US20080196322A1

US20080196322A1 - Shiftable Building

Info

Publication number: US20080196322A1
Application number: US11/916,505
Authority: US
Inventors: Alain Bouchain; Veronique Bouchain
Original assignee: VAB SARL
Current assignee: VAB SARL
Priority date: 2005-06-10
Filing date: 2006-06-09
Publication date: 2008-08-21
Also published as: CA2611372A1; CN101194076A; ZA200710421B; EA200702448A1; JP2008545911A; FR2886956B1; IL187849A0; EP1888854A2; FR2886956A1; AU2006256628A1; MX2007015512A; WO2006131661A3; BRPI0611806A2; GEP20105041B; EA012009B1; WO2006131661A2

Abstract

The invention concerns a building (1-6) provided with vertical displacement means (4-5), for moving the building (1-5) between an extended position interacting with the surroundings and a sheltered position for protection, and inversely. The vertical displacement means (4-5) comprise means forming hydraulic ballast (4), for moving the building (1-5) between said extended position corresponding to a discharge of the hydraulic ballast and said sheltered position corresponding to a filling of the hydraulic ballast (4). The building (1-6) comprises service rooms (6) implanted in the natural environment and independent of the vertical displacement means (4-5).

Description

The invention relates to a building that is equipped with vertical shifting means.
In this application, the word “building” means, as appropriate, “immovable construction” or “floating construction,” according to the natural environment where this construction is found.
These buildings are vulnerable to the dangers of natural catastrophes, such as: avalanches, floods, earthquakes, cyclones, storms or other weather-related events.
These buildings are also vulnerable to dangers produced by break-ins and attacks by other individuals, dispersion of polluting or toxic products, bacteria, radioactive products, or explosions.
Taking into account the significance of current and foreseeable dangers, buildings no longer provide sufficient protection for the individuals and goods that are housed there.
A first object of the invention is to provide an improved protection of goods, technologies and individuals housed by a building.
A second object of the invention is to provide improved protection owing to a building of simple and economical design.
The invention has as its subject matter a building that is provided with vertical shifting means for shifting the building between an out position for interaction with the surrounding space and a sheltered protective position, and conversely, wherein the vertical shifting means comprise means that form hydraulic ballast, to shift the building between said out position that corresponds to evacuation of the hydraulic ballast and said sheltered position that corresponds to filling the hydraulic ballast, whereby the building is erected in a natural environment, whereby said out position of the building corresponds to the emergence of at least one story of the building above the level of the natural environment and said sheltered position corresponds to a shifting of the building below the level of the natural environment, characterized by the fact that the building comprises technical premises that are implanted in the natural environment and that are independent of the vertical shifting means.
According to other alternative characteristics of the invention:

- When the building is erected on a piece of ground, said out position of the building corresponds to the emergence of at least one story of the building above the ground and said sheltered position corresponds to a folding-away of the building in the ground,
- Said technical premises have spaces for accommodating materials that are likely to obstruct emergency exits and that fall through these emergency exits when they are opened,
- The emergency exit is combined with a stairway, elevator, ladder, hoist, or other lifting means,
- Said lifting means, stairway, elevator, ladder, or other hoists can be shifted horizontally between a position for clearing the emergency exit that allows the release of any materials that may be present and a position for connection with the emergency exit to allow the evacuation of the occupants,
- When the building is erected in an aquatic environment, said out position of the building corresponds to the emergence of at least one story of the building above the water level and said sheltered position corresponds to immersion of the building below the water level,
- The building comprises one or more stationary poles or columns that are implanted in the aquatic environment and ensure the guiding of the building during its vertical shifting,
- The building comprises an emergency exit that is connected by an airlock at least to the interior of the building.

The invention will be better understood in view of the following description, given by way of non limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows an elevation view with a vertical-cutaway of a building according to the invention that is erected on a piece of ground, in an out position for interaction with the surrounding space.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows an elevation view with a vertical-cutaway an elevation view with vertical-cutaway of a building according to the invention that is erected on a piece of ground, in a sheltered protective position.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a perspective view with a partial cutaway of the technical premises of a building according to the invention that is erected on a piece of ground.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows a vertical elevation view with a vertical cutaway of a building according to the invention in an aquatic environment.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows a partial perspective view with a partial cutaway of a building according to the invention in an aquatic environment.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the identical or functionally equivalent elements are referenced by identical reference numbers.
In FIG. 1, a building according to the invention is shown in out position for interaction with the surrounding space.
The building according to the invention comprises a vegetative covering that preferably forms a roof 1.
The building according to the invention also comprises a second floor 2 and a ground floor 3 that are integral with a sealed tank 4 that serves as ballast.
All of the elements 1 to 4 are kept in out position by the hydraulic pressure that is exerted by the reservoir 5 on the bottom of the ballast 4 whose water was evacuated.
Technical premises 6 are implanted in the ground while being independent of the vertical shifting means 4, 5.
In FIG. 1, the ground floor may comprise a garage that provides access to a road that can be used by a car 7 or any other means of travel.
In the vertical shifting for passing from the out position to the sheltered position, the lower portion of the building that surrounds the ballast 4 is guided by a number of small wheels 8 that are arranged in threes on the edges of the tank or ballast 4.
In FIG. 2, the water from the reservoir 5 penetrates into the ballast 4 to cause the vertical descent of the building. Pumping means are immersed in the ballast 4 to ensure the extraction of water and to cause the vertical shifting of the building in the out position for interaction with the surrounding space.
In the sheltered protective position shown in FIG. 2, the vegetative roof 1 is flush with the ground so as to shift the building according to the invention completely away in the ground.
The car 7 is protected inside the ground floor 3, while the second floor 2 ensures the protection of the occupants of the building according to the invention.
In FIG. 3, the technical premises 6 of a building according to the invention are shown.
The technical premises 6 implanted in the ground comprise, in a lower position, a space 10 for accommodating and storing fallen rocks, mud, rubble, snow or water, or other materials that obstruct the opening of an emergency exit 11 placed in a higher position.
Thus, at the opening of the emergency exit 11, the materials that may obstruct the emergency exit fall vertically in the direction of the arrow 12 to clear the emergency exit 11.
After having cleared this opening 11, a lifting means of the stairway, elevator, ladder, hoist, or the equivalent type 13 can be shifted by suitable means in the direction of the arrow 14 to allow the evacuation of the occupants.
The shifting in the direction of the arrow 14 is reversible between the position for clearance of the emergency exit that allows the drop of obstruction materials and the position of connection with the emergency exit to allow the evacuation of the occupants.
Thus, in a normal safety position, the lifting means 13 of the stairway, elevator or other type does not correspond to the exit 11 that is itself closed by double doors that fall inward and a sliding slab.
At the level 15 that surmounts the space 10 for accommodating fallen rocks or other materials, several storage tanks were arranged: a first tank 16 for storing drinking water, a second tank 17 for storing rain water, a third tank 18 for storing fuel, and optionally other tanks for accommodating waste water and sluice water.
Access to levels 10 and 15 is done advantageously by a ladder or a walkway 19.
On the story overhanging the level 15, and corresponding to the stairway or elevator 13, electric means are arranged in a room 20: these electric means can comprise a low-voltage generator or other sources of electrical energy or power.
A computer and communication room 21 can be provided; an installation for air treatment and air and water purification advantageously can be provided in a room 22 that is in a position that is adjacent to a room 23 that constitutes a protective airlock or an insulation part.
In this configuration, the control installations located in the rooms 20 to 23 are easily accessible via the stairway or lifting means 13.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the identical or functionally equivalent elements are referenced by identical reference numbers.
In FIGS. 4 and 5, the building according to the invention is guided on one or more columns 30, for example four columns 30, to allow the vertical shifting of the building.
The building according to the invention is shown in out position for interaction with the surrounding space and comprises, for example, a level 31 for communication with the aquatic environment, a second floor 32 and a third floor 33.
In a lower portion, the building according to the invention comprises ballast means 34 that can communicate with the aquatic environment.
Technical premises are provided in a lower position in the level 31 for communication with the aquatic environment. These technical premises can comprise water purification and decontamination means, one or more electric generators, air purification means and storage tanks that are analogous to the tanks that are described with reference to FIG. 3.
Pumping means 36 that are not shown in detail are immersed in the ballast 34.
The lower level 31 for communication with the aquatic environment can be arranged to be adjacent to a garage for boats 37 or other vessels.
Preferably, the building according to the invention comprises several guidance projections 38 that comprise, for example, openings that are larger in diameter than those of the corresponding columns 30 and that are equipped with a suitable guidance system.
Preferably, the building according to the invention comprises an emergency exit that is connected by an airlock to the interior of the building and to the interior of one or more columns 30.
The invention that is described with reference to two particular embodiments is in no way limited thereto but on the contrary covers any modification of shape and any variant of embodiment within the framework and the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. Building (1-6, 31-38) that is equipped with vertical shifting means (4-5, 34) to shift the building (1-5, 31-38) between an out position for interaction with the surrounding space and a sheltered protective position, and conversely, vertical shifting means (4-5, 34) that comprise hydraulic ballast-forming means (4, 34) to shift the building (1-5, 31-38) between said out position corresponding to an evacuation of the hydraulic ballast and said sheltered position corresponding to a filling of the hydraulic ballast (4, 34), whereby the building (1-6, 31-38) is erected in a natural environment, whereby said out position of the building (1-6, 31-38) corresponds to the emergence of at least one story (2 or 3, 32 or 33) of the building (1-6, 31-38) above the level of the natural environment and said sheltered position corresponds to a folding-away of the building (1-6, 31-38) below the level of the natural environment, characterized by the fact that the building (1-6, 31-38) comprises technical premises (6) that are implanted in the natural environment and that are independent of the vertical shifting means.

2. Building according to claim 1, equipped with vertical shifting means to shift the building between an out position and a sheltered position, characterized by the fact that the building is erected on a piece of ground, whereby said out position of the building (1-5) corresponds to the emergence of at least one story (2 or 3) of the building (1-5) above the ground, and said sheltered position corresponds to a folding-away of the building (1-5) in the ground.

3. Building according to claim 1, wherein said technical premises (6) have a space (10) for accommodating materials that are likely to obstruct an emergency exit (11) and fall through this emergency exit (11) during its opening.

4. Building according to claim 3, wherein the emergency exit (11) is combined with a stairway, elevator, ladder, hoist or other lifting means (13).

5. Building according to claim 4, wherein said lifting means (13), stairway, elevator, ladder or other hoists, can be shifted horizontally (14) between a position for releasing the emergency exit (11) that allows the release of any materials that may be present and a position for connection with the emergency exit (11) to allow the evacuation of the occupants (1-6).

6. Building that is equipped with vertical shifting means to shift the building between an out position and a sheltered position, wherein the building is erected in an aquatic environment, whereby said out position of the building corresponds to the emergence of at least one story (32, 33) of the building above the water level and said sheltered position corresponds to immersion of the building below the water level.

7. Building according to claim 6, wherein the building comprises one or more stationary poles or columns (30) that are implanted in the aquatic environment and that ensure the guiding of the building during its vertical shifting.

8. Building according to claim 6, wherein the building comprises an emergency exit that is connected by an airlock at least to the interior of the building.

9. Building according to claim 2, wherein said technical premises (6) have a space (10) for accommodating materials that are likely to obstruct an emergency exit (11) and fall through this emergency exit (11) during its opening.

10. Building according to claim 7, wherein the building comprises an emergency exit that is connected by an airlock at least to the interior of the building.