WO2003025313A2

WO2003025313A2 - A tomb

Info

Publication number: WO2003025313A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2002/000143
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sydney Christoffel Kloppers
Original assignee: Sydney Christoffel Kloppers
Priority date: 2001-09-18
Filing date: 2002-09-16
Publication date: 2003-03-27
Also published as: WO2003025313A3; ZA200203813B; AU2002335149A1

Abstract

A tomb structure includes at least one pre-fabricated compartment element (10), having a series of eight compartments (12), defined by laterally spaced opposing side walls (14), a rear end wall (16), and a roof section or slab (18). Ventilation holes (22) are provided in the rear end wall (16) of the compartment element (10).

Description

A TOMB

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tomb. It more particularly relates to a tomb structure, to a compartment element and to a roller device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Graveyards are used to bury the dead, but once used as a graveyard, the land is seldom used for any other purpose. As a result of the area needed for each grave, graveyards tend to occupy a large area of land. In the event of cremation the ashes are traditionally stored in containers in brick fashion in a wall, thereby occupying less space than a graveyard. Cremation however is not a viable option for all as some prefer not to be cremated, and others have certain religious objections. The problem remains that effective usage of land in a graveyard is not achieved.

One possible way of attempting to alleviate this problem is described in South African Patent No. 97/8164 filed in the name of Pieter Malan and entitled "COFFIN ENCASEMENT" which describes a pre-manufactured coffin encasement including a container having an open upper end and being provided with a lid for closing the upper end. The coffin encasement may be made of cementitious material, e.g. precast concrete material that is suitably reinforced.

In the abovementioned patent, a coffin is placed into a container of the coffin encasement after which the container is sealed. A second coffin may then be placed into a further container located above the sealed container after which this container too is sealed, thereby forming the coffin encasement. The coffin encasement is thus filled during constructions thereof and is not a freestanding structure that can be filled with coffins at will.

Furthermore, the coffin encasement described in the abovementioned patent is in use located in a hole in the ground, which means that it is not easily accessible and that its installation is labour intensive since a large hole must be dug into which the coffin encasement must then be lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a tomb structure, which includes pre-fabricated compartment elements, arranged as an array and each defining at least one elongate tomb compartment.

The compartment elements may be elongate modular structures and may be arranged in tiers, i.e. in a two-dimensional array. Accordingly, the compartments may form a matrix or two-dimensional array.

The compartment elements may be transportable, allowing them to be pre-fabricated at a site remote from the tomb structure.

A compartment element may be in the form of a rectangular prism defining one or more compartments each of which may be partially closed. Each compartment element may include: a roof slab or panel; one or more side walls; a rear end wall; and - an open floor area and an open front end.

A compartment element may include a concrete body defining or forming one or more compartments. Thus, the elements may be in the form of pre-cast reinforced concrete bodies of unitary construction.

The compartment elements may include anchor formations e.g. metal hoops. The anchor formations may form lifting eyes, for ease of transport and for use in assembly of the tomb structure. The anchor formations may project from an interior surface of the compartment element and/or from an exterior surface of the compartment element.

Each compartment element may include at least one ventilation hole, conveniently in its rear end wall. However, the compartment elements may be substantially sealed i.e. without ventilation.

The tomb structure may include a cast floor slab as foundation, of concrete.

To form the tiers, compartment elements may be stacked, and may be sealed with grout to each other thereby to form an array of elongate tomb compartments. When in the stacked condition, the roof slab or panel of a first compartment element may form a floor panel of a second compartment element located immediately above said first compartment element.

Each compartment may include a coffin bed for ease of insertion of a coffin into the compartment and for supporting the coffin. Each coffin bed may be integral with a compartment element i.e. with an upper surface of a compartment roof slab or panel.

Instead, each coffin bed may be pre-cast as a separate element and may be later fixed during assembly into a compartment by addition of grout between the bed and the floor of the compartment.

The tomb structure may include at least two sets of arrays of compartment elements with elongate tomb compartments having outwardly facing openings which may be spaced from each other.

The tomb structure may include filling material, such as earth, between and on top of the compartment elements.

A top surface of the filling material may be covered with plants like grass, flowers, or the like.

The tomb structure may be provided with a facade which may include a retaining wall at its top and retaining wall adjacent or spaced from the sides of the compartment elements. The fagade may be finished with face-brick, plaster and paint, or the like, to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

The tomb structure may include closures associated with compartment elements to seal the front opening or end of the elongate compartments.

A closure may include a closure body which may be of concrete, and may have one or more shoulders for co-operating with closure locking elements for locking the closure body to the compartment element. The locking elements may be in the form of metal hooks engaging with the shoulders of the closure body and with the anchor formations of the compartment element.

The locking elements of each closure may be fixed in position with a settable material, e.g. grout.

Each closure may be sealed in its position in the opening of its associated compartment by a sealant, e.g. a non-shrink grout mixture, between the closure body and the compartment element.

Each closure may include plaque mounting formations to facilitate the mounting of a plaque against it.

The invention extends to a compartment element and to a closure as hereinbefore described. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an elongate roller device for use in facilitating the insertion of a coffin into a compartment, the roller device including: a plurality of rollers, mounted to rotate about longitudinally spaced axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the compartment, in use to support a coffin slidably being inserted in the compartment; and a jack mechanism to lift the rollers into position ready for operation to support a coffin clear of a coffin bed, and to lower the rollers from the operating position, to lower a coffin onto the coffin bed.

The roller device is particularly, though not necessarily exclusively, suitable for use in a compartment of a tomb structure as hereinbefore described, and may have a length matching that of the compartments.

The roller device may include securing means, in use capable of releasably securing the roller device inside the compartment.

The securing means may include laterally retractable feet adapted to press against a vertical surface inside the compartment, e.g. the retractable feet may press against a compartment side wall thereby to bear the roller device against the side wall and a side of the coffin bed.

The invention extends to a method of providing a tomb structure, which includes the step of positioning at least two prefabricated compartment elements to form an array defining at least two elongate tomb compartments. The method may include positioning a prefabricated coffin bed inside each compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings: - Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a compartment element suitable for use in a tomb structure in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows the compartment element of Figure 1 , in plan;

Figure 3 shows a closure for an elongate tomb compartment of the tomb structure, in front elevation; - Figure 4 shows a section through the closure at IV-IV in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section through the compartment element (at V-V in Figure 1), in use;

Figure 6 shows a front elevation of a tomb structure in accordance with the invention; - Figure 7 shows a sectional elevation of the tomb structure at VII-VII in Figure 6;

Figure 8 shows a front elevation of a roller device installed in an elongate tomb compartment;

Figure 9 shows the roller device in plan;

Figure 10 shows the roller device in side elevation; - Figure 11 shows a front elevation of a compartment element; and Figure 12 shows the compartment element of Figure 11 , in plan.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a compartment element, having a series of eight compartments 12, defined by laterally spaced opposing side walls 14, a rear end wall 16, and a roof section or slab 18. Ventilation holes 22 are provided in the rear end wall 16 of the compartment element 10.

On top of the roof section 18 above each compartment 12 (in Figures 1 and 2) there is provided a coffin bed 20, pre-cast as a separate element and fixed in position by the addition of grout between the coffin bed 20 and the roof section 18. The coffin bed 20 is shorter in length than the compartment 12. The position of a coffin 28 on the coffin bed 20 is indicated in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 5. The coffin bed 20 is narrower in width than a compartment, thereby providing spaces 20.1 (see Figure 6) on either side to accommodate roller devices to be described more fully thereafter.

Anchor formations 26 are provided on the top- and the bottom surface of the roof section 18 above each compartment 12. The anchor formations 26 are metal hoops cast into the compartment element 10, and are provided, in use, to secure a closure 29 in an open front end 38 of each compartment as will be seen in Figure 5. The anchor formations 26 may also be used as lifting eyes to ease the transport and installation of the compartment elements 10. Referring to Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings, reference numeral 100 generally indicates a modular compartment similar to the compartment 12 of Figures 1 and 2, when erected.

An adjacent pair of compartments 100 are formed by modules 102 and 104.

Module 102 has opposing side walls 106, 108, rear wall 110, and a roof section 112.

Module 104 has only a single side wall 114 with side wall 108 of module 102 forming the second side wall of module 104 when modules 102, 104 are brought together as shown in the Figures.

Further modules 104 can be added to the right of the first module 104 thereby to increase the number of compartments 100.

The modules 102 and 104 have step-like engaging formations 116 which allow for some overlap and support as shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, reference numeral 29 indicates a closure which includes a closure body 30 from pre-cast concrete. It also includes two locking elements in the form of metal hooks 34 shown in position engaging two shoulders 32 of the closure body 30, a rear end formation 40 is provided on the metal hooks 34 shaped to be able to engage with the anchor formations 26 of the associated compartment 12 of the compartment element 10. The closure 29 has plaque mounting formations 36, cast into the front of the closure body 30. In Figures 3, 5, and 7 the relative position of the closure 29 mounted into the front end 38 of a compartment 12 is shown.

In Figure 5, a coffin 28 is shown (dotted), supported on the coffin bed 20. The coffin 28 is shorter in length than the compartment 12 to enable the closure 29 to be accommodated in the open front end 38 of the compartment 12. The closure 29 is shown in the installed position into the front end 38 of the compartment 12 (see also Figure 7). The metal hooks 34 are shown engaging the shoulders 32 of the closure body 30 and the rear end formations 40 engaging the anchor formations 26 of the compartment 12.

What is stated above in relation to the closure member 29 applies equally to compartment 100 in Figures 11 and 12.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, a tomb structure 42 is shown, in which prefabricated compartment elements 10 are arranged in two outwardly facing arrays 45 (45.1 and 45.2) of four tiers 43 (43.1 , 43.2, 43.3 and 43.4). A cast concrete floor 44 is provided as foundation to the tomb structure 42. A retaining wall 46 is provided to retain filling material 50 between the outwardly facing arrays 45, on the inside of the tomb structure 42. The tomb structure 42 is finished with a fagade 47 of face brick 48 to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance. A plaque 52 is shown attached to the plaque mounting formations 36 over the closure 30.

What is stated directly above in relation to Figures 6 and 7 applies equally to

compartment 100 in Figures 11 and 12. Referring to Figures 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, reference numeral 60 generally indicates an elongate roller device in accordance with the invention. The roller device 60 has a length matching that of the compartment 12 and is installed in the compartment 12 in the space 20.1 (see Figure 6) defined between a side wall 14 and a coffin bed 20 of the compartment 12. The roller device 60 is provided with securing means generally indicated by reference numeral 61. The securing means 61 includes three fastening jacks (only two, 61.1 and 61.2, shown in Figure 9), spaced longitudinally along the length of a securing means lead screw 64, axially located in a frame 68 and mounted to rotate about its axis 64.1 in the frame 68. Each fastening jack 61.1 and 61.2 includes at least one pair of struts 72 (72.1 and 72.2), pivotally connected together at their outer ends to a foot 62 about an axis 62.1 transverse to the longitudinal axis 64.1 of the lead screw 64. The inner end of strut 72.1 is pivotally connected to the frame 68 about an axis 72.11 parallel to the pivotal axis 62.1 at its other end. The inner end of the strut 72.2 is pivotally connected, about an axis 72.21 parallel to the other two axes 62.1 and 72.11 , to a net 66 displaceable longitudinally along the lead screw 64 when it is rotated about its axis 64.1. In use, rotation of the lead screw 64 about its axis will cause displacement of the nuts 66 in the direction of arrows 66.1 (see Figure 9) and corresponding displacement of the shoes 62 in the direction of arrow 62.2.

Referring further to Figures 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, the roller device 60 also includes a roller jack mechanism indicated by reference numeral 78. It includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced rollers 80 mounted to rotate about axes 80.1 transverse to the longitudinal axis 86.1 of a roller jack mechanism lead screw 86, rotatable about its axis 86.1 in frame 68 but axially located therein. The axis 86.1 is parallel to the axis 64.1. The rollers 80 are mounted to rotate about their axes 80.1 at the outer ends of struts 82 and 84 which also pivot at their outer ends about axes 80.1. The inner ends of struts 82 pivot relative to the frame 68 about axes 82.1 parallel to the axes 80.1. The inner ends of the struts 84 are pivotally connected about axes 84.1 parallel to axes 82.1 to running nuts 88 longitudinally displaceable along the roller jack mechanism lead screw 86 when it rotates about its axes 86.1. Axial displacement of the nuts 88 in the direction of arrow 88.1 cause displacement of the rollers 80 in the direction of arrow 80.2, thereby lifting the rollers 90 to support the coffin 28 (see Figure 8), or lowering the rollers 80 out of support of the coffin 28, depending on the direction of rotation of the lead screw 86.

The position of the coffin 28 on the rollers 80 is indicated in Figure 8. Laterally spaced coffin guides 90 are provided to guide the direction of the coffin 28 when it is slid into the compartment 12 or 100 on the rollers 80.

In operation the roller device 60 is positioned in a compartment 12 or 100. The securing means 61 is operated by rotating the securing means lead screw 64 to displace the retractable fee 62 to bear against the adjacent side wall 14 of the compartment 12 or 100, thereby pressing the roller frame 68 against the coffin bed 20 at 20.11 (see Figure 8). The roller device 60 is thereby releasably secured in position in the compartment 12. The roller jack mechanism lead screw 86 is then rotated to lift the coffin rollers 80 into an elevated operative position which is horizontally higher than the upper surface 20.12 of the coffin bed 20. A similar operation is performed on a roller device 60 on the opposite side of the coffin bed 20. A coffin 28 is positioned onto the coffin rollers 80 and can be slid into the compartment 12 or 100, being guided by the laterally spaced coffin guides 90. When the coffin 28 is in the installed position the roller jack mechanism lead screw 86 is rotated in an opposite direction thereby lowering the coffin rollers 80 into a horizontal position lower than the coffin bed 20, and allowing the coffin 28 to rest on the coffin bed 20. The securing means lead screws 64 of both roller devices 60 in the compartment 12 or 100 are rotated in opposite directions thereby releasing the retractable feet 62 from the adjacent side wall 14 allowing the roller devices 60 to be slid out of the compartment 12 or 100.

The inventor believes that the invention, as illustrated, provides a new tomb structure for burying corpses in a space efficient, though dignified manner.

Claims

Claims:

1. A tomb structure, which includes pre-fabricated compartment elements arranged as an array, each compartment element defining at least one elongate tomb compartment.

2. A tomb structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the compartment elements are elongate modular structures arranged in tiers.

3. A tomb structure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compartment elements are transportable, allowing them to be pre-fabricated at a site remote from the tomb structure.

4. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the compartment element is in the form of a rectangular prism defining one or more elongate tomb compartments each of which may be partially closed.

5. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which one or more of the compartment elements include: - a roof slab or panel; one or more side walls; a rear end wall; and an open floor area and an open front end.

6. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compartment element includes a concrete body defining or forming one or more elongate tomb compartments.

7. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including one or more compartment elements including a roof slab or panel; a pair of opposed side walls; and a rear end wall; and - one or more compartment elements including a roof slab or panel; one side wall; and a rear end wall.

8. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compartment elements include anchor formations.

9. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a cast floor slab as foundation, of concrete.

10. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the elongate tomb compartments include a coffin bed for ease of insertion of a coffin into the compartment and for supporting the coffin.

11. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including at least two sets of arrays of compartment elements with elongate tomb compartments having outwardly facing openings which are spaced from each other.

12. A tomb structure as claimed in claim 11 , including filling material between and on top of the compartment elements.

13. A tomb structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein a top surface of the filling material is at least partially covered with plants.

14. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which tomb structure is provided with a facade.

15. A tomb structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including one or more closure associated with the compartment elements to seal the front opening or end of the elongate tomb compartments.

16. A tomb structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the closure includes a closure body and one or more shoulders for co-operating with closure locking elements for locking the closure body to the compartment element.

17. A tomb structure as claimed in claim 16, wherein the locking elements are in the form of metal hooks engaging with the shoulders of the closure body and with the anchor formations of the compartment element.

18. A tomb structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein each closure includes plaque mounting formations to facilitate the mounting of a plaque against it.

19. A compartment for a tomb structure, said compartment having at least : - a roof slab or panel; one or more side walls; and a rear end wall.

20. A compartment as claimed in claim 19, having a pair of opposed side walls.

21. A compartment as claimed in claim 19, having one side wall.

22. A compartment as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21 , having an open floor area and an open front end

23. A compartment as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22, including one or more closure associated with the compartment to seal the front opening or end of the compartment.

24. An elongate roller device for use in facilitating the insertion of a coffin into a compartment, the roller device including: a plurality of rollers, mounted to rotate about longitudinally spaced axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the compartment, in use to support a coffin slidably being inserted in the compartment; and a jack mechanism to lift the rollers into position ready for operation to support a coffin clear of a coffin bed, and to lower the rollers from the operating position, to lower a coffin onto the coffin bed.

25. A roller device as claimed in claim 24, having a length matching that of the compartment.

26. A roller device as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25, including securing means, in use capable of releasably securing the roller device inside the compartment.

27. A roller device as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the securing means includes laterally retractable feet adapted to press against a vertical surface inside the compartment.

28. A method of providing a tomb structure, which includes the step of positioning at least two prefabricated compartment elements to form an array defining at least two elongate tomb compartments.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, including positioning a prefabricated coffin bed inside each compartment.

30. A tomb structure as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described and illustrated.

31. A compartment as claimed in claim 19, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

32. An elongate roller device as claimed in claim 24, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

33. A method of providing a tomb structure as claimed in claim 28, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

34. A new tomb structure, a new compartment, a new elongate roller device, or a new method of providing a tomb structure substantially as herein described.