welded to the upwardly facing surface of the arm 21 and the downwardly facing surface of the arm 24.As can best be seen from Figure 3 the arms 21 and 24 are of such dimensions that the arm 21 is received within the channel section arm 24 and in use of the vehicle pivotal movement of the arm 21 relative to the arm 24 is permitted by the pivotal connection 22 and the hereinbefore mentioned springs 28 and shock absorber 25.

The pivotal connection 22 comprises a pivot pin 29 having threaded ends on which nuts 30 are received. A bearing sleeve 31 is clamped, by means indicated generally at 32 to the upper surface of the associated member 16 and has an inwardly directed flange 33 which is engaged between the nut 30 and a shoulder 34 on the pin 29. At its other end the end portion of the pin is received in an aperture formed in a plate 35 so that the plate 35 is again trapped between a nut 30 and a shoulder 36 the plate 35 being bolted to a bracket 37 fixed to the side of the member 16; thus the pivot pin is rigidly connected to the member 1 6.

The arm 21 carries bearing sleeves 38 engaged around the pivot pin 29 whilst the arm 24 carries a pair of spaced bearing members 39 also engaged around the pin 29. Thus both the arm 21 and the arm 24 are mounted for independent pivotal movement about the pin 29.

A hydraulic ram 40 is connected between a bracket 41 fixed to the member 16 and a position 42 on the arm 24. Thus, in use, when the piston rod 43 of the arm is extended the arm 24 is swung downwardly about the pivot pin 29 and thus the arm 21 is also caused to swing downwardly through the intermediary of the coil compression springs 28 into an operative position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When the piston rod of the ram is retracted the arms 24 and 21 swing upwardly about the pivot pin 29 into a recess 44 formed in the floor of the building, and the body structure 10 falls from a first position above the ground under its own weight, to a second lower position.

At the forward end of the floor structure a retractable leg structure is provided comprising a pair of telescopic legs 90. Each leg comprises upper part 91 of square tubular shape and a lower part 92 also of square tubular shape and adapted to telescope within the upper part 91.

A conventional hydraulic ram or rams, not shown, is or are connected between the two leg parts so that they can be extended and retracted.

If desired any other means may be utilised to cause telescoping of the leg part such as a pneumatic ram or a screw jack arrangement and the hydraulic, pneumatic or screw jack means may be manually or power operated.

Also provided adjacent the forward end of the floor structure is a conventional fifth wheel towing connection indicated generally at 93 adapted to mate with a fifth wheel connection provided on a tractor vehicle 94 of conventional type for use with an articulated vehicle.

Thus, when the wheels 20 are in their operative position, as shown in Figure 1, with the rams 40 extended, and with the leg structure 90 in its retracted position with the lower leg parts 92 withdrawn within the upper leg parts 91, the building may be towed by the tractor unit 94 from a factory where it is assembled, to a site where it is intended to be installed.

When positioned on site, the leg structure 90 is moved to its operative position by extending the associated hydraulic ram or rams so that the weight of the forward end of the building is carried by the leg structure 90 and thus the tractor vehicle 94 can be disconnected from the building. Thereafter the road wheels and the leg structure 90 can be retracted by depressurising the rams 40 and the rams within the leg structure 90, thereby allowing the building unit to sink under its own weight until its weight is transmitted to the ground at least primarily through the supporting members such as parts of the floor structure itself and/or levelling jacks (not shown) provided at or near corners of the floor structure, If desired, the weight of the building when in its lower position may be carried by the leg structure 90 when in its retracted position.

In order to prevent inadvertent retraction of the road wheels while the building is being transported, it is preferred to provide a locking means as indicated generally at 50 in Figure 4 to act on the arm 24 and positively prevent retraction of the arm.

The locking means 50 comprises a siiding bolt 51 of generally cylindrical configuration but having a planar inclined surface 52 (Figure 2 at its lower operative end. The bolt 51 is slidably mounted in a mounting block 53 for movement into and out of a locking position in which its operative end is engaged with a block 54 provided at the rear end of the arm 24 (Figure 2).

A coil compression spring 55 is arranged to act between the end of the bolt 51 and an end surface 56 of a housing 57 provided on the mounting block 53 to normally urge the bolt 51 into its locking position. A rod 58 is connected to the bolt 51 and carries a head 59 connected to an operating member 60. Thus the bolt is mounted in such a manner that it has a degree of free movement in the longitudinal direction whereby any wear which may occur at the contacting surfaces of the bolt and block can be accommodated.

A stepped recess 61 is formed in the side surface of the bolt and a spring biased plunger 62 is normally urged into engagement with the recess so that when the bolt is in its retracted position the plunger 62 is engaged with the deeper part 63 of the recess and thus locks the bolt in its retracted position. A circular disc shaped head 64 is provided at the free end of the locking plunger and arms 65 of a fork 66 fixed to the arm 24 are adapted to be engaged between the head 64 and the mounting block 53 when the arm 24 is in position for towing so as to prevent locking of the bolt 61 in its retracted position. The ends 65a of the arms 65 are inclined to bias the head 64 and hence the plunger 62 outwardly automatically as the arm 24 moves into the towing position.

It will be seen that when the bolt 51 is in its extended position engaged with the block 54 the auxiliary arms 24 are positively prevented from moving upwardly and thus the road wheels cannot accidentally be retracted should the hydraulic ram 40 fail.

The locking devices 50 associated with each road wheel 20 may be arranged to be operated independently providing suitable manually engageable handles in association with the operating members 60 or the operating members 60 of each locking device 50 can be interconnected and arranged to be operated by a single manual or electrically or hydraulically operated control. If desired a control position may be arranged in any desired location on the building such as at the forward end of the building when considering the direction in which it is intended to be towed.

Instead of the ground engaging wheels being mounted for retraction relative to the floor structure as described hereinbefore, the ground engaging wheels may be mounted so that they are completely removable from the floor structure. In this case the wheels may be thus removably mounted on the floor structure in any desired manner and in addition a leg structure is provided comprising a pair of legs similar to the leg structure 90. That is to say each leg comprises an upper square section tubular part and a lower square section tubular part telescoped therein and means as described hereinbefore for causing telescopic movement between the parts.In this case when the leg structure 90 is moved to its operative position when the building is on site the additional leg structure is also moved to its operative position so that the weight of the building is supported thereon and thereafter the ground engageable wheels are removed followed by retraction of the telescopic leg assemblies to lower the building to the ground. Again the weight of the building may be taken by the underside of the floor structure or can be taken by the additional leg structure in its retracted position.

An indicating means (not shown) such as an audible warning or a visual warning is provided to indicate when the building is not in condition for towing. For example, if the road wheels are not in their fully extending position or the locking bolts 51 are not fully engaged with their associated arm 24. Micro switches are provided to sense the positions of the strut 73, arms 24 and locking bolts 51, one of which is shown at 82.in Figure 2.

These switches are arranged to close an electric circuit to such a warning device if one or more of the appropriate elements are not in their desired positions. Since a building must be connected to the electrical circuit of the towing vehicle to provide, for example, brake lights before the building can be towed, when this electrical connection to the towing vehicle is made the hereinbefore described electrical circuit is energised and the warning given if the parts are not in towing condition.

Alternatively, or as well as providing indicating means, if desired, a movable cover may be associated with the towing connection 93 which may be operatively interconnected mechanically and/or electrically with the mechanism for operating the locking devices 50, e.g. the cover may be provided with a relay 81 which is actuated by a signal derived from a micro switch, such as that shown at 82 in Figure 2. Thus either the towing connection is obstructed or otherwise rendered inoperative and/or the indicating means indicates that the building is not in a condition for towing. Thus the locking devices are operated to lock the wheel arms against retraction.

While the provision of road wheels has been referred to in the above description, it will be understood that a building in accordance with the invention could be adapted for rail transport by providing flanged rail wheels in place of road wheels. Also, whilst the building may have only a single pair of road wheels, if desired two pairs arranged in tandem, midway along the length thereof may be provided and it is also possible for the wheels to be arranged in pairs which are spaced apart longitudinally of the building, for example in positions at, or adjacent to, the points of trisection of the length of the building. Further the leg structure may comprise a single leg located at the mid-point of the width of the building or more than two legs located at appropriate positions. Also, instead of a telescopic leg or legs the leg or legs could be foldable.

Claims (31)

Claims

1. A transportable building comprising a body structure, carried on a rigid floor structure, affording a habitable space and having a towing connection at one end of the body structure, a plurality of ground engageable wheels, a retractable leg structure, means to permit said wheels and leg structure to be moved relative to the body from respective operative positions in which they transmit the weight of the building to the ground to enable it to be supported at a first height above the ground, to respective inoperative positions in which the building is supported at a second, lower, height above the ground.

2. A building according to claim 1 wherein said retractable leg structure is at or adjacent said one end of the body structure.

3. A building according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein levelling jacks are provided at appropriate positions to enable adjustments to be made for uneven ground.

4. A building according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the leg structure is adapted to support at least part of the weight of the building when in its inoperative position.

5. A building according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ground engageable wheels carry part of the weight of the building when in their inoperative positions.

6. A building according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the wheels are movable relative to the body structure by virtue of being retractable relative to the floor structure from said operative to said inoperative position.

7. A building according to claim 6 wherein the wheels are retractable by hydraulic, pneumatic or screw jack means and are manually or power operated.

8. A building according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the wheels are movable relative to the body structure by virtue of being disconnectabie from the body structure.

9. A building according to claim 8 wherein a further retractable leg structure is provided to support the building whilst the ground engageable wheels are disconnected from the building.

1 0. A building according to claim 9 wherein once the wheels have been thus disconnected from the building the additional leg structure is movable to an inoperative position to permit the building to be moved into said second position wherein at least part of the weight of the building is taken by the additional leg structure.

11. A building according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the leg structure and/or the additional leg structure is retractable by hydraulic, pneumatic or screw jack means and is manually or power operated.

12. A building according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the towing connection is a "fifth wheel" type of connection for connection to an articulated vehicle tractor unit.

13. A building according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the building is provided with ground engaging wheels on one or more than one axle.

14. A building according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the leg structure and/or the additional leg structure comprises at least one telescopic leg.

1 5. A building according to any one of claims 1 to 1 3 wherein the leg structure and/or the additional leg structure comprises at least one foldable leg including at least two links pivotally interconnected at their one ends and the other end of one link being connected to the building and the other end of the other link being connected to a ground engaging wheel.

1 6. A building according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each leg structure comprises two legs, each located adjacent opposite sides of the body structure.

1 7. A building according to any one of the preceding claims which is at least 7 metres long.

1 8. A building according to any one of claims 1 to 1 6 wherein the building is less than 1 5 metres long.

19. A building according to any one of claims 1 to 16 which is between 8 metres and 12 metres long.

20. A building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

21. A method of erecting, on site, a transportable building-comprising a body structure, carried on a rigid floor structure, affording a habitable space and having a towing connection at one end of the body structure, a plurality of retractable ground engageable wheels, and a retractable leg structure comprising the steps of causing said wheels and leg structure to move relative to the body from respective operative positions in which they transmit the weight of the building to the ground to support the building at a first height above the ground, to respective inoperative positions in which the building is supported at a second, lower height above the ground.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the leg structure supports at least part of the weight of the building when in its inoperative position.

23. A method according to claim 21 or claim 22 wherein the ground engageable wheels carry part of the weight of the building when in their inoperative position.

24. A method accordirig to any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein the wheels are moved relative to the body structure by virtue of being retracted relative to the floor structure from said operative to said inoperative position.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the wheels are retracted by hydraulic, pneumatic or screw jack means and are manually or power operated.

26. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein the wheels are moved relative to the body structure by virtue of being disconnected from the body structure.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein a further retractable leg structure supports the building whilst the ground engageable wheels are disconnected from the building.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein once the wheels have been thus disconnected from the building the additional leg structure is moved to an inoperative position to permit the building to move into said second position wherein at least part of the weight of the building is taken by the additional leg structure.

29. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 28 wherein the leg structure and/or the additional leg structure is retracted by hydraulic, pneumatic or screw jack means which is manually or power operated.

30. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the towing connection is a "fifth wheel" type of connection for connection to an articulated vehicle tractor unit and the method includes the steps of performing, prior to the steps claimed in any one of preceding claims 21 to 29, the steps of extending said leg structure to take the weight off the "fifth wheel" connection and then disconnecting said "fifth wheel" connection.

31. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.