U.S. patent application number 10/312736 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-07 for shelter.
This patent application is currently assigned to CINTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED. Invention is credited to James, Peter.
Application Number | 20030145530 10/312736 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26244551 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030145530 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
James, Peter |
August 7, 2003 |
Shelter
Abstract
Shelters as shown in FIG. 3, are constructed by filled bags (1),
which typically have a trapezoidal cross-section. Such bags are
divided into several compartments by internal webs (3) and can be
laid over an arched lining (2). In end view, the bags are slightly
wedge-shaped so that they resemble stones following the curve of a
masonry arch, and the webs (3) follow the curve of the arch so that
there is an inner compartment (4), a middle compartment (5), and an
outer compartment (6) in each bag. In addition to shelters, the
bags can be used to build barriers formed of courses of bags, with
at least one side of the barrier having a corbelled out
portion.
Inventors: |
James, Peter; (Chepstow,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Assignee: |
CINTEC INTERNATIONAL
LIMITED
11Gold Tops Newport
Gwent
GB
NP20 4PH
|
Family ID: |
26244551 |
Appl. No.: |
10/312736 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
June 28, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB01/02870 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/86 ;
52/89 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 9/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/86 ;
52/89 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 28, 2000 |
GB |
0015675.2 |
Mar 10, 2001 |
GB |
0105963.3 |
Claims
1. A shelter comprising an arched lining forming at least a
temporary support and an external elongate jacket of compartmented
bags extending generally horizontally and filled with a filling
material, the bags being closed apart from inlets through which the
filling material is injected and being assembled with the
compartments of each bag progressively spaced from the lining.
2. A shelter according to any claim 1, wherein the lining is
removable when the ;jacket is complete and is thus available to
provide the lining for a further similar shelter.
3. A shelter according to claim 2, wherein the lining is a ribbed
framework.
4. A shelter according to claim 2, wherein the lining is a rigid
sheet material.
5. A shelter according to any preceding claim wherein at least some
of the filling material is a particulate material that remains
un-solidified within the bags.
6. A shelter according to any preceding claim, wherein at least
some of the filling material is a combination of substances that
solidify within the bags.
7. A shelter according to any preceding claim, wherein means are
provided for positively interconnecting adjacent bags.
8. A shelter according to claim 9, wherein the interconnecting
means are elongate elements passed through loops or eyes provided
externally of the bags.
9. A shelter according to claims 1 to 7, wherein adjacent abutting
faces of the bags are formed so that adjacent bags mutually key
together.
10. A shelter according to claim 9, wherein each compartment of
each bag is partially offset from the adjacent compartment
circumferentially of the arch, thereby making each keying face a
mixture of ribs and grooves.
11. A method of assembling a shelter as claimed in claim 7 or 8,
wherein the lining is erected, the bags are arranged over it and
interconnected, and the compartments are progressively filled from
the innermost compartments of the lowest bags to the or each outer
compartment at the crown of the arch, no compartment being filled
until the next one or ones circumferentially lower and radially
inner have been filled.
12. A method of assembling a shelter as claimed in claim 9 or 10,
wherein the lining is erected, the lowermost bags are positioned
and filled from the innermost compartment outwards, the next
lowermost bags are positioned and similarly filled, and so on to
the crown of the arch.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to shelters, and in particular to
shelters for hazardous environments, giving protection against
blasts and small arms fire.
[0002] There are many places in the world where a rapidly erected
shelter, proof against rifle or machine gun fire, and against
nearby bomb blasts or shell explosions, is a very desirable refuge.
However, they need to be constructed in a hurry in remote places
possibly only accessible by helicopter. So shipping in the entire
construction is not a realistic option.
[0003] There is therefore a need for a shelter whose bulk can
mostly be supplied from local materials and where just a skeleton
structure needs to be brought in to the point of erection, to be
"fleshed out" on the ground.
[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a shelter comprising an arched lining forming at least a
temporary support and an external elongate jacket of compartmented
bags extending generally horizontally and filled with a filling
material, the bags being closed apart from inlets through which the
filling material is injected and being assembled with the
compartments of each bag progressively spaced from the lining.
[0005] Preferably, fine particulate material is used. This could be
sand, or possibly earth, although sand may be mixed with cement.
However aggregate and concrete in pre-set slurry form can be pumped
to fill bags, and it should be understood that the invention
encompasses the use of such coarser materials. Fibres, or small
pieces of cloth, might also be added to the mix.
[0006] Once the lining is erected, empty bags will be placed to
encase it, and then at least some of the innermost compartments,
starting at the lowermost bags and working up towards the crown of
the arch, will be filled with filling material. Then the adjacent
compartments are filled, and so on until the outermost ones are
filled and the shelter is complete. The filling of one range of
compartments may start before the next inner one has been
completed, although that is not preferred, and certainly it must
not overtake the filling of the inner compartments in the approach
to the crown of the arch.
[0007] The arch will generally be circular or elliptical, and the
bags will preferably be shaped so that they resemble, in
cross-section of the shelter, stones around the curve of a masonry
arch. In other words they will be wedge-shaped. Preferably, there
will be means for positively linking adjacent bags together. In one
form these may be rods extending lengthwise of the shelter passing
through overlapping eyes on adjacent bags, rather like a hinge
pin.
[0008] With the bags all full, they are self-sustaining and the
lining may be removed. It can then serve for the construction of
another shelter and so on.
[0009] The material of the bags is a matter of choice, and while it
is not required of the bags that they be liftable when filled with
filling material, it will be preferred to have a strong, reinforced
sheet material that could sustain the weight of the contents if
lifted. The optimum material available at present is probably
"Kevlar" .TM., which has been established as being bullet proof, at
least to a certain extent.
[0010] Since the bags will be brought to the site empty, they will
preferably be made as long as the shelter itself, so that assembly
time is reduced to a minimum.
[0011] The filling material will preferably be sand, which is often
locally available. But circumstances may dictate the use of
earth.
[0012] The sand may be mixed with cement so that the jacket will
solidify. Of course, there is no necessity to have all the
compartments filled with the same material, and one could have the
inner ones solid, with a mixture of sand and cement, and the outer
ones just filled with sand.
[0013] The lining may be provided by various means. For example, it
could be pre-curved rigid sheet material such as corrugated iron,
so that it would resemble a Nissen hut. Alternatively, there could
be discrete arches making a ribbed framework along the length of
the shelter. These could be left in place or removed once the bags
are filled. Alternatively, conventional centering could be employed
which would have to be dismantled to make the shelter usable.
[0014] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of assembling a shelter, wherein the lining is
erected, the bags are arranged over it and interconnected, and the
compartments are progressively filled from the innermost
compartments of the lowest bags to the or each outer compartment at
the crown of the arch, no compartment being filled until the next
one or ones circumferentially lower and radially inner have been
filled.
[0015] According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of assembling a shelter, wherein the lining is
erected, the lowermost bags are positioned and filled from the
innermost compartment outwards, the next lowermost bags are
positioned and similarly filled, and so on to the crown of the
arch.
[0016] In each method of construction bags are filled in a
progressive manner with a filling material such as sand or a
settable material such as concrete, each bag being placed in
conjunction with a filled bag before being filled itself. When the
bags are filled, they assist in preventing mutual movement of the
bags in at least one direction in the general plane of those
faces.
[0017] According to a further aspect of the present invention there
is provided a shelter including a barrier comprising courses of
bags filled with filling material, the bags of at least one course
being wider than the bags of the course below so that at least one
side of the barrier has a corbelled out portion.
[0018] In one preferred form the wider bags are divided by
longitudinal webs into side-by-side compartments. These will be
filled sequentially, the central ones, or those over the existing
structure, being filled first to provide stability and a
counterweight to the compartments that hang out beyond that
existing structure.
[0019] Such barriers can be constructed at the ends of the arched
structures outlined above, to complete an all round shelter. But
they could be quite independent.
[0020] For a better understanding of the invention, some
embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag of trapezoidal
cross-section,
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the bags of FIG. 1, divided into three
compartments,
[0023] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a shelter showing
steps in its construction,
[0024] FIG. 4 is a detail of part of the shelter, in end view,
[0025] FIG. 5 is a view in the direction A of FIG. 4,
[0026] FIG. 6 shows various arch structures to form the basis of
the shelter,
[0027] FIG. 7 shows details of anchoring the shelter to the ground,
and
[0028] FIG. 8 shows an end view of a bag, for forming an arch as
shown in FIG. 10,
[0029] FIG. 9 shows another end view of a bag suitable for an
arched structure shown in FIG. 10,
[0030] FIG. 10 shows an arched structure,
[0031] FIG. 11 shows a bag having interlocking portions,
[0032] FIG. 12 shows a bag having corrugated sides,
[0033] FIG. 13 shows end views of various wall barriers which can
be used in conjunction with the shelter.
[0034] The bags can be described as being of simple form, such as
shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing. This is a perspective
view of part of a bag 1 of trapezoidal cross-section suitable to
form a voussoir, with tubular pockets 2 on the longitudinal edges
to receive a rod (not shown) by which adjacent bags are
interconnected. Typically the bag is divided into three
compartments by internal webs 3, as shown in FIG. 2, which is an
end view of the bag, pockets 2 omitted. An arched structure such as
shown in FIG. 3 could be built by such bags filled in a progressive
manner.
[0035] The shelter is constructed by filling bags 1 laid over an
arched lining 2. In FIG. 3, the bags are all similar and are
divided into three compartments by internal webs 3. In end view,
the bags are slightly wedge-shaped so that they resemble stones
following the curve of a masonry arch, and the webs 3 follow the
curve of the arch so that there is an inner compartment 4, a middle
compartment 5, and an outer compartment 6 in each bag. Although
shown in FIG. 3 as expanded almost to their eventual shape, when
empty they will mostly collapse against the lining 2.
[0036] The inner compartments 4 are filled first, starting from the
lowermost bags 3 at the base of the arch. These are filled
sequentially towards the crown of the arch until there is a
complete, initial jacket of granular material around the lining.
Then the middle compartments 5 are filled in the same way starting
at the bottom and progressing to the crown. Finally, the outer
compartments 6 are filled in a similar fashion.
[0037] As mentioned previously, the filling material is preferably
sand, and it may be hardened by adding cement, but not necessarily
in every layer.
[0038] Although not shaped as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 shows two of
the lowermost bags, and how they are linked together. The lowermost
bag 3 has inner and outer sets of loops 7 of material on its upper
side, and the next bag 3 has similar loops 8 on its underside which
align with the loops 7 when the bags are correctly positioned.
Rods, wire or rope 9 can then be inserted like a hinge pin through
both sets of loops, firmly locking the bags together. The other
bags are similarly interconnected.
[0039] At the end of each compartment there is an inlet 10 through
which the granular material can be pumped. Dry sand will flow quite
easily and each compartment can be filled completely to form a
substantially solid barrier.
[0040] To fill a bag a hose could be inserted and led to the far
end of the bag, and as it delivered material it would slowly be
withdrawn. But this is not the only way, and it may be appropriate
to have several entry points along each bag so that the filling is
done in batches.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows some possible linings. A simple one in FIG.
6(a) is curved sheet metal 11, and an alternative in FIG. 6(b) is a
set of metal framework arches 12 which can be arranged as a ribbed
structure, the ribs being close enough to locate and support the
bags laid over them. Once the bags are all filled these linings can
either be removed or allowed to remain in place. In FIG. 6(c)
wooden centering 13 locates and supports the bags during
construction, and this must be dismantled once the bags are filled
and self-supporting.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows how the base of the lining may be located. The
ground may be dug away so that it is set down into a shallow trench
whose walls will resist lateral expansion, as in FIG. 7(a).
[0043] Alternatively, ground anchorages 14 may be buried to prevent
that lateral expansion, as in FIG. 7(b). Another solution is to
link the lowermost bags 3 by straps 15 or a sheet which will extend
across the floor of the shelter, as in FIG. 7(c).
[0044] There is also a different way of coupling adjacent bags,
avoiding the need for the pockets and rods. Examples are shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9 which are end views of bags 4 suitable for an arched
structure as shown in FIG. 10. They are still divided by internal
webs 5, but each compartment is offset from the next one
circumferentially of the arch to give complementary stepped sides.
That is, when similar bags are fitted around an arch the facing
sides of adjacent bags interlock in tongue and groove manner.
[0045] In FIG. 8 the inner compartment is narrower than the middle
one, which in turn is narrower than the outer one, to take account
of the curve of the arch. The square steps of the sides means that
perhaps there will not be an exact fit between adjacent bags, but
it will be good enough for most purposes. If a better fit is
required, especially with arches of small radius, then the bags
could be formed as in FIG. 9 where the sides of the inner and outer
compartments conform to the wedge shape of FIGS. 1 and 2. The sides
of the middle compartment could also be inclined, but it is
considered less important that they should be.
[0046] By constructing bags that will interlock when filled, more
ambitious shapes than arches may be constructed, particularly using
concrete or other hard-setting but previously pumpable material.
Although temporary supports may be required, they will generally
not need to be so elaborate as those required for normal poured
concrete structures, and with quick-setting cement used in the mix
they need only be in position for perhaps half an hour until the
concrete is hard and the bag fixed. Even with a substantial
overhang it will be safe to remove temporary supports for use
elsewhere, by virtue of the mechanical interlock between bags.
Shuttering is not required: its function is taken by the bags
themselves, which remain in place after the filling material has
set.
[0047] The interlocking steps need not match the internal
compartmentalising, as indicated by FIG. 11, which is an end view
of another bag, and the tongues and grooves could be dovetailed or
otherwise shaped to give an even more positive link between bags.
On the other hand, a somewhat less positive link might be all that
was necessary, such as the corrugated sides of the bags shown in
end view in FIG. 12. In this example, to constrain the sides into
the desired shape, the webs that define the compartments are skew,
but there is no real disadvantage in that.
[0048] This leaves the ends of the shelter to protect, which may be
done by conventional sandbag walls. But like any wall constructed
without bonding, these will be no wider at the top than at the
bottom, and if they are built to any appreciable height they will
generally taper in at the top for stability. But the narrower the
top, the more easily it is dislodged.
[0049] By using compartmented and/or different sized bags, this
conventional shape can be reversed, with the upper bags being
corbelled out beyond the lower ones. The extra weight at the top
takes more blast energy to disturb and the lower bags are more
firmly compressed and solid.
[0050] Examples are shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 13(a) the lower part
of a barrier has two courses of bags 16, each divided
longitudinally and vertically by a web 17 into two compartments.
These are surmounted by two courses of bags 18 and 19 each divided
by webs 20 and 21 into three side-by-side longitudinal
compartments. The bags 18 and 19 are recessed underneath so that
the bags 18 will sit symmetrically like a saddle over the upper
course of the bags 16 and the somewhat wider bag 19 will sit
similarly over the bags 18.
[0051] Once the bags 16 are in place and filled, the bags 18 are
positioned and their central compartments filled. This gives
sufficient counterweight for the outer compartments to be filled
safely. Then the bags 19 are placed and filled in the same
manner.
[0052] FIG. 13(b) shows an alternative, with three courses of
two-compartment bags 16 and a top course of overhanging
three-compartment bags 22. In FIG. 13(c), a corbelled wall is
constructed by using bags of different widths, the narrowest bags
23 being at the bottom and the wall expanding via bags 24 and 25 to
the top course of widest bags 26. The corbelling may be on one side
only, to face the threatened blast, the other side being
vertical.
[0053] Although the means by which bags are interconnected, i.e. by
using abutting surfaces and by the use of rids and loops are
mentioned separately, it is envisaged that a combination of such
means can be used to provide a particularly stable structure.
* * * * *