WO2011059400A1

WO2011059400A1 - A method and cooling arrangement for the construction of buildings from snow and ice

Info

Publication number: WO2011059400A1
Application number: PCT/SE2010/051263
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yngve Bergqvist
Original assignee: Icehotel Ab
Priority date: 2009-11-16
Filing date: 2010-11-16
Publication date: 2011-05-19
Also published as: EP2501872A1; EP2501872A4; SE534320C2; SE0950867A1

Abstract

This invention concerns a method for construction of buildings A of ice A1 and snow A2 comprising placement of foundation elements 1a-1d comprising ice onto a support 2 in a form that corresponds to the external form and internal division of the building, placement of construction elements 3a-3d comprising snow onto the foundation elements 1a-1d in order to complete the building A and placement of at least one cooling arrangement 4 onto the completed building A. The invention concerns also a cooling arrangement 4 for use when carrying out the method for the construction of buildings A of ice A1 and snow A2 that comprises a transport arrangement 9 that makes possible transport of a cooling agent 10.

Description

A method and cooling arrangement for the construction of buildings from snow and ice

Technical area

This invention concerns a method for construction of buildings of ice and snow according to the introduction to claim 1 and a cooling arrangement that is to be used during such construction according to the introduction to claim 20.

Background

The construction of buildings of snow and ice by forming ice and snow to blocks or similar and the subsequent use of these blocks to build igloos or other constructions more similar to houses is already known. The previously known methods require that the construction take place during the winter when the weather is cold, such that the ice and snow retain the desired shapes, sizes and structures. The lifetimes of these buildings depend on the location of their construction and the outdoor climate. The lifetimes in many places in the world are rather short, even in places where there is a winter period.

Description of the invention

One purpose of this invention is to offer a method and an arrangement for construction of buildings of ice and snow that make it possible to extend the lifetimes of these buildings.

This purpose is achieved through a method comprising the technical distinctive features that are specified in the characteristic part of claim 1 and a cooling arrangement comprising the technical distinctive features that are specified in the characteristic part of claim 20.

Brief description of drawings

Figure 1 shows an overview of the method according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows foundation elements, and arrangements for their manufacture according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows construction elements, and arrangements for their manufacture according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows construction using high foundation elements and complete arches.

Figure 5 shows construction using low foundation elements and half arches.

Figure 6 shows a part of a completed building according to the invention.

Figure 7 shows a cooling arrangement according to the invention.

Figure 8 shows a nearly completed igloo constructed according to the invention, without the cooling arrangement. Detailed description of embodiments The method

This invention concerns a method for the construction of buildings A from ice A1 and snow A2, and it comprises the placement of foundation elements 1a-1d, comprising ice, onto a support 2 in a form that corresponds to the external form of the building and its inner compartmentalisation, division into rooms. The method comprises also the placement of construction elements 3a-3d, comprising snow, onto the foundation elements 1a-1d in order to complete the building A. When the building A is complete, at least one cooling arrangement 4 is placed onto the completed building A.

The foundation elements 1a-1d of ice have a high density and maintain a low temperature effectively, which leads to them also maintaining their shapes. The foundation elements 1a- 1d constitute the lower part of the walls of the building, both the outer walls and the inner walls.

The construction elements 3a-3d of snow are somewhat lighter, and this means that it is easier to build vertically using these elements. The construction elements of snow constitute the upper parts of the walls of the building, and its roof.

The cooling arrangement 4 that is placed over the building is relatively thin and has an extension in area such that it covers most of the building A and cools from above. This is advantageous since cold air falls, and this leads to the building A being held cold, and thus retaining its shape and its appearance.

Manufacture of foundation elements

If a ready-to-use foundation is not available, the placement of the foundation elements 1a-1d is preceded by the manufacture of the foundation elements 1a-1d. The term "ready to use foundation" is here used to denote either snow or ice formations, or combined snow and ice formations, that are already in place at the location at which the building is to be constructed. These formations may be, for example, created by weather and wind, thus making them ready to be used as a foundation. The manufacture of the foundation elements 1a-1d comprises the release and the forming of ice blocks B from naturally occurring ice, where the ice blocks B will constitute the foundation elements 1a-1d. It may be necessary to adjust the shapes of the ice blocks B before they can be used as foundation elements 1a-1c. The ice blocks B, the foundation elements 1a-1d, are straight components if straight walls are to be constructed, and they are more or less curved if the walls are to curve in any direction, and if the walls are to form, possibly, a round or an oval room. If a windtight construction is desired, the blocks B, the foundation elements 1a-1d, are shaped such that they correspond to each other in shape, and form together a windtight foundation.

The ice blocks B are sawn from naturally occurring ice, the ice from a lake or river. The side of the ice that faces upwards when the ice is lying in the lake, the side on which it is possible to walk, is normally covered by snow and slightly more porous than the rest of the ice block. This side is known as the "moulded side" 1.1. It is an advantage if this moulded side 1.1 , this side that is covered by snow and ice crust, is left in place on the ice blocks such that it can subsequently be used during the actual construction.

The manufacture of the foundation elements 1a-1 d may comprise also the shaping of snow A2 to give foundation elements 1a-1d through the use of arrangements 1A and 1 B intended for this.

It is an advantage if artificial snow is used. Artificial snow contains more moisture than naturally occurring snow and gives better results in the manufacture of construction elements, since the snowflakes, the ice crystals, adhere better to each other. The foundation elements 1a-1d obtain also a higher density. The foundation elements 1a-1d are more robust and more stable, and they are easier to handle since they have no tendency to shed fragments. It is appropriate that artificial snow be obtained with the aid of a snow cannon, not shown in the drawings. Storage of foundation elements

Manufacture of the foundation elements 1a-1d is followed by cooled storage of the foundation elements 1a-1d in storage 5 before construction begins. The storage may be of long or short duration. The storage of the foundation elements makes it possible to preserve the ice blocks and to manufacture the foundation elements when naturally occurring ice is available, followed by subsequent construction of buildings even when it is not particularly cold outside. The foundation elements, the ice blocks, can be extracted during the winter and can, indeed, be stored throughout the summer, such that construction can begin before the ice has formed again. The manufacture of foundation elements 1a-1d may take place also after storage of ice blocks B.

Transport of foundation elements When the foundation elements 1a-1d have been manufactured, when the ice blocks B have been extracted and, where necessary, shaped, they may be also transported to other parts than the vicinity of the ice. It does not introduce any difficulties if the manufacture of the foundation elements 1a-1d is followed by cooled transport in a suitable transport means 6, a vehicle, of the foundation elements 1a-1d to the desired construction site. This makes it possible also to construct buildings A of snow and ice at other locations than just where it happens to be winter at any moment.

Placement of foundation elements

Before the construction begins, it is possible to cool the support 2, before placement of the foundation elements 1a-1d onto the support 2, through the use of the cooling arrangement 4. The cooling arrangement 4 is laid out onto, over, the support 2, normally the ground, and is allowed to lay there and cool as long as is necessary, depending on the temperatures on the ground and in the air, and depending on the power of the cooling arrangement 4.

It is possible to cool the support 2 also through the use of a cooling arrangement 4A, for example a tube 4B that is either filled by or passed by (or both) a cooling agent, buried in the ground, The placement of the foundation elements 1a-1d comprises the placement of the foundation elements in order to obtain walls, the placement of different foundation elements in order to obtain different walls in different ways, having, for example, different heights, widths and lengths. The foundation elements 1a-1c are lain or placed into rows corresponding to the sections of wall that are desired. The placement of the foundation elements 1a and 1 b comprises placement of low foundation elements 1a in the same plane, such that low foundations, walls, are obtained in the building. The low foundation elements 1a are placed out one after the other. The placement of the foundation elements 1a and 1 b comprises also the placement of high foundation elements 1 b in the same plane, such that high foundations, walls, are obtained in the building. The high foundation elements 1 b are placed more in a vertical aspect and it can be said that they are displayed. The foundation elements 1a and 1 b, both the low elements and the high elements, are placed one after the other and the rows are placed parallel to each other such that passageways are formed.

The placement of the foundation elements 1 c comprises placement of the foundation elements 1c in a transverse row between two existing rows of foundation elements 1a or 1b in order to form a foundation for a wall arranged transversely across one of the passageways C or D forming [sic "bildande" - "ska vara bildade"]by the foundation elements. The foundation elements 1d are placed in a circle or an oval such that the foundation elements 1d together surround, limit, a more or less circular or oval area, a room. A foundation element 3d constitutes a segment of a circular formation and has a form that corresponds to this.

The foundation elements 1a-1d are placed in such a manner that the moulded side 1.1 of any such element faces upwards. The moulded side 1.1 was the side having snow or ice crust and that is slightly more porous. Turning it such that this side faces upwards leads to the foundation during construction being on its upper surface provided with a material that acts as a sealant between the foundation 1a-1d, the wall, and the construction elements 3a- 3d that are placed onto a suitable foundation.

Manufacture of construction elements

If completed construction elements 3a-3d are not available, the placement of the construction elements 3a-3d is preceded by manufacture of the construction elements 3a-3d. The manufacture of construction elements 3a-3d comprises the forming of snow A2 to construction elements 3a-3d through the use of arrangements 7 intended for this. It is an advantage if artificial snow is used. Artificial snow contains more moisture than naturally occurring snow and gives better results in the manufacture of construction elements, since the snowflakes, the ice crystals, adhere better to each other. The construction elements 3a-3d obtain also a higher density. The construction elements 3a-3d will be more robust and more stable. They will be also easier to handle since they will not have a tendency to shed fragments. It is appropriate that artificial snow be obtained with the aid of a snow cannon, not shown in the drawings.

The manufacture of construction elements comprises the manufacture of different types of construction elements: complete arches 3a, half arches 3b, complete wall elements 3c and igloo elements 3d. A complete arch 3a comprises two contact components 3a1 , parts or sections that make contact each with a foundation 1 b, a high foundation 1 b, on each side of a passageway C, and the arch 3a2 itself that unites the two contact components 3a1 with each other and that forms an arch between the two contact components 3a1 over the passageway 3, offering a roof.

A half arch 3b comprises one contact component 3b1 that also makes contact with a foundation 1a, a low foundation 1a, and only one half of an arch 3b2 that is terminated by an arch summit component 3b2a that will, during construction, come to be in contact with a second counterpositioned arch summit component 3b2a of a half arch in order to form together a complete arch. The counterpositioned half arch 3b2 comprises also a contact component 3b1 that makes contact with a foundation 1a, a low foundation 1a, on the other side of the passageway D that is to be covered by the arch. Also this arch forms a roof over a passageway.

The complete wall element 3c has an upper edge 3d whose shape coincides with the shape of an arch, with the principally semicircular lower shape of a complete arch or with the principally semicircular shape of the joint lower shape of two arches arranged against each other.

An igloo element 3d is similar to a half arch 3b. An igloo element 3d comprises a contact component 3d1 that makes contact with a foundation element, an igloo foundation element, 1c and with an arch component 3d2 that is terminated by an arch summit component 3d3. An igloo element 3d is to form, together with other igloo elements, a cupola with arch components 3d2, the arch summit components 3d3 of the arch components, directed towards and supporting each other at the central and highest point E of the cupola. The contact component 3d1 of an igloo element constitutes a segment of a circular formation and has a shape that corresponds to this, and to the shape of the foundation elements 1d.

Storage of construction elements

Manufacture of the construction elements 3a-3d can, just as the manufacture of the foundation elements 1a-1c, be followed by storage of the construction elements in storage 5 for a certain period before the construction is to begin. Storage of the construction elements 3a-3d can improve the quality of the construction elements. They can be given time to stabilise in form and in this way become robust and easier to handle. The durability can be extended if they have been given time to freeze properly together. The storage makes it possible also to displace the construction period, in the same way as the storage of the foundation elements.

Transport of construction elements

Just as is the case for the foundation elements 1a-1d, so also for the construction elements 3a-3d: when then have been manufactured they can be transported to other parts of the region, country or world. It does not introduce any difficulties if the manufacture of the construction elements is followed by cooled transport in a suitable transport means 6, a vehicle, of the construction elements 3a-3d to the desired construction site. This makes it possible to construct buildings A of snow and ice also at other locations than just where it happens to be winter at any moment, or where it is appropriate to manufacture construction elements of snow, of artificial snow. Placement of construction elements

Just as there are different foundation elements 1a-1d, there are also different construction elements 3a-3d such that the placement of construction elements 3a-3d comprises placement of different construction elements 3a-3d. The placement of construction elements 3a and 3b comprises the placement of complete arches 3a onto high foundations 1 b, side walls, and placement of half arches 3b onto low foundations 1a, side walls. Both the complete arches 3a and the half arches 3b comprise contact components 3a1 and 3b1 that make contact with the foundation elements 1a and 1 b.

The placement of half arches 3b is conducted such that the highest part, the arch summit component 3b2a, of a half arch meets the corresponding part of an opposing and mirrored half arch, such that a complete arch is obtained. The placement is conducted such that the half arches are placed such that they are arranged with a certain displacement in the area in which they meet an opposing and mirrored half arch, at the arch summit components 3ba2, such that partial overlap of the highest located parts of the component half arches is obtained. See Figure 5.

The placement of construction elements in the form of compete arches 3a or half arches 3b leads to placement of parts of, the upper parts of, the walls and, principally, the roof of the building.

The placement of the construction elements comprises also placement of complete wall elements 3c onto the foundation 1 c under selected arches. The construction of the passageways C and D that are covered by arches, and the placement of wall elements 3c under certain arches, make it possible to construct a system of passageways and rooms. Passageways will run under the complete arches 3a and under arches that have been constructed from the half arches 3b. These passageways run parallel, and one passageway can be used for transport while the second passageway can be divided up to form rooms. It is possible also to construct rooms in both passageways using openings in different ways. Placement of construction elements comprises also the placement of igloo elements 3d, the contact component 3d1 of the igloo elements, onto the foundation 1c. Several igloo elements 3d form together a cupola with the arch components 3d2, the arch summit components 3d3 of the arch components, directed towards and supporting each other at the central and highest point E of the cupola.

Placement of the cooling arrangement

Placement of the cooling arrangement 4 comprises spreading out the cooling arrangement 4 directly onto the completed building. The arrangement cools through the transport of a cooling agent through the cooling arrangement.

Activation of the cooling arrangement

The cooling arrangement 4 is to operate at a temperature greater than 0° Celsius and is therefore activated at this temperature. The cooling arrangement may be activated also at a temperature somewhat under 0° Celsius in order to ensure that the surroundings of the building are sufficiently cold. The specification "0° Celsius" may be interpreted also as an interval, approximately from -5° Celsius to 0° Celsius.

The use of a cooling arrangement 4 makes it makes it [sic, repeated words] possible to retain the building A even if the temperature, particularly during the daytime, is no longer sufficiently low. The building A can remain intact considerably longer by the use of a cooling arrangement 4. The use of a cooling arrangement 4 can extend the lifetime of a building A of snow and ice by several months. It is even possible to construct a building A before the winter has been properly established, during the period in which the daytime temperature varies from day to day and does not always lie under 0° Celsius. Continuous surveillance of the temperature, normally the outdoor temperature, takes place in the vicinity of the building A in order to record a temperature above 0° Celsius, which will lead to the activation of the cooling arrangement 4.

The cooling arrangement can be covered by a further construction 8 that has an extended area, in order to further retain the cold, and such that it is possible to influence the appearance of the building A. The construction 8 with an extended area may comprise some form of fabric that can be provided with at least one image, printed pattern or similar, in some way.

The manufacture, storage and transport of both foundation elements 1a-1d and construction elements 3a-3d can be combined in a suitable manner such that the construction process is facilitated in the optimal manner.

Arrangement The invention concerns also a cooling arrangement 4 for use during the conduct of the method. The cooling arrangement 4 comprises an arrangement 9 that in turn makes transport of a cooling agent 10 possible. The transport arrangement 9 comprises a system, a closed system, for transport of the cooling agent 10. The transport arrangement 9 comprises a pipeline 1 1 in which cooling agent 10 is transported and through which cooling power is transferred to and spread throughout the building A. The transport arrangement 9 of the arrangement comprises a pump 12, or similar, that transports the cooling agent 10.

The arrangement 4 comprises also a sheet of material 13 spread onto the surface, on which parts of the transport arrangement 9, the pipeline 1 1 , are arranged. The sheet of material 13 may be a tarpaulin or similar. The pipeline 11 and the sheet of material 13 are flexible. The material is to be selected such that it can withstand low temperatures such that the functions of the arrangement are not at risk of failure, in order not to risk any influence on the material that is negative due to the temperature around the arrangement becoming, or having been, low or even very low.

The arrangement 4 comprises a control and regulatory unit 14 that activates the cooling arrangement 4, the transport arrangement 9, at temperatures above 0° Celsius. The same interval as that discussed earlier, -5° to 0° Celsius, applies also here. The arrangement 4, the control and regulatory unit 14, comprise a temperature sensor 15 for the continuous surveillance of the temperature, normally the outdoor temperature, in the vicinity of the building. When the temperature sensor 15 records a temperature above 0° Celsius, a control and regulation signal is initiated in order to activate the cooling arrangement 4, the transport arrangement 9.

Thus the arrangement 4 may be used also to be placed onto the completed building A, and it can be used to be placed out onto the support 2 on which the building A is to be erected in order to cool the support 2 such that the foundation elements 1a-1d do not begin to melt.

Claims

1. A method for construction of buildings (A) of ice (A1 ) and snow (A2) comprising placement of foundation elements (1a-1d) comprising ice onto a support (2) in a form that corresponds to the external form and internal division of the building, placement of construction elements (3a-3d) comprising snow onto the foundation elements (la- Id) in order to complete the building (A) and placement of at least one cooling arrangement (4) onto the completed building (A).

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising manufacture of the foundation elements (1a-1d).

3. The method according to claim 2, where the manufacture of the foundation elements (1a-1d) comprises the release and the forming of ice blocks (B) from naturally occurring ice, where the ice blocks (B) will constitute or will be formed into the foundation elements (1a-1d).

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, where the manufacture of the foundation elements (1a-1d) comprises the shaping of artificial snow to give foundation elements

(1a-1d) through the use of arrangements (1A, 1 B) intended for this.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2-4, comprising cooled storage of the foundation elements (1a-1d) before construction commences.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2-5, comprising the cooled transport of the foundation elements (1a-1d) to the desired construction site.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, comprising cooling of the support (2) before placement of the foundation elements (1a-1d) onto the support through the use of the cooling arrangement (4).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, comprising cooling of the support (2) before placement of the foundation elements (1a-1d) onto the support through the use of a cooling arrangement (4A, 4B) buried in the ground.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, where the placement of the foundation elements (1a-1d) comprises the placement of different foundation elements (1a-1d) in order to obtain walls.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, where the placement of the foundation elements (1a-1d) comprises the placement of different foundation elements (1a-1d) in such a manner that the moulded side (1.1 ) of each component faces upwards.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, comprising manufacture of the construction elements (3a-3d).

12. The method according to claim 11 , where the manufacture of the construction elements (3a-3d) comprises the forming of artificial snow to construction elements (3a-3d) through the use of arrangements (7) intended for this.

13. The method according to claim 1 1 or 12, where the manufacture of the construction elements (3a-3d) comprises the manufacture of different types of construction elements: complete arches (3a), half arches (3b), wall elements (3c) and igloo elements (3d).

14. The method according to any one of claims 1-13, comprising cooled storage of the construction elements (3a-3d) before construction commences.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1-14, comprising cooled transport of the construction elements (3a-3d) to the desired construction site.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1-15, where the placement of the construction elements (3a-3d) comprises the placement of different types of construction elements: complete arches (3a), half arches (3b), wall elements (3c) and igloo elements (3d).

17. The method according to any one of claims 1-146 [sic!], where the placement of the cooling arrangement (4) comprises the spreading out of the cooling arrangement (4) directly onto the completed building (A).

18. The method according to any one of claims 1-17, where the cooling arrangement (4) cools through the transport of a cooling agent (10) through the cooling arrangement

(4).

19. The method according to any one of claims 1-18, comprising activation of the cooling arrangement (4) at a temperature greater than 0° Celsius.

20. A cooling arrangement (4) for use when carrying out the method for the construction of buildings (A) of ice (A1 ) and snow (A2) according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it comprises a transport arrangement (9) that makes possible transport of a cooling agent (10).

21. A cooling arrangement (4) according to claim 20, comprising a sheet of material (13) spread onto a surface, on which sheet at least a part of the transport arrangement (9) is arranged.

22. The cooling arrangement (4) according to claim 21 , where the transport arrangement (9) comprises a pipeline (11 ) in which the cooling agent (10) is transported and where the pipeline (1 1 ) is arranged on the sheet of material (13).

23. The cooling arrangement (4) according to any one of claims 20-22, comprising a control and regulatory unit (14) that activates the cooling arrangement (4) when the temperature outside of the building (A) is greater than 0° Celsius.

24. The cooling arrangement (4) according to claim 23, comprising a temperature sensor (15) that continuously determines the temperature, records a temperature greater than X° Celsius and then initiates a regulatory signal for activation of the cooling arrangement (4).