WO1983000518A1

WO1983000518A1 - A method of erecting a building

Info

Publication number: WO1983000518A1
Application number: PCT/GB1982/000239
Authority: WO
Inventors: Buildings Limited Kitpac
Original assignee: Miles, William, Ernest; Hough, Trevor, Harry
Priority date: 1981-08-13
Filing date: 1982-08-04
Publication date: 1983-02-17
Also published as: DE3268543D1; GB2115036A; EP0086201A1; EP0086201B1; GB8309282D0; GB2115036B; BR8207820A

Abstract

A building is erected by pivotally connecting roof sections (10, 11), raising the pivotal connection until the roof sections are inclined at the required angle, making the roof sections rigid with one another, pivotally connecting wall sections (12, 13) to the roof sections and further raising the roof sections until the wall sections are vertical. The wall sections are then rigidly secured to the ground and to the roof sections.

Description

Title: A method of erecting a building.

The invention relates to a method of erecting a building of the kind commonly referred to as a prefabri¬ cated building. The erection on site of known prefabri¬ cated buildings requires the attendance of workmen with special skills and experience, thereby increasing the building cost. Where such workmen are not available, prefabricated buildings may not be constructed within required safety standards.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of erecting a-- building comprising the steps of pivotally connecting a pair of members which are suitable for forming part of a building frame, lifting the members so that said members pivot relative to each other into a required angular relation during the lifting operation, and then fixing said members to each other so that said angular relation is maintained.

This method of assembly, employing two modes of connection between the pair of members, enables relatively unskilled workmen to assemble the building on site.

Examples of methods of erecting a building in accordance with the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:-

FIGURE 1 shows a first stage;

FIGURE 2 shows a second stage; and

FIGURE 3 shows a third stage in the erection of the building;

FIGURES and 5 show on an enlarged scale connecting elements used in the building; and

FIGURE 6 shows a roof section of the building viewed in the direction of arrow VI in Figure 2.

Figures 1 to 3 show diagrammatically stages in a method of erecting a prefabricated building at a building site. Each of the roof, walls and, in some embodiments, ^"floor are manufactured in sections which can be handled separately and transported to the site where the building is to be erected. Each section is comprised of panels fitted on a frame formed of elongate members. The erected building shown in Figure 3 is of the ridge roof variety and comprises at least two roof sections 10 and 11 and at least two s de wall sections 12 and 13- The building is shown standing on a concrete base 14. The number of sections in the roof depends on the length of the building and the number in the side walls is equal to the number in the roof.

Figure 6 shows an elevation of the roof section 10 in the'direction of the arrow VI on Figure 2. Each roof section is formed of two corrugated panels 25 fitted on a framework of elongate members. In the completed building, the corrugations are perpendicular to a ridge 24 formed by the sections. Channel section members 26a_ and 26b_ are fitted about respective corrugations at the side margins of each panel. Members 26a_ are riveted back-to-back in the assembled section. Cross beams 27a_ and 27b. secured to members 26<a and 26> at opposite ends thereof strengthen the section.

Connecting elements shown in Figures 4 and 5 are used for connecting respective sections. Figure 4 shows an apex plate 15 used for connecting roof sections 10 and 11 together at respective margins of these sections which are required to be adjacent to the apex of the building. Figure 5 shows an eaves plate 16 for connecting roof section 10 with wall section 12 at respective margins of these sections which are required to be adjacent to the eaves. An identical eaves plate IT is used for connect¬ ing roof section 11 with wall section 13- The connecting elements 15, 16, 17 are suitably formed of steel.

Three apex plates 15 are rigidly connected to the roof section 11 adjacent to that cross beam 27a_ which is required to be adjacent to the apex of the building in such a manner that the plates project beyond the adjacent margin of the roof panel. Two of the apex plates are disposed at respective further margins of the section 10 so that the margin which is required to lie adjacent to the apex extends between the plates. The third apex plate 15 is engaged between the pair of channel section members 26a_ to project from the apex margin of the section. The surfaces^' of the apex plates are in face-to- face contact with surfaces of the members 26 and are substantially perpendicular to the ridge formed by the roof sections in the erected building.

Three eaves plates 16 are rigidly connected in a similar way to the roof section 10 adjacent to the margin 19 of that section which is required to lie adjacent to the eaves of the building. Three eaves plates 17 are secured in a similar manner to the roof section 11 to project from the roof section in the manner shown in the drawings. These connections can be made either before or after transit of the sections to the building site. The apex plates 15 project from the section 11 generally in a direction beyond the end of that section; whereas the eaves plates 16 and 17 project from the sections 10 and 11 in a direction which is a downward direction in the completed building and is thus transverse to the lengths of the roof sections.

At the building site, the sections are laid out on the concrete base 14 where the building is to be erected. The apex plates 15 on one of the roof sections (section 11 in Figure 1) are connected to the other roof section in such a manner that the roof sections 10 and 11 can pivot relative to each other about an axis extending through the roof section 10 adjacent to the margin thereof which is required to be disposed adjacent to the ridge 24 in the completed building. Each apex plate 15 is connected by several bolts to the roof section 11; whereas a single bolt 25 connects the apex plate to the section 10. The assembled roof sections 10 and 11 are then raised from their horizontal attitudes by means of lift¬ ing apparatus. The sections are suspended from the lifting apparatus at points on the apex plates which are adjacent to the members 26_b. As the apex plates are raised, the sections 10 and 11 undergo relative pivoting until they are mutually inclined at the required angle. The connection between the apex plates and the section 10 is then changed so that further relative pivoting is restrained. Additional bolts are used to secure the apex plates to the section 10. Since, at this stage of assembly, the roof sections are still near to the ground, the bolts can be inserted by'^'workmen standing on the ground. Workmen standing on the ground can also apply caps to the ridge defined by the sections 10 and 11 to close any gap between them.

When the relation between roof sections 10 and 11 has been fixed, the eaves plates 16 on these sections are connected to wall sections 12 and 13 respectively in such a manner that the wall sections can pivot relative to the roof sections about respective axes which are parallel to the ground. The assembly of roof sections and wall sections is then raised by the lifting apparatus until the wall sections are substantially vertical. Further bolts are then used to fix the eaves plates 16 rigidly^'to the wall sections 12 and 13. The wall sections are then fixed rigidly to the concrete base 14.

When the structure comprising roof sections and wall sections has been completed, ends can be fitted to the building. One or both ends may comprise a door or shutter (not shown). The procedure of erecting the building can be reversed to disassemble the building for transport to a different site.

In an alternative procedure, a number of units, each comprising a pair of roof sections 10, 11, apex plates 15, a pair of wall sections 12, 13 and eaves plates 17 are made up, preferably at the site where the panels are ^■produced. In each unit, the eaves plates are rigidly connected with the roof sections but are each connected by means of a respective single bolt with a corresponding wall section so that the wall sections can pivot relative to the eaves plates.

Each of the apex plates is connected to each roof section by a respective single bolt so that both roof sections can pivot relative to the apex plate. The sections rest one on the other with the roof sections lying between the wall sections so that the unit has a compact configuration with substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces. These units can be stacked one on the other for transport to a site where the building is to be erected. Each unit is unloaded from the transport vehicle and placed on the ground with one wall section lowermost and the other wall section uppermost. The uppermost wall section and the immediately adjacent roof section are then pivoted together relative to the other roof section until both wall sections rest on the ground. The eaves plates of the unit are then raised until the required angular relation is established between the roof sections and the apex plates. The roof sections are then made rigid with the apex plates by use of additional fasteners. Subsequently, the roof sections are raised further- and the procedure hereinbefore described is followed to complete erection of the unit and a number of additional units are erected, according to the required length of the building.

When the required angular relation has been established between the roof sections, one or more tie bars may be connected to each roof section at a position between the eaves and the apex of the roof to stiffen the structure.

Whilst we prefer to secure the elongate members 26a_ and 26b to panels 25 to form sections, prior to erection of the elongate members on the building site, it is within the scope of the invention to pivotally connect a pair of elongate members 26t> by means of an apex plate 15, to raise the apex plate and then secure the pair of elongate members against relative pivoting, pivotally connect further elongate members one with each of the members 26b_ and further raise the apex plate until the further elongate members are vertical, thereby forming a portal frame, erecting a further portal frame in a similar manner and then mounting panels on the portal frames to span the gap between them.

Claims

- CLAIMS :

1. A method of erecting a building comprising the steps of pivotally connecting a pair of members (10,11) which are suitable for forming part of a building frame, lifting the members so that said members are pivoted relative to each other into a required angular relation during the lifting operation, and then fixing said members to each other so that said angular relation is maintained.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the members (10,11) are lifted at-- or in proximity to the point of connection.

3. A method in accordance with either preceding claim wherein the ^' connection is formed with a connecting element (15) the element is first fixed to one member and pivotally connected to the other, and is then fixed to the other of said members.

4. A method in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the members (10,11) are substantially horizontal when first connected.

5. A method in accordance with any preceding claim wherein said members (10,11) form part of the roof of the erected building, and wherein a further member (12) which forms part of the wall of the erected building is pivotally connected to one (10) of the members when said members are fixed relative to each other, the members are lifted a further amount so that the further member pivots into a required angular relation during the lifting operation, and said members are then fixed to each other so that said angular relation is maintained. ^"6. A kit of parts for use in erecting a building in accordance with the method defined in any of Claims 1 to 4, the kit comprising at least two members (10,11) and at least one connecting element (15) for connecting the members.

7. A kit of parts in accordance with Claim 6 for use in erecting a building in accordance with the method defined in Claim 5, comprising at least one further member (12) and a connecting element (16) for connecting the further member to one of the pair of members.

8. A- kit according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein said connecting element (15) is rigidly connected with one of said members.

9. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A kit of parts substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawings.