U.S. patent number 3,699,731 [Application Number 05/069,221] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-24 for modular building structure.
Invention is credited to Thomas R. Arnold.
United States Patent |
3,699,731 |
Arnold |
October 24, 1972 |
MODULAR BUILDING STRUCTURE
Abstract
A modular building structure adapted to be prefabricated and
transported to an erection site, and having an inclined roof
consisting of a lower fixed section and an upper section pivoted to
the fixed section to swing between an operative erected position
and a lowered inclined transport position. The roof is completely
covered with composition roofing overlying a flexible waterproof
sheet spanning the joint between sections. A waterproof sheet
anchored to the upper part of the first roof section overlies the
second roof section when in lowered transport position.
Inventors: |
Arnold; Thomas R. (Elkhart,
IN) |
Family
ID: |
22087521 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/069,221 |
Filed: |
September 3, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/64; 52/71;
52/79.3; 52/92.3; 52/641 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
7/026 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
7/02 (20060101); E04h 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/64,66,69,70,74,641 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Abbott; Frank L.
Assistant Examiner: Raduazo; Henry E.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. In a modular building structure adapted to be transported and to
be assembled with complementary structures, a fixed inclined roof
section spanning a part of said structure and including inclined
rafters secured to said structure, uprights carried by said
structure and supporting the upper end portions of said rafters, a
second inclined roof section adapted to span the remainder of said
structure when aligned with said fixed roof section and including
rafters pivoted to the upper ends of the rafters of said fixed roof
section, inclined supports carried by said structure and extending
downwardly and inwardly from the upper portions of said uprights in
divergent relation to said fixed rafters, said pivoted second roof
section being lowered for support by said inclined supports during
transport, and composition roofing covering both roof sections, a
portion of the roofing on said pivoted second roof section
extending therefrom adjacent said pivot to overlap roofing on said
fixed roof section when said roof sections are aligned, each roof
section including a roof panel, composition sheet roofing and
composition shingles overlying said sheet roofing, and a flexible
waterproof sheet secured to said fixed roof panel and spanning the
joint between roof panels and overlying said sheet roofing and
composition shingles of said pivoted roof section.
2. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible
waterproof sheet is anchored to said first roof section at a margin
thereof underlying shingles carried by the second roof section when
said roof sections are in extended aligned relation, and means
anchoring the opposite margin of said waterproof sheet to the free
edge of the lowered second roof section during transport.
Description
This invention relates to improvements in modular building
structures which are prefabricated at a factory and are transported
to a site of erection at which they are interconnected to provide a
complete building.
The building sections or modules are transported from the factory
to the erection site by means of trailers or other carriers usually
traveling upon roads or highways. The transport of the building
modules by trailers imposes certain limitations upon the sizes of
the modules as governed by state laws and highway regulations. In
most instances, such laws and regulations limit the size of the
module and the trailer on which it is transported to dimensions in
the order of 12 feet wide, 60 feet long, and 13 1/2 feet high. The
regulations as to length and width present some problems, but
height limitation presents a greater problem because trailer bed
height will usually be in the order of 30 to 32 inches, which must
be deducted from the allowable 13 1/2 feet overall height in
determining the permissible height of the module as transported.
Height limitations thus impose a substantial limitation on the
pitch of the roof of prefabricated transportable building
modules.
Building roofs, particularly for residential purposes, usually have
a minimum pitch of 3 inches in height per 12 inches in width.
Architects and building designers prefer roof pitches of steeper
proportions, such as 4 inches in elevation per 12 inches in width
or 5 inches in elevation per 12 inches in width. It is not possible
to completely prefabricate and assemble in final form a module
having desirable roof pitches which can be transported on a trailer
and remain within the usual limits as to height now commonly
required.
Various efforts have been made in the past to meet the problem of
providing a building module which can be transported and which
requires minimal fabrication at the site of erection. One approach
has entailed pivotal mounting of a roof section at the center
thereof so that it may be swung to a horizontal position for
transport. Such a construction increases the overall width of the
module at the roof when in horizontal position and entails
substantial fabrication at the erection site and substantial
accessories to support the roof in transport position. Another
approach has entailed pivotal mounting of a roof section adjacent
to the outer wall of the module, but this has been subject to the
same type of problem and limitations as the central pivoting of the
roof. Another approach has entailed the formation of the roof of
each module in two sections, one of which is fixed and the other of
which is pivoted. Such constructions have heretofore had the
limitation that the pivoted roof section could not be completely
fabricated at the factory or, if fabricated at the factory, was
subject to leakage in the event of rain or snow during
transport.
It is the primary object of this invention to provide a modular
building construction which overcomes the disadvantages of prior
constructions and provides a construction having a desired and
attractive roof pitch and which can be assembled to form a complete
building at the point of erection with minimum effort, labor and
fabrication.
A further object is to provide a modular building construction in
which the roof is formed of a fixed section and a movable section
which is pivotally connected to facilitate positioning in low
profile during transport and which can be elevated to desired pitch
and profile with minimum effort and fabrication at the point of
erection.
A further object is to provide a modular building construction in
which each module has a fixed roof part and a movable roof part
pivoted to the fixed part and lowered for transport, wherein both
roof sections have finished roofing applied thereto, including
multiple lapped courses of shingles, and in which means are
provided to prevent leakage of the movable section of the roof
while in lowered transport position.
Other objects will be apparent from the following
specifications.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a building constructed
of modules, with parts broken away to illustrate the roof
supporting structure.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken on
line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the roof of one
module in its erected position.
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the roof of one module in
its lowered or retracted position.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the roof sections in
collapsed or lowered position.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG.
3.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified
embodiment of the invention.
My new modular building construction comprises a module or section
of a building constructed at a factory with a complete portion of
the roof formed of a fixed lower section and an upper section which
is pivoted to be lowered to reduce the overall height of the module
for transport. The building may be completely prefabricated except
for sectional panels at its opposite ends below the pivotal roof
sections so that minimum fabrication is required at the point of
erection. The roof may be covered with conventional composition
shingles and is provided with a detachable sealing sheet covering
the pivoted section thereof while lowered for transport. A
continuous sealed roof structure is provided when the pivoted roof
sections of assembled modules are erected.
Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a building
constructed of two complementary modules 12 which are mounted side
by side in abutting relation upon a suitable foundation (not
shown). Each module includes an outer side wall 14, outer end walls
16, inner side wall 18, and roof 20. In addition, each module will
include the usual building components such as floors, ceilings,
interior walls, plumbing and electrical wiring (not shown). Each
module may include triangular end panels 22 which may be fixedly
secured at opposite ends of each module under the outer fixed
portion of the roof, and inner end panels 24 which are
prefabricated but removable for transport.
The upper structure of each module includes a plurality of spaced
parallel transversely extending joists 26 supported at the upper
ends of the outer side wall 14 and inner side wall 18. Outer roof
rafter sections 28 are secured at the upper margin of the outer
side wall and are supported at their inner ends by uprights 30
extending upwardly from the mid-sections of the joists 26. Inclined
supports 32 may extend from the upper ends of the uprights 30 in a
downwardly inclined direction for support by the joists 26 and the
longitudinal inner frame members 34. Each outer rafter section
preferably extends in spaced relation beyond its supporting upright
30 and terminates in a beveled or diagonal end portion 36 to which
is pivotally connected by bolt 38 or other suitable pivot means the
beveled lower end of an inner upper rafter section 40. The free
ends of the pivoted rafter sections 40 are interconnected by a
longitudinal frame member 42 and are notched at their bottom
surfaces at 44.
Suitable means are provided to support the upper rafter sections 40
in alignment with lower rafter sections 28. Such means may
constitute a prefabricated support structure including a bottom
longitudinal member 46, top longitudinal support member 48 and
interconnecting members 50 which may be vertical or inclined and
which serve to interconnect the members 46 and 48 at spaced
intervals. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the bottom support member 46
bears upon a longitudinal inner frame member 34 and the top
longitudinal support member 48 engages the notched surfaces 44 of
the rafter sections 40. The support unit 46, 48, 50 of each module
may be positioned upon the inclined supports 32 as illustrated in
FIG. 4, thus providing a support for the pivoted rafters 40 and the
roof section carried thereby when lowered for transport.
The roof of the module preferably includes roof panel 52 or
sheeting secured to and spanning the fixed roof rafters 28 and roof
panel or sheeting 54 secured to and spanning the pivoted roof
rafters 40. The roof panels 52 and 54 preferably substantially abut
above the pivots 38 in the erected position of the roof. The joint
crevice between the roof panels 52 and 54 is preferably spanned by
a thin flexible sheet or band 56, such as a sheet metal or lead
band which is readily flexible or a synthetic resin sheet. The
joint spanning sheet 56 is anchored to one panel, as to the lower
roof panel 52. Continuous composition roofing is applied to the
fixed and the pivoted sections of the roof of each module. As best
seen in FIG. 5, the roofing may comprise sheet material 58 as an
underlayer and lapped composition shingles 60 providing the finish
or upper layer.
One margin 62 of a synthetic resin sheet or film 64, preferably
formed of polyethylene, is secured to the upper margin of the fixed
roof and overlies the upper margin of the uppermost course of
shingles on the fixed roof section at a part overlapped by the
lowermost course 61 of shingles anchored to and projecting beyond
the pivoted roof section. The synthetic resin sheet 64 may be of a
single sheet or may be formed in sections, and the area of the
sheet or of the composite of such sheets will be greater than the
area of the pivoted roof section.
The transport position of the roof of the module is illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein the pivoted section of the roof supported by
the pivoted rafter sections 40 is lowered from its normal erected
position shown in FIG. 3 to a downwardly inwardly inclined position
bearing upon the structure 46, 48, 50 which rests upon the inclined
roof supports 32. The flexible sheet 56 and the roofing 58, 60
adjacent to the pivot bend to accommodate the swinging of the
pivotal roof part and assume the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
In this lowered position the free margins of the shingles of each
course of the pivoted roofing section are arranged uppermost.
Consequently, any rain or snow which falls upon the pivoted roof
section tends to flow between the shingles and to enter the roof,
rather than to flow only upon the top surfaces of the shingles as
occurs in the normal or erected position of the pivoted roof
section. Consequently, the roofing on the pivoted roof section when
lowered to the FIG. 4 position would be subject to leakage during
rainy and snowy weather. Such leakage is avoided with the present
construction, however, by covering it with the synthetic resin
sheet 64 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 whose margin 66 may be tacked or
temporarily secured to longitudinal inner frame member 34 during
transport.
When the modules arrive at their destination and are positioned
side by side upon a suitable slab or foundation, they may be
interconnected and fixed in that position by suitable means not
shown. The pivoted roof sections are elevated to the position shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3 at which they are supported by the longitudinal
central support structures 46, 48, 50, with the longitudinal frame
members 34 and the longitudinal roof members 42 in abutment, as
seen in FIG. 2. The synthetic resin sheets 64 will be disengaged
from the longitudinal frame members 34 prior to elevation of the
pivoted roof portion and may be severed adjacent the margin thereof
which is anchored to the fixed roof portion.
The structure may be completed by applying a roof cap 66 to span
the joint between the roof sections of the two modules, and by
installing the removable end panels 24.
It will be observed that the bevels at the ends 36 of the fixed
rafters and at the pivoted ends of the pivoted rafters accommodate
pivotal movement of rafters 40 without interference with the
roofing and in a manner to provide coplanar relation of the rafters
of the two roof sections when the roof is erected.
The construction above described provides material reduction of the
overall height of a module with an intended inclined roof for
transport purposes. The reduction is sufficient to permit the
construction of a building having a finished roof pitch at a
desirable angle without exceeding permissible height limitations
when the module is mounted upon a trailer for transport. At the
same time the construction is substantially complete at the factory
and the work of final on-site erection is minimized. The roof
assumes finished water-tight character by the simple acts of
erecting or elevating the pivoted roof section and applying a cap
to span the joint between adjacent roof sections at the peak of the
roof. All parts required for completion of the building such as
removable panels, roof supports, and the like can be fabricated at
the so that minimum time and service is required to apply and
install such parts on the job site.
In view of the width limitations of building modules for transport,
the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 is preferred to provide
the maximum usable space in the resultant building. This
construction requires termination of the roof substantially flush
with the outer surfaces of the side walls of the building, namely a
construction in which overhanging roof margins are precluded. An
overhanging or projecting roof margin may be desirable for design
purposes and can be provided in a structure of this character by an
arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 7. In the FIG. 7 construction an
overhanging roof structure or section 68 is secured to and projects
outwardly and downwardly from the rafters 28 of the fixed roof
structure. The overhanging structure may include lower rafter
extensions 70 which are pivotally connected adjacent their upper
inner ends to the rafters 28 by hinges 72. Rafter extensions 70 are
connected by longitudinal member 74 and preferably carry abutment
members 76 engaging the outer building wall 14 when the rafter
extensions 70 are aligned with rafters 28. Each rafter extension 70
has a notch 78 at its pivoted end adapted to bear upon the top of
the wall 14 or other suitable structural element and configured to
accommodate pivoting of the rafter extensions 70 to an elevated
position, such as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, at which the
overhanging structure 68 is positioned within the outline of the
overall width of the module and at a level below the level of the
uppermost part of the fixed roof structure 28. In this construction
the extent of flexing of the roofing material required to position
the unit in transport position may preclude application of the
finished roofing to the extension until the module is located at
the construction site.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated, it will be understood that changes may be made within
the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit
of the invention.
* * * * *