U.S. patent application number 12/544402 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for portable building.
This patent application is currently assigned to PODD PTY. LTD.. Invention is credited to John Richard KEEBLE.
Application Number | 20100043308 12/544402 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41695013 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100043308 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KEEBLE; John Richard |
February 25, 2010 |
PORTABLE BUILDING
Abstract
A method of increasing the volume of a portable building which
has a tilt up roof extension and a tilt down floor extension by
attaching temporary rams and brackets on the roof extension and
floor extension to give favourable thrust angles and deploying the
extensions. The roof extension is braced with diagonal cross
braces. Thereafter the rams and brackets are removed and the
perimeter of the extension is closed in with panels carried to the
site inside the core of the building. When the building is to be
transferred to another site, the procedure is reversed. The core of
the building when collapsed is only 2.5 m wide which enables truck
delivery on a highway.
Inventors: |
KEEBLE; John Richard;
(Warragul, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHERNOFF, VILHAUER, MCCLUNG & STENZEL, LLP
601 SW Second Avenue, Suite 1600
Portland
OR
97204
US
|
Assignee: |
PODD PTY. LTD.
Warragul
AU
|
Family ID: |
41695013 |
Appl. No.: |
12/544402 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/79.1 ;
52/741.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 1/34321 20130101;
E04B 1/6183 20130101; E04B 2001/34389 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/79.1 ;
52/741.1 |
International
Class: |
E04H 1/12 20060101
E04H001/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 21, 2008 |
AU |
2008904300 |
Claims
1. A method of preparing a portable building for occupation, the
building having a box-like core, a tilting roof panel hinged to the
core, and a tilting floor panel hinged to the core for expanding
the volume of the building, including the steps of attaching a pair
of jacking brackets to the roof panel, attaching a pair of jacking
brackets to the core, applying a pair of rams between the pairs of
brackets, and thrusting the roof panel from vertical to
substantially horizontal, supporting the roof panel with struts,
applying a pair of rams between the floor panel and the core in
order to deploy the floor panel, inserting wall panels between the
roof and floor in order to enclose the expanded volume and removing
the brackets and rams.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roof thrust
comprises an initial thrust followed by a final thrust.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the initial thrust
applies force between the jacking brackets on the roof panel and
the jacking brackets on the core.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the final thrust applies
force between the jacking brackets on the roof panel and jacking
points on the core which utilise a larger thrust angle.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rams are pressurised
by a pump carried by the vehicle which delivers the portable
building to the site.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the brackets and rams
are removed after the roof and floor panels have been deployed and
the side wall and end walls have been erected.
7. A portable building having a box-like core having a floor, a
roof, two end walls, a first static side wall extending between the
two end walls and a second moveable wall made of a floor panel
hinged to the core floor, so that it is foldable downwardly to
extend the floor area, and a roof panel hinged to the container
roof so that it swings upwardly to extend the roof area, a pair of
external accessible jacking sites on the roof panel, a pair of
external accessible jacking sites on the floor panel and
corresponding jacking sites on the core.
8. A portable building having a box-like core having a floor, a
roof, two end walls and a first side wall extending between the end
walls, all forming a permanent portion of the building, a fold away
portion of the building having a folding floor, a folding roof,
removable end walls, a removable second side wall and removable
supports for the roof, all being stowable in the permanent position
for freighting.
9. A portable building as claimed in claim 8, wherein the removable
supports for the roof panel comprise a pair of crossed diagonal
braces.
10. A portable building having a box-like core, having a floor,
roof, end walls, a first static side wall extending between the end
walls, and a second wall made of a panel hinged to the roof and a
panel hinged to the floor, both panels standing upright and side by
side, a pair of struts for supporting the roof panel when deployed,
multiple panels in the box-like structure capable of forming a
second side wall and end walls when the floor panel is deployed, a
first pair of brackets attachable to the core, a second pair of
brackets attachable to the roof panel, a pair of rams capable of
exerting deploying force between the first and second pairs of
brackets.
11. A portable building as claimed in claim 8, wherein the core has
a longitudinal axis and an internal wall parallel to the axis and a
partition wall at right angles thereto and spaced therefrom
defining a door gap which during transit is occupied by panels
which compose the end walls of the foldaway portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention concerns movable buildings which can be
enlarged for accommodating persons as a dwelling and collapsed for
transport on a highway.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As cargo containers fulfil road transport requirements and
can be taken to most sites by container carrying vehicles,
containers have been modified to increase the floor area and
enclose it with extra walls to create living space. As the building
may be erected in inhospitable areas subject perhaps to extremes of
temperature, the invasion of windblown sand and the shocks of
travelling over roads and tracks of varying quality, the
construction must retain its designed shape, the panels of which it
is composed must remain planar and the procedure of unfolding and
re-folding the panels which allow the size change must not impose
forces which spoil the interfitting of the panels.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,356 discusses problems arising from the
need to lift pivoting walls of a mobile building and describes a
specifically designed apparatus being a system of levers powered by
a pair of hydraulic jacks which tilt the walls of the trailer
during extension and retraction. This apparatus must accompany the
trailer to the site every time the trailer undergoes a change in
size or remain there in order to reverse the motion when the
trailer is to be moved.
[0004] WO 98/51875 describes expandible mobile shelters which
utilise in situ rams to lift the roof panel and the pendant wall
and floor panels to form an extension to the core space of the
shelter. These remain once the panels have been deployed in the
event of a change of location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The product aspect of the invention provides a portable
dwelling having as its core a box-like structure of the size and
structural strength of a shipping container, having a floor, a
roof, two end walls, a first static side wall and a second wall
made of a floor panel hinged to the container floor so that it
folds downwardly to extend the floor area, and a roof panel hinged
to the container roof so that it swings upwardly to extend the roof
area, a pair of external accessible jacking sites on the roof
panel, a pair of external accessible jacking sites on the floor
panel, corresponding jacking sites on the box-like structure
whereby force is applicable by portable powered means in order to
move the panels whereafter the powered means is removable.
[0006] The jacking sites may be brackets which are also
removable.
[0007] More particularly the invention provides a box-like
structure the size and strength of a shipping container having a
floor, roof, two end walls, a first static side wall and a second
made of a panel hinged to the container floor and a panel hinged to
the roof, the two panels lying side by side and upright, a pair of
struts for supporting the roof panel, multiple panels in the
box-like structure capable of mutual connection to a side wall and
end walls, a first pair of brackets attachable to the box-like
structure, a second pair of brackets attachable to the floor panel
or the roof panel and a pair of rams capable of exerting force
between the first and second pairs of brackets.
[0008] The method aspect of the invention provides a method of
preparing a portable building for occupation, the building having a
tilting roof panel and a tilting floor panel for expanding the
volume of the building including the steps of attaching a pair of
jacking brackets to the roof panel and a pair of jacking brackets
to the building, applying a pair of rams between the pairs of
brackets and urging the roof panel from vertical to substantially
horizontal, supporting the roof panel with struts, repeating the
procedure in order to deploy the floor panel, inserting wall panels
between the roof and floor in order to enclose the expanded volume
and removing the brackets and rams.
[0009] The method makes use of a crossed diagonal strut assembly
having a roof strut extending from the floor of the cover to the
roof extremity, a sliding strut locator capable of moving on the
roof strut in order to permit engagement of a pair of half struts
each connected at one end to the strut locator and at their
opposite ends to the floor extremity and the top of the box.
[0010] The purpose of adding brackets is to create a more
favourable thrust angle for the rams. The moment about the tilting
axis of the roof frame or a floor frame is reduced and the frame is
more likely to retain its shape. The jacking sites on the box
structure may be pins or smaller brackets.
[0011] The deployment of the floor panel may be preceded by
positioning floor supports on the ground to act as footings.
Preferably the floor supports are arranged in a planar array.
[0012] As the building is a box-like structure it is practical and
safe to carry the panels in through the door of the structure and
stack them.
[0013] In practice the portable building with wall panels stacked
inside it may be lifted on and off the transporting vehicle by a
side loader, a forklift or a tilting platform.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] One embodiment of the invention is now described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows the unit enlarged by the deployed
extension.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows the unit in box form being unloaded from a
truck.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows the unit as delivered to site with jacking
brackets subsequently attached.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows the roof extension partially raised.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows the roof extension fully raised.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows the roof extension fully raised and supported
by part of a strut assembly.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows the floor extension partially lowered.
[0022] FIGS. 8 and 9 show the floor extension fully lowered and the
strut assembly being fully deployed.
[0023] FIG. 10 shows the corner of the underside of the roof.
[0024] FIG. 11 shows the corner of the floor extension.
[0025] FIG. 12 shows the addition of panels closing in the space
between the roof and floor of the extension.
[0026] FIG. 13 is a plan of the accommodation inside the box and
extension.
[0027] All the side views shown in the drawings are
diagrammatic.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective of the erected dwelling. The steel
box 2 which is the core of the unit is 6.1 m long.times.2.5 m
wide.times.3.0 m wide. The extension 4 lies to one side of the case
and has a door 6 and windows 8 set in panels 10. The steel box is
loaded onto truck 12 by winching it up a platform 14 which pivots
to form an incline. The 2.5 m measurement is important for meeting
highway regulations as loads freighted by road must not exceed this
width dimension.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the box 2 has a rectangular
base 16 and a floor 18 supported above the base in order to
accommodate pipework 20, 22 for wastewater and grey water and
electrical wiring (not shown). The extension 4 does not have the
frame and floor structure like the box and lies level with floor 18
in the core. The box has top plate 26 and bottom plates 28, 30.
Static wall 32 is 6 m long and contains a second door 34.
[0030] The posts 40 (one shown) of the opposite wall have a pair of
pivots 42 (one shown) at floor level to which floor frame 44 is
attached. The floor frame is rectangular and made of square section
steel tubes. The top plates 46 likewise support a roof frame 48
attached to pivots 50 (one shown). Twelve insulated wall panels 3.0
m long 52 are stacked inside the box. In use the floor frame has a
particle board floor 54 attached to the frame while roof frame has
corrugated roofing metal 56 and insulation.
[0031] At the site the ground is levelled and prepared to receive
the base of the core. In addition the ground alongside which is to
receive the floor extension 44 is prepared by the provision of
piles 62 at suitable intervals to ensure the expected floor loads
will be adequately supported. A pair of triangular thrust brackets
64 are bolted to the roof frame near the pivot 50. A pair of plain
thrust brackets 66 are bolted to the posts 40. These have
horizontal thrust pins 68 for use during deployment and retraction
of the extension.
[0032] In FIG. 4 a pair of rams 70 are applied between the roof
brackets 64 and the pins 68. The purpose of the brackets is to
reduce the moment required by affording or advantageous thrust
angle. The force is exerted between the posts 40 and the frame
tubes 72, 74 which define the roof and floor.
[0033] FIG. 5 shows the final acute angle of the roof in relation
to the top of the box.
[0034] The roof panel 48 is propped in its final position by a pair
of diagonal braces 76. A sliding locator 78 embraces brace 76 and
the locator connects a pair of half braces 80, 82. Thus the half
braces fold and are manipulated to form an X-brace.
[0035] In FIG. 7, the floor has received a pair of triangular
brackets 88 and the posts receive plain thrust brackets 90. The
rams are transferred to these pairs and the floor is lowered to the
position shown in FIG. 8. Brace brackets 92 are bolted to the
corners of the roof and the base of the posts 40 and the end of
braces 76 are secured by bolts 94. The floor 44 rests on piles 62.
All the brackets 64, 66, 88, 90, 92 are unbolted and returned to
the delivery vehicle. Panels 52 are transferred from the box to
receiving channels 96, 98 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) where they are
lifted and dropped in side by side. The vertical edges have tongue
and groove profiles 100. The panels are locked in place by screws
inserted at 600 mm centres. This approximately doubles the volume
of living space in the unit and adds considerably to the comfort of
the occupants.
[0036] The toilet and grey water are coupled to an external waste
pipe and then to a water recycler or septic tank. The floor is able
to support 500 kg m.sup.2 and thereby tolerates Category 1 wind
conditions. The panels are 50 mm coolroom panels which enable the
airconditioning equipment to maintain a comfortable internal
temperature. The roof supports an array of solar generators.
[0037] We have found the advantages of the above embodiment to
be:
[0038] 1. One pair of removable rams suffices to expand and retract
the extension, the source of pressurised fluid being the fluid pump
on the delivery/collection truck. The same pair of rams suffice for
multiple units.
[0039] 2. The simplicity of the procedure requires only two hours
to implement the extension and close in the same with panels to
permit occupation.
[0040] 3. The moving components are relatively light and the forces
required to tilt the hinged components are small and well within
the capacity of the pump carried by the truck.
[0041] 4. The structure retains its shape after repeated transfers
and accordingly remains weatherproof.
[0042] It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used
throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive
form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the
addition of other elements.
[0043] It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or
additions to the invention can be made without departing from the
basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions
are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *