GB2077321A

GB2077321A - Cabin building

Info

Publication number: GB2077321A
Application number: GB8115477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-05-29
Filing date: 1981-05-20
Publication date: 1981-12-16
Also published as: EP0041800A3; EP0041800B1; DE3169350D1; EP0041800A2

Abstract

This invention is a method of building a cabin from large but light heat insulating panels (31). Two fore- and-aft partitions walls (45, 46) are pivoted to a base (44) and inclined over towards the horizontal for support on temporary props (49) and then two roof panels (41, 42) are hinged together at a ridge hinge (43) and hinged to the tops of the wall partitions (45, 46) and then all four components are pushed up to the erected position by turning about the five hinges. The hinges consist of two elongate aluminium extrusions (11, 12) which can fit together by axial sliding as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. In a second method roof ridge panels 41 and 42 are hinged together at 43 and pushed up to the ridge position by being slid along the upper edges of end walls and/or by being guided over and pivoting on the upper edge of a partition 46. <IMAGE>

Description

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SPECIFICATION Cabin building

This invention relates to a method of building a cabin from panels, for example of a light heat 5 insulating material, and one object is to provide a method of erection which can be simply and easily carried out on site without the need for a crane.

According to the present invention, in a method of building a cabin or the like from panels in which 10 a pair of roof ridge panels are hinged together at what will be the ridge, and are pushed up to the ridge position while resting on the upper edge of at least one wall, or partition panel.

In one method there are two parallel wall 15 panels each hinged at its lower edge to the base, and there are two roof panels each hinged to the upper edge of one of the wall panels, and hinged to the other roof panel at a ridge hinge and both roof panels are lifted together after the hinges 20 have been made, by pivotting both wall panels up towards the vertical.

The hinges may be as described in British Patent Specification No. 80.17572, filed the 29th May, 1980, consisting of two elongate extruded 25 sections for example of aluminium, which can be assembled together by axial sliding, and then extend throughout the whole length of the hinged edges of the panels providing water and wind protection at the joint. Although that hinge, the 30 components of which can be easily assembled to the respective edges of panels to be hinged together, enables panels to be very quickly assembled together, turned to an appropriate angle to each other and thereafter retained, 35 perhaps at 90° to each other, or in line with each other, there is still a difficulty if a cabin is not very low in raising the roof panels if no crane is available. Roof panels may extend to 11 or 12 feet above ground level, and although the panels 40 themselves may be light enough to be easily lifted by two men, they may be too heavy for them to place the panels in position at such a height.

The method described enables the roof panel, or two roof panels hinged together at a ridge 45 hinge, to be assembled by hinging at the upper edges of a wall panel, or two wall panels, while the wall panels are inclined over towards the horizontal, so that the upper edges are easily accessible, being perhaps two or three feet above 50 the ground. It is then not difficult to lift the roof panels into position by turning the panels about their hinges because very much of the weight is transfered to the base through the hinges, and with the hinges described further work is not 55 necessary to effect seals at the hinges after the roof panels have been raised.

Front and side walls can be quite easily fitted into position, perhaps by hinging to the edges of a base panel, at what will be their lower edges, and 60 just lifting upwards at their outer edges, and indeed an extension of a roof panel can be assembled with a roof panel which has been raised to the ridge as described above, by two men holding the extension panel because the

65 lower edge of the ridge panel will be substantially lower than the ridge itself.

In a preferred method the roof ridge panels, while hinged together are pushed up along the ridge edges of one or two vertical end panels, 70 and/or over the upper edge of a side wall or partition and manipulated into the ridge position by pushing and turning the lower of the second roof ridge panel.

Since very much of the weight of the roof ridge 75 panels will be supported by the upper edges of the vertical walls or partitions as they are pushed up into position, it will be possible for two men to lift quite a heavy roof into position.

Thereafter other side wall panels and lower 80 extension roof ridge panels and so on can be connected to the components that have already been lifted into position.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, and two embodiments will now be 85 described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which:—

FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 show two hinge components coupled together in three different hinge positions,

90 FIGURE 4 shows two extruded section components fitted at opposite edges of a panel to be joined by the hinge of FIGURES 1,2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 shows an additional extruded section component which can be used for strengthening; 95 FIGURE 6 is an end view of a cabin at various stages during lifting the roof by one method;

FIGURE 7 is a partial plan view of the cabin before the sides have been lifted into position;

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are end views of three 100 successive stages in the lifting of the roof by another method.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it can be seen that the two extruded section aluminium hinge components 11 and 12 consist of a pair of 105 opposed spaced parallel side walls, 13 and 14, or 15 and 16, with an intermediate partition 17 or 18, extending between them at an intermediate position, and separating the space between the opposite side walls into a panel recess 21 or 22 110 and a hinge recess 23 or 24. The two recesses are completely separated from each other by the partition so that moisture in the hinge recess cannot come into contact with a panel in the panel recess.

115 Each hinge recess includes a scroll 26 or 27. The scroll 26 is positioned between the ends of the two side walls 13 and 14, and curves over and backwards into the space between them, whereas the scroll 27 is an extension of the side wall 16 120 turning inwards and towards the partition 18; the edge of the wall 1 5 is spaced from the scroll 27 to allow a space for the insertion of the scroll 26. A panel 31 (Figure 4) has one edge fitted within an aluminium extrusion component 32 of channel 125 cross section, which is a snug fit in the panel recess 21 or 22. The opposite edge of the panel 31 in the example of FIGURE 4, is in a similar channel section 33 which forms part of a composite extruded component consisting of two

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opposed channels 33 and 34 back to back with connections 35 between them, and serves to hold the panels 31 rigidly with a neighbouring panel in the channel 34.

5 Either after the panels (such as 31 with its edge component 32) have been fitted into the two hinge recesses 21 and 22, or preferably before they have been fitted in, the two hinge components 11 and 12 are assembled together by 10 longitudinal sliding.

In the position shown in FIGURE 1, with the two panels parallel and edge to edge, a flange 41 extending inwardly from the end of the side wall 13 fits into a corresponding recess between the 15 partition 18 and the side wall 15, the edge 42 of the side wall 14 fits against an external shoulder 43 formed on the side wall 16, and the scroll 27 fits fairly snugly within the part of the scroll 26. formed by the partition 17. There is thus location 20 against any substantial movement between the two components in the plane of FIGURE 1 except clockwise hinge movement about an axis defined where the two scrolls engage one another. Further clockwise movement of the component 11 is 25 prevented.

In the intermediate position shown in FIGURE 2, movement is guided by sliding of intermediate portions of the scrolls in relation to one another and the edge of the side wall 13 locates against 30 the partition 18.

In the folded position of FIGURE 3, with the two panels at right angles to each other, the edge of the scroll 27 abuts against an inner surface of the scroll 26, the flange 41 abuts against the inside of 35 the side wall 16, and the edge of the side wall 15 abuts against the outer surface of the side wall 11 to provide a positive stop when the components have been turned through 90°.

It will be observed that in all positions of the 40 hinge, and whether or not the inside or the outside of the right angle shown in FIGURE 3 is exposed to the weather, it is only the hinge recesses that can receive water. Water cannot attack the edges of the panels in the panel recesses, and water can 45 hardly get from the outside to the inside because of the kind of labyrinth seal formed by the cooperating scrolls, while one of the scrolls will always act to hold water. Similarly wind cannot easily penetrate the joint.

50 The components can be fairly easily extruded in quantity, and are simple to use because they only have to be fitted over the panels and then slid together.

Where it is necessary to join extrusions to the 55 panels, self-tapping screws, or screws and bolts can be used.

It may be useful to enable a tube with the square section of FIGURE 5 to be used for transverse reinforcement, and for connection to 60 other aluminium extrusions. It is a snug fit in the section 32.

The hinge just described enables panel structures to be very easily built up. A typical panel is shown at 31 in FIGURE 4, and consists of 65 an outer layer 41 of external plywood, a main body of heat insulating urethane foam 42, and an inner vapour impermeable aluminium lining 43. That material can be obtained in preformed rectangles, and has good structural and heat insulating properties, while yet it is very light. It can be fitted at its edges into the panel recess in a hinge member 11 or 12, described above, either directly if it is thick enough after it has been fitted in a channel secton 32 (FIGURE 4) which fits the panel recesses, if it is not.

Quite a large rectangular panel can be lifted by. two people, and joined to a neightbouring panel by relative sliding of the hinge components along the hinge axis, and then pivoted into position by turning of the hinge.

The.method of use can be exemplified with reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, which show how quite a substantial cabin can be quickly and easily erected from such panels by two people.

The cabin is shown diagrammatically in end view in FIGURE 6. The most difficult task is the lifting into position of the two panels 41 and 42 which are hinged together at the apex or ridge 43, but that can be done in the following way.

First of all a central floor panel 44 is laid in its proper position on the foundation, and then a pair of fore-and-aft extending partition walls 45 and 46 are hinged to the bottom panel 44, at 47 and 48 by use of hinges described above. Each partition 45 or 46 is lifted by two men and hinged to the base panel 44 by longitudinal sliding. The two partitions are allowed to hinge over near to the ground where they rest on temporary props 49. Then the two roof ridge panels 41,42 are hinged together at the ridge hinge 43 in a similar manner, and then they are hinged to the upper ends of the partitions 45 and 46 as indicated at 51 and 52. If necessary each of the ridge panels 41 and 42 can be hinged to its partition 45 or 46 in turn, the second ridge panel being simultaneously hinged at the ridge hinge and at the partition hinge 51 or 52.

Then the four panels 45,46,41 and 42 are pushed to the erected position by turning about all five hinges, so that they move from the solid line position in FIGURE 6 through the dashed line position to the final position shown in chain lines with the two partitions vertical. During this hinging movement much of the weight is taken on the base panel 44 at 47 and 48 and two men can lift * the ridge panels by pushing. It will be appreciated that the greatest load is experienced at the starting position where it is borne by the temporary props 49.

Once those components have been erected, they can be easily retained in their final positions by one man, or by props, while a front panel 54 is hinged along the front of the base panel 44 at 55, and base side extension panels 56 are hinged along the sides of the base panel 54. Front panel side extensions 57 are pivoted to the front panel 54 at 58, and side panels 59 are pivoted to the panels 57 at 61, so that all the sides are laid out horizontally, pivoted together around the base panel 44.

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The panels 54, 57, and 59 are then lifted up by hinging about 55 until the front panel 54 is underneath, and supports, the ridge panels 41 and 42. The sides 59 are hinged about 61 to their 5 correct position above the outer edge of the base sides 56 and they are then joined to corresponding side panels joined in a similar manner to the other end of the base panel 44.

All of the panel components are then in their 10 final positions and can be fixed there by any convenient means.

It will be appreciated that panels are joined together by sliding hinge components together while the hinge axes are horizontal with only one 15 panel being carried at any time between two men. Assembly of panels side by side is easy because the hinge components 11 and 12 allow plenty of play other than in the 90° and 180° positions of FIGURES 3 and 1 respectively. Similarly hinging 20 upwards is easy because the components are light, and they do not have to be lifted bodily but are hinged upwards so that the hinges take much of the load. The hinges, being elongate hinges of continuous cross-section, do not get deformed 25 locally.

Windows, doors, and so on, as indicated at 62 can be included in the various front and side panels and partitions as required. In some circumstances the following method is simpler. 30 First of all both of the end panels 54 are pivoted to the base and lifted up to their final position, and then one or both of the partitions, 45 and 46 are similarly pivotted to the base, moved up to the final vertical position, and secured.

35 The first roof ridge panel 41 is lifted up by two men, one at each side until its upper edge 71 is resting on the top corner of the/or each end panel 54. Then the roof ridge panel 41 is pushed up towards the position shown in FIGURE 8 by two 40 men, one at each side, using the edge of the panel, or panels 54 as a guide, and possibly also the upper edge 73 of the partitition 46.

The other roof ridge panel 42 is hinged at 43 to the lower end of the roof ridge panel 41, and then 45 the lower edge 74 of that panel is pushed by the end, shown at 75 in FIGURE 8, so that the two hinged roof ridge panels move up towards the position shown in FIGURE 9. By levering up or down on the edge 74, the two hinged panels can 50 be manipulated about the corner 72 as fulcrum for the panel 42, and the ridge point 76 as fulcrum from the panel 41 so that movement of the two panels can be controlled until with further pushing upwards and pivotting, the panel 41 can be 55 lowered onto the edges 77 of the ends 54, and the panel 42 lowered onto the edges 78.

Once the roof ridge panels are in position and hinged together, they can be fixed to neighbouring vertical walls or partitions by any convenient 60 brackets and indeed at any stage in the operation a panel can be supported by a strut having one hinge component at one end co-operating with the other hinge component on the panel, and after the roof is in the position shown in FIGURE 10, 65 four or perhaps more such struts can be connected to roof panels and base, possibly through such hinges to retain the roof firmly in position against winds.

Once the two roof ridge panels are in position, the lower panels as indicated at 79 in FIGURE 6 can be hinged to the lower ends of the roof panels 41 and 42 in both methods of erecting, and secured in position by conventional means. It will be appreciated that those panels do not have to be lifted very high because they only have to connected to the lower edges 43 of the roof ridge panels.

Claims

1. A method of building a cabin or the like from panels in which a pair of roof ridge panels are hinged together at what will be the ridge, and are pushed up to the ridge position while resting on the upper edge of at least one wall, or partition panel.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which the roof ridge panels, while hinged together are pushed up the ridge edges of one or two vertical end panels.

3. A method as claimed in either of the preceding claims in which one of the roof ridge panels is pushed over the upper edge of a vertical partition or wall panel parallel with the ridge, while it is hinged to the other roof ridge panel.

4. A method of building as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which a roof ridge panel is hinged to the upper edge of a partition or wall panel which is itself pivotted to the base at an angle to the vertical, and then while the two roof ridge panels are hinged together, they are pushed up by pivotting the wall panel or partition into the vertical position.

5. A method of building a cabin or the like from panels in which a pair of wall panels are hinged at their lower edges which are parallel with each other to a base, roof panels are hinged to the respective upper edges of the wall panels while the wall panels are inclined about their hinges from the vertical, and the roof panels are hinged together about a ridge hinge parallel with the upper and lower edges of the wall panels, and the roof panels are lifted by pivotting the wall panels up towards the vertical.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5 in which a lower roof panel has its upper edge joined to the lower edge of a lifted roof panel to provide a roof larger than that provided by the lifted roof panel.

7. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which one or more walls is hinged to the edge of a base while the wall is at or near the horizontal, and then the wall is lifted up about its hinge towards the vertical.

8. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which at least one of the hinges consists of two elongate extruded section components which can be assembled together by relative axial sliding.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 8 in which the hinge includes stops defining limits of hinging movement respectively in which panels hinged

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together are at right angles to each other, and are in the same plane.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which each hinge component section has a

5 socket for housing the edge of a panel.

11. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which at least one of the panels is of a light heat insulating material with a relatively thin stronger external layer.

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12. A method of building a cabin or the like performed substantially as herein specifically described with reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, or FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, of the accompanying drawings.

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13. A cabin of the like built by a method as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1981. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.