AU619531B2 - Prefabricated building - Google Patents

Description

-Wal OPI DATE 05/10/89 APPLN. I D 32026 89 4 9 P~ 3 0 NI AOJP DATE 02/11/89 PCT NUMBER PCT/BE89/00010 YMA~E INERNATIONALE PUBLItL z vtxi u uu I KAfIE DiE COOPERATION EN MATIERE DE BREVETS (PCT) (51) Classification internationale des brevets 4 (1 u~ epbiainitrainl: W 9 E04B 1/343 Al (43) Date de publication internationale: 21 septembre 1989 (21.09.89) (21) Numiro deIa demande internationale: PCT/BE89/00010 SE (brevet europ~en), US.

(22) Date de dip6t international: 10 mars 1989 (10.03.89) Publiie Avec rappiort de recherche internationale.

(31) Numniro de la demnande prioritaire: 8800289 (32) Date de priorite: 14 mars 1988 (14.03.88) (33) Pays de priorit6: BE (71)(72) D6posant et inventeur: BAURANT, Fernand, Jules [BE/BE]; Route de Gosselies 74, B-6220 Fleunis (BE).

(74) Mandataire: CABINET VIGNERON; Avenue Eugene Godaux 30, B-i 1150 Bruxelles (BE).

(81) Etats designes: AT (brevet europ~en), AU, BE (brevet europ~en), BR, CH (brevet europ~en), DE (brevet europ,.en), DK, FR (brevet euzop~en), GB (brevet .CT 9 europ~en), IT (brevet europ~en), JP, LU (brevet europ~en), NL (brevet europ~en), L PATUIT 0c.C: (54) Title: PREFABRICATED BUILDING (54) Titre: BATIMENT PREFABRIQUE (57) Abstract Prefabricated building at ground level or with at least one floor, which can be transported, in particular by road, and corn- 12 posed of elements assembled and linked to one another so that 7 H the building can, by simple modification of the position of its 1 component parts, occupy two extreme volumes, the first volume in which the overall dimensions of said building are reduced to the loading dimensions, in particular for road transport, and a 817 second volum~e corresponding to the building as deployed and for occupation.

(57) Abrege6 Bdtiment pr~fabriqu6, de plain-pied ou iau momns un 19 6tage, pouvant 8tre transport6, notamnment par route et constitu d'616ments assembles et articul~s les uns aux autres de mani~re d ce que le bdtiment puisse, par simple modification de la position1023 de ses 616ments constitutifs, occuper deux volumes extr~mes, un 1 91'/i premier volume dans lequel les dimensions hors-tout dudit bfitiment sont r~duites au gabarit de chargement, en particulier, pour transport routier et un second volume correspondant au bdtiment d6ploy6 et habitable. 3 c C C -1- The present invention relates to providing a prefabricated building -Gf only ne I.vel or with at leP ee-.e tsty which can be transported, in particular by road transport, and which is made of elements assembled and hinged to each other so that the building can occupy, by a single modification of the position of its component elements, two extreme volumes, one first volume in which the overall dimensions of said building are reduced to the loading gauge, in particular for road transport, and a second volume corresponding to the expanded and habitable state of the building.

The invention has the object of providing a building the e e design and equipment of which are such that it can be ee S.immediately fit for habitation as soon as it has been set up on a selected site, after having been completely I"I' manufactured and assembled in a workshop, in which it is not oc exposed to weather. Its setting up on a site consists of S•modifying the position of its component elements, which have been arranged for transportation of the building to the site. The firqt position allows one to reduce the total volume of the building to the road gauge. Setting up necessitates substantially no skilled manpower, and can be carried out with very limited equipment which is either incorporated into the building or removable. The setting up equipment is able to be operated either manually or by means of mechanical power, such as a fluid under pressure,

I

for example, supplied by tne vehicle which transported the building. This building, in addition to the advantages resulting from its mode of manufacture which ensures a very high quality, in particular concerning finishing and insulation, as well as from its immediate habitability, also presents the advantage that, as easily as for its first setting up, it can be brought back to its volume corresponding to the road gauge, in order to be transported and to set up on another site.

Accordingly, the invention provides a prefabricated building having a ground level story, the building being transportable and made of elements assembled and hinged to each other so that the building can occupy, by a single Smodification of the positions of said elements, two 15 extreme volumes, including a first volume in which the overall dimensions of said building are reduced to a loading go •go gauge for road transport, and a second volume corresponding eooee to an expanded and habitable state of the building, this eo o building comprising: a rigid and nondeformable, rectangular and horizontal frame which is able to support the weight of this building and take up all building strains encountered under habitation conditions for this building, the dimensions of this frame being shorter than the corresponding dimensions of the said loading gauge; 4 4~ -3means for ensuring the stability of the building under habitation conditions, said stability-ensuring means being assembled to said frame and hinged to said frame so as to be able to take two extreme positions, including a first position corresponding to said first volume, in which said stability-ensuring means are disposed wholly inside an imaginary rectangular parallelipiped of which the frame is one of the bases, and a second position rcorresponding to said second volume and in whichkIA0 stability-ensuring means are arranged so as to project beyond said rectangular parallelipiped; means provided on said frame and arrangeu to allow temporary fixation to said building of a tractable, removable and reusable rolling system for transporting the building; at least four vertical posts, each being of the same length as one another, which length is shorter than the corresponding dimension of said gauge, these posts being located and fixed at the respective corners of the 20 frame; a horizontal, planar, rigid, nondeformable and rectangular floor which is movable and arranged between said four posts in order to be guided on said four posts so as to be able to be moved in a parallel direction to a.

I tse if Au-la uppEar surface there-of along a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axes of said posts, between two extreme positions, including a first position A, -4r co:rresponding to said first volume, in which said floor is located near the frame, and a second position corresponding to said second volume, in which said floor is located near upper ends of said posts; at least two vertical pillars, which are fixed to said floor so that their longitudinal axes are located substantially in a vertical plane which passes through an intersection point of diagonals of a rectangle having two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter sides and delimiting an upper face of said frame and which is parallel to said longer sides of said rectangle; a plurality of rigid, movable and substantially planar panels which are hinged to each other and to said posts so as to form at least a part of said rectangular floor for a ground level story of the building, as well as external walls and a roof of said ground level, which panels are arranged when the building occupies said first volume, parallel to said longer sides of said rectangle, on both sides of said posts and mostly in a 20 space disposed among said posts; locking means for said rectangular floor supporting the aforesaid pillars and said movable panels, said locking means being arranged to secure said movat panels against motion when the building occupies each of said extreme volumes; and U: 0 r 0 0*00 0o 0 0000 000000 means arranged to make easier movements of said rectangular floor and panels so as to bring the building into respective ones of its extreme volumes.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, which will now be described, the building has four facades including a front, a rear and two opposite side facades, a jround level story and first story.

When the building occupies the second volume, it resembles a right prism having bases and ridges of which the 10 bases, which are triangular and which form front and rear facades of the building, have at least two equal sides. The .:...ridges have a length equal to the length of one of the longer sides of the frame.

eoooo The frame supports a part of the floor of said ground 15 level and is situated in a median portion of a lateral face of the prism. This median portion is horizontal and comprises the bases of the triangles formed by the front and rear facades. Side facades of the building coincide with two other lateral faces of the prism. The posts are situated inside the prism.

The pillars support the roof of the ground level, which provides the floor of the first story. A vertical plane has a trace passing along the longitudinal axes of the pillars -6and forms a symmetry plane of the building. The pillars support a fixed ridge-pole piece having two opposite rectangular slopes which are equal and which form upper parts of the respective side facades. Each of these upper parts is formed of two movable rectangular ones of the panels and has two longer sides and two shorter sides.

A first panel which is the nearest to the ridge-pole piece is hinged by a hinge to the ridge-pole piece about a horizontal axis; the lengths of its shorter sides are shorter than the height of the pillars. A second panel is hinged about a horizontal axis at the upper ends of the posts; the lengths of the shorter sides of this second panel :1 are taller than the height of the posts. The length of the oo 15 ridge-pole piece and the dimension of the longer sides of the two panels are equal to the length of one of the longer sides of the frame.

A third panel is hinged by a hinge to each of the first ••co and second panels about a horizontal axis and along a free 20 longer side of each of the first and second panels. This third panel supports a portion of the floor of the ground level and has a longer side which is opposite the hinge and is of a length equal to that of the longer sides of the first and second panels. The lonver side of the third panel is arranged to extend side by side along the corresponding longer side of the frame. The hinges of the first, second and third panels are arranged so that the first panels -7hinged to the ridge-pole piece can fold back against the pillars on both sides of the pillars and so that an internal face of the third panel folds back onto an internal face of the second panel, hinged to the posts. The second and third two panels, when so folded back onto each other, are arranged to fold back against the posts fixed to the frame, on both sides of the posts.

The front and rear facades of the building are each made of two groups of movable panels separated from each other at 10 floor level in the position taken by said rectangular floor e when the building is expanded to the second volume. The :first group of movable panels constituting one of the front goe :and rear facades at the ground level story comprises two equal rectangular panels and two equal panels each having S" 15 the shape of a rectangular trapezium. These are hinged to .one another two by two to respective hinges about a vertical axis to the corresponding posts fixed to the frame. The o o respective hinges are arranged so that external faces of a respective rectangular panel and of a respective rectangular trapezium-shaped panel hinged to the same post can be folded back onto each other substantially in prolongation of a corresponding longer side of the frame.

The second group of panels forming one of the front and rear facades at the first story level comprise two equal right triangle-shaped panels each having two sides meeting at a right angle. These are hinged by respective hinges along one of the sides of the right angle and about a vertical axis to one of the pillars fixed to the floor.

The last-mentioned hinges are arranged so that external faces of both the triangle-panels can be folded back onto each other on both sides of a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axes of said pillars and in prolongation of said frame.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the building includes means arranged to allow e the building to revolve around a vertical axis passing through the intersection of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of the frame. This revolution-allowing means advantageously comprises a ball or roller race, the axis of which coincides with the aforesaid vertical axis and which is associated with the frame, being S.supported by the latter. In this embodiment, the building further includes a flooring which is parallel to the frame and of the same shape and surface area as the frame, being associated with the ball or roller race and supported by the latter. The posts are fixed to the flooring. The revolutionallowing means also comprises a circular rail which is coaxial with the ball or roller race and is made of several sections. This rail is fixed to the flooring and to the movable panels intended to support the floor of the ground level of the building. Rollers borne by the means intended -9to ensure the stability of the building are provided and arranged so as to cooperate with the rail in order to contribute to the building stability. Means such as a brake-motor, which are manually or automatically controlled depending on the sun position, are provided in order to rotate the building around the aforesaid vertical axis.

Other details and particulars of the invention will become apparent from the description of the enclosed drawings which represent, by way of non-limiting examples, various particular embodiments of the prefabricated building according to the invention.

.ooe S"In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational and cross-sectional 15 view, one half view illustrating the building in expanded position and the other half view showing the building in .the position in which it is folded back to the road gauge.

Figs. 2 and 3 are views similar to Fig. 1 on a larger scale and illustrate the manner in which movable panels are brought from their expanded building position to their position in which the building has been folded back to the road gauge.

Fig. 4 is a schematic top and partly broken-away view, corresponding to Fig. i.

Fig 1 is a schematic top and partly broken-away view of the building as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, when in the road gauge.

Fig. 6 is a schematic elevational and cross-sectional view showing a variation of the building shown in Figs. 1 to 5, this variation being capable of rotating around the vertical axis.

Figs. 7 to 9 are similar to Fig. 6 and illustrate the way in which the movable panels are brought from their expanded building position to their position in which the building has been folded back to the road gauge.

Fig. 10 is a schematic top and partly brok',e-i-away view, corresponding to Fig. 6.

11is ashmtctop adpartly brokenL-aaJiw 15 corresponding to Fig. 9 in which the building is folded V back to the road gauge.

V. Fig. 12 is a schematic elevation and cross-sectional view, showing a second variation of the building illustrated by Figs. 1 to 20 Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 on a larger scale, showing the way in which the movable panels are arran~ged 4when the building occupies its position in which it has been folded back to the road gauge.A Fig. 14 is a top view corresponding to Fig. 12, some of the movable paiAels forming some of the building facades being shown in a position between the road-gauge posi-ion and the expanded position.

-ll- -11- Fig. 15 is a schematic top view corresponding to Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a schematic elevational and cross-sectional half-view, showing a third variation of the building illustrated by Figs. 1 to 5, this latter variation being a two-story building.

Figs. 17 to 25 are views similar to Fig. 16 but show the way in the movable panels are brought from their position when the building has been expanded to their position when the building is folded back to the road gauge.

Fig. 26 is a top view corresponding to Fig. I:.o iFig. 27 is a view on a larger scale than that of Fig.

26, showing detail.

I In the various Figures, the same reference numerals o• 15 designate identical or similar elements.

The prefabricated building according to the invention and illustrated by the drawings has only one level or has one or two more stories and can be transported, in particular by road, under normal conditions by usual transportation means. This building is made of elements which are completely assembled in the workshop and which are hinged together so that the building can occupy, by a simple modification of the position of its component elements, two extreme volumes. The first volume is that in which the overall dimensions of the building are reduced to the loading gauge for transport by road. The second volume 1

I

I~

II

-12corresponds to the building in its expanded and habitable state.

According to the invention, the building comprises a frame 1 which is rigid and nondeformable, rectangular and horizontal, and capable of supporting and/or taking up the weight and all the building strain encountered under habitation conditions. The dimensions of frame 1 are shorter than the corresponding dimensions of the loading or road gauge.

10 Means 2 ensure the stability of the building under habitation conditions and are assembled to the frame 1 and i* hinged to the latter so as to be able to take two extreme positions. The first position corresponds to the first volume and in this position the means are inside an 15 imaginary rectangular parallelepiped of which the frame is one of the bases. The second position corresponds to the **so* second volume and in this position the means are arranged so as to project beyond the parallelepiped.

Means (not shown) are provided at the base of frame 1 and arranged so as to allow the temporary fixation to the building of a tractable rolling system, for example made of two carrying axes; the rolling system is removable and reusable when it has been used for the transport of the building.

:-i -13- Four vertical posts 3, each of the same length (which is shorter than the corresponding dimension of the road gauge) are located and fixed at the corners of the frame i.

A rectangular floor 4 which is horizontal, planar, rigid and nondeformable, is movable and arranged between the four posts 3 in order to be guided by the latter. This floor 4 can be moved in a parallel direction to its usual upper surface, along a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the posts 3, between two extreme positions. The first position corresponds to itae above mentioned first volume in which the floor 4 is located near the frame 1. The second position corresponds to the above menti6ned second volume in which the floor 4 is located near the top of the posts 3.

15 Two vertical pillars 5, the length of which is at the most equal to the length of the posts 3, are fixed to the floor 4 so that their longitudinal axis are substantially t a• situated in the vertical plane, trace 11, which passes ooo through the intersection point of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of frame 1 and which is parallel to the longer sides of this rectangle.

Movable and substantially planar panels are hinged to each other and to the posts 3 and pillars 5 so as to form at least a part of the floor of the building ground level, as well as the external walls and the roof. When the Nor -14building occupies the first volume, the panels are arranged parallel to the longer sides of the aforesaid rectangle, on both sides of the posts fixed to frame 1 and for the most part in the space comprised between the posts.

Locking means (not shown) are provided to fix in position the floor 4 bearing the pillars 5 and the various movable panels when the building occupies either of its extreme positions. Means (not shown) are also provided so as to make easier movements of floor 4 and the movable panels so as to bring the building into either of its o extreme positions.

o9 S. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.

0o 0o, 1 to 5, when the building occupies the second (expanded) volume it resembles a right prism of which the bases are ,00:0 15 triangular and form the front and rear facades 6 and 7 of 99 the building. This right prism has at east two equal sides, 00*0* the ridges of which have a length equal to the length of one ee of the larger sides of the frame 1. Frame 1, which supports *90ee9 a part of the flooring of the ground level, is situated in the median portion of the lateral face of the prism. This portion is horizontal and comprises the bases of the triangles formed by the front and rear facades 6 and 7. The side facades 8 and 9 of the building coincide with the other two lateral faces of the prism. The posts 3 fixed to the frame are situated inside the prism as are also the pillars 5 fixed to the floor 4 which si-port the flooring of the story 10 of the building.

The vertical plane of trace 11 passes along the longitudinal axes of the pillars 5 and forms a symmetry plane of the building. Pillars 5 bear a fixed ridge-pole piece 12 of which both rectangular slopes are equal and form the upper part of the side facades 8 and 9. Each of these latter facades is formed of two movable rectangular panels 14 and 15. Panel 14, ihich is the nearest to the ridge-pole piece 12, is hinged to the latter at 16, about a k horizontal axis, and the dimension of its shorter side is less than the height of the pillar 5. The other panel 15 is hinged at 17 about a horizontal axis, at the top of post 3 of frame 1. The dimension of the shorter side of this panel 15 is greater than the height of post 3. The length of the ridge-pole piece 12, as well as the dimension of the longer sides of both panels 14 and 15, are equal to the length of one of the longer sides of frame 1.

To each of panels 14 and 15 is hinged, about a horizontal axis at 18, along the free longer side of the panel, a third panel 19 intended to support a portion of the floor of the ground level. The longer side of panel 19, which is opposite hinge 18 and is of a length equal to that of the longer sides of the other panels 14 and 15, is placed side by side at 20 along the corresponding side of -16frame 1. Hinges 16 of panels 14 are arranged so that when the ridge-pole piece 12 is moved in the direction of arrow 21 due to the raising of floor 4 (see Fig. panels 14 can freely fold back against pillars 5 on both sides of the latter.

Hinges 17 and 18 are arranged so that the internal face of the third panel 19 folds back in the direction of the arrow 22 onto the internal face of panel 15 which is hinged at 17 at the top of the pillars. Both the panels 15 and 19, when they are folded back on each other, may then fold back against the posts 3 fixed to frame 1 in the direction of oe ~arrow 23 on both sides of this frame.

a o* 10 *oo The front and rear facades 6 and 7 of the building are each formed, as shown in Fig. 4, of two groups of movable oeeeo 15 panels which are separated from each other at the level of o :the floor 4 in the position taken by it when the building o.*o is expanded. The first group of panels forming one of the ro facades 6 and 7 at the level of the ground floor comprises two equal rectangular panels 24 and two equal panels having the shape of a rectangular trapezium. These are hinged two by two at 26 around a vertical axis to the corresponding posts 3 fixed to frame 1. Hinges 26 are arranged as more particularly shown in Fig. 4, so that the external faces of a rectangular panel 24 and of a rectangular trapezium-shaped panel 25 hinged to the same ji- L -i ~kE?1~II Y~I~IS~LL~~=-lji

I

-17post 3 can be folded back on each other substantially in prolongation of the corresponding longer side of frame 1.

The second group of panels forming one of the facades 6 and 7 at the level of the story 10 comprises two equal right angle triangle-shaped panels 27 which are hinged along one of the sides of the right angle and about a vertical axis at 28 to one of the pillars 5 fixed to the floor 4. These hinges 28 are arranged so that the external faces of the last two panels 27 can be folded back on each other on both sides of the vertical plane of trace 11', passing through the longitudinal axes of the pillars 5 and t in prolongation of the frame.

ooe

V

o s When the movable panels 14 are folded back onto the pillars 5 and the movable panels 24, 25 and 27 forming the 15 front and rear facades 6 and 7 are placed in prolongation S: of frame 1 (refer Figs. 3 and the floor 4 can be brought near frame 1 in the direction of the arrow 29 so as to bring the building to the height of the road gauge, the folding back of movable panels 15 and 19 onto posts 3 bringing the building to the width of the road gauge.

Means 2 stabilizing the building are formed, as shown in Figs 1 to 4, of four pivoting arms 30 which are hinged about a vertical axis 31' to the frame 1 and are either located apart from the frame (refer Fig. 4) in order to -18stabilize the building in its expanded position, or placed within the space occupied by the frame (refer the right hand portion of Fig. 1) when the building is at the road gauge. These arms 30 rest through advantageously removable and height-controlled feet 31 on foundation footings 32.

In the embodiment illustrated by Figs. 6 to 11, the building comprises four facades 6, 7, 8 and 9, a ground level story and a first story 10 and resembles a rectangular parallelepiped when it occupies the second volume (expanded building). The frame 1 which supports a portion of the flooring of the ground level occupies the whole median, part of the lower base of the parallelepiped.

S. This base also has two movable panels 33 which are "rectangular and equal in size and which are intended to bear the other two parts of the floor of the ground level.

These panels 33 are hinged at 34 about horizontal axes on both sides of frame 1 and along the longer sides of the latter, in order that their internal faces can be folded *back, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11, onto the corresponding posts 3 fixed to frame 1.

The floor 4, the area of which is substantially equal to that of frame 1 and which is intended to support the median portion of the flooring of the first story 10, is joined to two movable panels

U.

-19- These panels are rectangular and equal in size and are intended to support the other two portions of the first story floor. Panels 35 are of substantially the same area as panels 33 hinged to the frame. Panels 35 are hinged at 36 about horizontal axes to elements 37 fixed to the corresponding tops of the posts 3, which themselves are fixed to the frame 1. The hinges of the panels 35 are arranged so that their lower faces can be folded back, as shown by Fig. 9 and 11, onto the external faces of the corresponding panel 33 hinged to the frame 1, when the latter panel 33 has been folded back onto the corresponding

OS*

The roof of the building is located on the upper base of the rectangular arrallelepiped and is planar. The roof consists of, first, a fixed median panel 38 which is rectangular and joined to the top of the pillars 5, these pillars being telescopic and fixed to floor 4. The area of the fixed median panel is less than that of floor 4. The roof is secondly comprised of two movable rectangular panels 39 which are equal in size and hinged at 40 about horizontal axes along the longer sides of the fixed panel 38.

The sides facades 8 and 9 of the building coincide with the opposite side faces of the parallelepiped which are parallel to the longer sides of the frame. The side facades nI are each made of two movable panels 40 and 41 which are rectangular and substantially equal and the area of which is at the most equal to that of the two movable panels 39 of the roof. The first panel 40 is hinged about a horizontal axis at 42 along the free edge of the movable panel 39 hinged to the fixed panel 38 parallel to the latter hinge. The second panel 41 is hinged at 43 about a horizontal axis along the free edge of the first movable panel 40 parallel to the hinge 42 of the latter to the 10 movable panel 39. The dimensions of these four panels, fixed panel 38 and movable panels 39, 40 and 41 and their o hinges 40, 42 and 43 are arranged as shown in Fig. 8 so that the external face of the second panel 41 can be folded S• back onto the external face of the first panel 30 and so that the face of the internal panel 40 can be folded back onto the internal face of the movable panel 39 hinged to the fixed panel 38 and so that the three movable panels 39, S• 40 and 41, when accordian pleated, can fold back onto pillars 5. In this way the internal face of the second panel 41 faces the pillars 5, the vertical plane of trace 11 passing through the longitudinal axis of the latter constituting a symmetry plane of the building The front and rear facades 6 and 7 are perpendicular to the symmetry plane referred to and consist of two groups of rectangular and movable panels which are separated from each other at the level of floor 4 in the position occupied -21by the latter when the building is expanded. The first group of panels forming one of the facades 6 and 7 at the level of the ground floor comprises four rectangular panels 44 and 45 which are equal two by two and hinged two by two at 46 about a verticalaxis to the corresponding post 3 fixed to the frame 1. The dimensions of the- tw panels 44 A A.

and 45 fixed to the same post 3, when considered perpendicularly to the symmetry of trace 11, correspond to half of one of the shorter sides of frame 1 and to one of the small sides of the movable panel 33 hinged along one of the longer sides of the frame respectively.

The hinges 46 of this first group of panels 44 and 0 .are arranged, as illustrated in Fig. 11, so that the external faces of panels 44 and 45 hinged on one post 3 can be folded back onto each other in prolongation of the corresponding longer side of frame 1.

•The second group of panels constituting one of the facades 6 and 7 at the level of story 10 comprises two equal rectangular panels 47 hinged at 48 about a vertical axis to the corresponding pillar 5 fixed to the floor 4.

These hinges 48 are arranged, as shown in Fig. 11, so that the external faces of the two panels 47 can be folded back on each other in a direction parallel to the symmetry plane of trace 11 and in prolongation of the frame 1.

A

-22- As shown in Fig 9, when movable panels 39, 40 and 41 are folded back onto pillars 5 and the movable panels 44, and 47 forming the facade 6 and 7 are located in the extension of frame 1, the floor 4 can be brought near the frame in the direction of arrow 49 so as to bring the building to the level of the road gauge. The folding back of the movable panels 33 and 35 onto the posts 3 brings the building to the width of the road gauge. In order to allow the pleated folding of the movable panels 39, 40 and 41, fixed panel 38 is vertical and upwardly moved by means of the telescopic structure of pillars 5 in the direction of :arrow 50 (see Fig. 9).

As shown by Figs. 6 and 10, the building of the invention advantageously includes means 51 which are arranged so as to allow the building to be pivoted about a vertical axis 51 passing through the intersection point of "the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of frame 1. The purpose of this is to allow the orientation of the building depending on the sun position. These means 51 advantageously consist of a ball or roller race, the axis of which coincides with the vertical axis 52 and which is united to frame 1, being supported by the latter. The floor 54 (see Fig. 6) is parallel to the frame, of the same shape and same area of the frame, and is joined to the ball race 53 and carried by the latter, the posts 3 being fixed to the floor 54. The means 51 also consist of a circular rail -23which is coaxial to the ball race 53 and is made of several sections. The rail is fixed to the floor and to the movable panels 33 intended to support the floor of the ground level of the building. Rollers 56 carried by the pivoting arms 30 of 'the means 2 are intended to ensure the stability of the building and are provided and arranged so as to be able to cooperate with rail 55 in order to contribute to the building stability. Means such as a brake-motor 57 with manual or automatic control depending 10 on the sun position are also provided in order to rotate the building about the vertical axis 52.

Turning now to Figs. 12 to 15, the building illustrated comprises a ground level floor and a first story 10. When the building occupies this expanded position it resembles a 15 right prism with octagonal bases. Frame 1, which supports a part of the flooring of the ground level, occupies the median portion of the lower base of the prism, which is contained between two opposite sides of the octagon. This base also contains two movable panels 58 which are equal in size and which resemble an isosceles trapezium. These panels are intended to support the other two portions of the flooring of the ground level and are hinged, along their longer base, on both sides of frame 1, along the longer sides of the latter, at 59 and about horizontal axes so that the internal faces can be folded back onto the corresponding post 3 fixed to the frame 1.

-24- Floor 4, the area of which is substantially equal to the frame 1 and which is intended to support the median portion of the flooring of the story 10, is associated with two movable panels 60 which are equal and which each forms an isosceles trapezium. The area of panel 60 is substantially equal to that of movable panel 58 hinged to frame i.

Panels 60 are intended to support the other two portion of the floor of the story and are hinged at 61 about horizontal axes to elements 62 fixed to the corresponding tops of the post 3 fixed to the frame. Hinges 61 of the two movable panels are arranged, as shown in Fig. 13, so that :their lower faces can be folded back onto the external eoei faces of the corresponding panel 58 hinged to the frame when this panel 58 has been folded back onto the 15 corresponding posts 3.

ooeoo The roof of the building is located in the upper base of the prism and is planar. The roof is made both of a eooe median fixed panel 63, which is rectangular and assembled at the top of the telescopic pillars 5 fixed to the floor 4, and of an area which is less than that of floor 4 and also of two equal movable panels 64 which are hinged at 65 about horizontal axes on both sides of fixed panel 63 along the longer sides of the latter. The perimeter of each of the movable panels 64 consists, in addition to the side along which the panel is hinged at 65 tc, the fixed panel 63 the length of which is equal to the length of the longer 1J" 11_ sides of the fixed panels, three sides of the octagon and also two sides 66 which are contiguous to the side along which the movable panel 64 is hinged to the fixed panel 63.

The length of each side 66 is substantially equal to half of one side of the octagon less half of one of the small sides of the fixed panel 63.

The eight facades of this building coincide with the lateral faces of the prism and are made of two similar groups 67 of mobile rectangular panels situated on both eg 10 sides of the vertical plane of trace 11 passing through the longitudinal axes of pillars 5 fixed to floor 4 and which ooo :i constitutes a symmetry plane of the building. Each of the S groups 67 of panels is also subdivided into two series 68 and 69 of superimposed panels, as can be seen in Figs. 12 15 and 14. Each of these groups 67 includes two movable eo rectangular panels 72 and 73 located on both sides of the S• movable rectangular panel 70 which is parallel to the symmetry plane of trace 11 and which is hinged at 71 about a horizontal axis along the free corresponding edge of the movable panel 64 forming a portion of the building roof.

First panel 72 has an area which is substantially equal to that of one of the lateral faces of the prism, Second panel 73 has an area which is substantially equal to half the area of a lateral prism face when considered in parallel relation to the ridges of the latter. These panels 70, 72 and 73 are hinged together at 74 about vertical axes -26- (see Fig. 14) so that the panels of each group 67 can be moved into extension of each other along a direction parallel to the above mentioned symmetry plane.

Two series 68 and 69 forming each group of panels 67 can be obtained by subdividing the panels of this group substantially at the level of floor 4 when the latter occupies its position corresponding to the second volume (ie, expanded building) along a plane parallel to the bases of the prism. These two sets of panels are hinged, along I. i* 10 this plane, at 75 about a horizontal axis (refer Figs. 12 and 13) so as to be able to be folded back on each other so that the external faces of the panels come to face each other when the panels of one group are located in extension of each other (refer Fig. 15). Fixed panel 63 and movable panel 64 of the roof, as well as the panels of both groups 67 forming the facades and the hinges 65, 71 and 75 are arranged so that the series 68 and 69 of panels of the same group and the corresponding roof panel 64 can be folded back into pleats so as to be finally folded back against the pillars fixed to floor 4 on both sides of these pillars.

Turning now to Figs. 16 to 27, the building illustrated is of the same type as the building shown by Figs. 6 to 11 but comprises three stories including a ground floor and upper stories 10 and 78. When the building is expanded and i2 -27occupies the second volume, this building resembles a rectangular parallelepiped. Frame 1, which supports a portion of the flooring of the ground level, occupies the whole median portion of the lower base of the parallelepiped. Floor 4, the area of which is substantially equal to that of frame i, is intended to support the median portion of the flooring of the first story 10 and supports four vertically shaped pieces 76. Pieces 76 have equal lengths which are less than the corresponding dimension of the road gauge and are situated and fixed to the corners of floor 4 so that the posts 3 fixed to frame 1 can slide into the shaped pieces 76 (refer Fig. 16 and 27) in a direction parallel to their longitudinal axis.

Floor 77 of the third story has an area which is oee 15 substantially equal to floor 4 and which is intended to support the median portion of the top story flooring. Floor •ego 77 is arranged between pieces 76 in order to be guided onto eeoc the latter so as to be able to be moved along a direction ee e parallel to the longitudinal axis of pieces 76 between two extreme positions: the first position corresponds to the first volume (road gauge) in which floor 77 is located near floor 4; the second position corresponds to the second volume (expanded building) in which floor 77 is situated near the tops of the shaped pieces 76 fixed to floor 4 and wherein the posts fixed to frame 1 slide. Two vertical telescopic pillars 5 are fixed to floor 77 so that their -28longitudinal axes are substantially located in the vertical plane of symmetry of the building trace 11 which passes through the intersection point of the diagonals of the rectangle delimiting the upper face of frame i, which plane is parallel to the longer sides of the rectangle.

The building roof, which is situated in the upper base of the rectangular parallelepiped, is planar and consists both of median fixed panel 79, which is rectangular and assembled at the top of pillars 5 fixed to floor 77 and the S 0 area of which is less than that of the latter, and also two movable rectangular panels 80 which are equal in size and hinged at 81 about a horizontal axis along the longer sides of the fixed panel 79.

ooooo The portions of the side facades 8 and 9 of the 15 building correspond to the first and second stories 10 and ooo 78 and coincide with the corresponding portion of the two :opposite lateral faces of the rectangular parallelepiped ooooo which are parallel to the longer sides of the frame 1.

These portions are each made of two equal and rectangular movable panels 82 and 83, the area of which is at the most equal to that of the two movable panels 80 of the roof. The first panel 82 is hinged at 84 about a horizontal axis along the free edge of the movable panel 80 of the roof.

The second panel 83 is hinged at 85 about a horizontal axis along the free edge of the first movable panel 82 and is )i A 0 i'.4 w -29parallel to the hinge 84 of the latter provided on the movable roof panel The dimensions of the four fixed (79) and movable 82 and 83) panels, as well as their hinges 81, 84 and are arranged so that the external face of the panel 83 can be folded back, as shown by Fig. 18, onto the external face of the panel 82. The internal face of the latter can then be folded back onto the internal face of the panel (refer Fig. 19). The three movable panel 80, 82 and 83, 10 folded in accordian pleats (see Fig. 19) can then be folded back, as shown by Fig. 20 in a direction parallel to the above mentioned pillars 5, so that the internal face of the panel 83 is oriented to these pillars after the movable panel 86 (described below) had been folded back against 15 pillars 5 (refer Figs. 18 and 19).

Floor 77, which supports the median portion of the flooring of the second story 78, is associated with two rectangular and equal movable panels 86 intended to support the other two parts of the flooring of the second story 78.

Panels 86 are hinged at 87 on both sides of the base of pillars 5 fixed to floor 77 about horizontal axes, so that their upper faces can be folded back against pillars 5. In this way each of panels 86 is located between pillars 5 and the three corresponding 80, 82 and 83 fold into accordian pleats. Folding of panels 80, 82, 83 and 86 is effected

VI

I

after panel 79 has been raised by telescopic pillars 5 in the direction of arrow 88 (refer Fig. 17).

Floor 4 which bears the median portion of the flooring of the first story 10 is associated with two similar groups 89 comprising three movable, rectangular and substantially equal panels 90, 91 and 92. These groups 89 are arranged on both sides of the longer sides of floor 4 and each comprises a first panel 90 hinged to the floor at 93 along one of the longer sides of the latter about a horizontal 10 axis. Panel 90 is intended to support a portion of the floor of first story 10. A second panel 91 hinged at 94 *5*S 5 about a horizontal axis along the free edge of panel e o which is opposite the hinge of the latter to the floor, is intended to form part of facades 8 and 9 of the building, 15 corresponding to the ground level floor. Panel 91 coincides with the corresponding part of one of the opposed lateral coo faces of the parallelepiped, which is parallel to the longer side of frame i. A third panel 92 hinged at 95 about S"the horizontal axis along the free edge of panel 91 opposite hinge 94 of the latter to panel 90 is intended to support a portion of the flooring of the ground level.

These three panels 90, 91 and 92 of each group 89 and their hinges 83, 94 and 95 are arranged so that the upper face of the panel 82 can be folded back, as seen in Fig. 22, onto the internal face of panel 91 and also so that the internal face of panel 92 can then be folded back, as shown in

I

-31- Fig. 23, onto the lower face of panel 90, and so that finally the upper face of panel 90 can be folded back, as shown in Fig. 24, against the shaped pieces 76 fixed to flooring 4.

The front and rear facades 6 and 7 (Fig. 26) of the building are perpendicular to the symmetry plane trace 11 and are formed of three groups of rectangular and movable panels which are separated from each other at the level of both the floors 4 and 77 in the position of the lat.ter when the building has been expanded.

e The first group of panels forming one of these facades 6 and 7 at ground level, comprises four rectangular panels 96 and 97 which are equal two by two and hingod two by two at 98 about a vertical axis to the corresponding posts 3 ;€ch feAr of e 15 fixed to the frame 1. The dimensions of beth the panels fixed to the same post when considered perpendicularly to the symmetry plane of trace 11 correspond substantially to half of one of the small sides of frame 1 and to one of the small sides of panel 92 (panel 96) respectively. The hinges 98 of the first group of panels 96 and 97 are arranged so that the external faces of the panels hinged to post 3 can be folded back onto each other, as seen in Figs. 26 and 27, substantially in prolongation of the longer corresponding side of frame 1.

I4\ r -C -32- The second group of panels, which forms one of the facades 6, 7 at the level of the first story, comprises four rectangular panels 89 and 100 which are equal two- by twfr and-.hinged twe by tw about a vertical axis at 101 onto the corresponding shaped pieces 76 fixed to floor 4. The dimensions of beth panels 99 and 100 fixed to the same shaped piece when considered perpendicularly to the symmetry plane of trace 11 correspond substantially to half of one of the shorter sides of floor 77 (panel 100) and to one of the shorter sides of panel 90 (panel 99) ;respectively. The hinges 101 of the second group of panels 99 and 100 are arranged so that the external faces of the panels hinged to shaped piece 76 can be folded back onto o0 eS each other substantially in prolongation of the corresponding longer side of frame 1.

0* The third group of panels, which constitutes one of the

S

facades 6, 7 at the the second story level 78, comprises two equal rectangular panels 102 hinged about a vertical axis at 103 onto the corresponding pillars 5 fixed to the second floor 77. Said hinges 103 are arranged as shown by Fig. 26 so that the external faces of both panels 101 can be folded back onto each other in a direction parallel to the symmetry of trace 11 in prolongation of frame 1.

When panels 96, 97, 99, 100 and 102 forming facades 6 and 7 have been placed in prolongation of frame 1, after

A

-33folding back panels 86, 80, 82 and 83 against pillars 5 as shown in Fig. 21 in the direction of arrow 104, floor 77 can be brought to the proximity of floor 4. After panels 91 and 92 have been folded back against shaped pieces 76, as shown in Fig. 24 in the direction of arrow 105, (Fig. 25), floor 4 can be brought to the proximity of frame i, which arranges the building to the road gauge.

In the embediment of the building illustrated in Figs.

1 to 5, means arranged to make easier the movements of 10 floor 4 along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of posts 3 fixed to frame 1, and accordingly the movements eoeo of the assembly of the movable panels, advantageously comprise screw mechanical jacks or fluid pressure jacks.

These may be associated either temporarily with frame 1 in OV 0.: 15 order to bear on the latter and on floor 4, or permanently :inside posts 3 so as to rest on frame 1 and floor 4.

ooze "In the embodiment of the building illustrated in Figs.

••ego: 8 to 11 or in that illustrated in Figs. 12 to 15, these means arranged to make easier the movement of the floor 4 along a vertical direction, and the movements of the assembly of the movable panels, may also comprise either screw mechanical jacks or fluid mechanical jacks. Such jacks are associated either temporarily with frame 1 in order to bear on the latter and on floor 4 or permanently inside posts 3 so as to rest on the frame and the floor. As -34an alternative, the means can be provided by jacks temporarily or permanently associated with telescopic pillars 5-fixed to floor 4 and supporting fixed roof panel panel 38.

In the embodiment of the building illustrated by Figs. 16 to 27, these means arranged to make easier the movements of floor 4 and floor 77 along a vertical direction and also the movements of the assembly of the movable panels of the building are constituted by a first set of screw or fluid pressure jacks associated with frame 1 and with floor 4 supporting shaped pieces 76 sliding on posts 3 fixed to the frame so as to rest on the latter and on floor 4. There is also a second set of jacks associated with floor 4 and with second floor 77 to which the telescopic pillars 15 supporting the roof panel 79 are fixed, so as to rest on both floors 4 and 77. There is also a third set of jacks associated with the telescopic pillars Tho movable panels are advantageously provided with sealing joints (not shown) along their periphery. The means which have been described to make easier the movements of the floors and panels are arranged so that when the building changes from the second volume (expanded position) to the first volume (road gauge), pressure existing on the joints is relieved and the joints are released from their contacting surfaces; damage to the joints when the movable -r4' panels are displaced is prevented. When the building passes from the first to the second volume, the joints are compressed to ensure sealing.

The building according to the invention can also be advantageously equipped in the workshop with electrical equipment, water and gaspipes, heating installations, sewerage drainpipes, sewerage treatment means and also means for plugging and connecting various appliances and apparatus.

.0 It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and that changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

r 'PL 0 .4

Claims (8)

1. 2. A prefabricated building as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that it has four facades including a front, a rear and two opposite side facades, a ground level story and a first story and, when the building occupies said second volume, resembles a right prism having bases and ridges of which the bases, which are triangular and which form front and rear facades of the building, have at least two equal sides, and of which the ridges have a length equal to the length of one of the i0 longer sides of said frame, which supports a part of the floor of said ground level being situated in a median portion of a lateral face of said prism, which portion is horizontal and comprises the bases of the triangles formed by said front and rear facades, while side facades of said S 15 building coincide with two other, lateral faces of the prism, said posts being situated inside said prism, and said pillars supporting said roof of said ground level, oeoo which provides the floor of said first story, a vertical eeoc e plane having a trace passing along the longitudinal axes of said pillars and forming a symmetry plane of the building, said pillars supporting a fixed ridge-pole piece having two opposite rectangular slopes which are equal and form upper parts of the respective side facades, each of said upper parts being formed of two movable rectangular ones of said panels and having two longer sides and two shorter sides, including a first panel which is the i nearest to the ridge-pole piece being hinged by a hinge to said ridge-pole piece about a horizontal axis and the lengths of its shorter sides being shorter than the height of said pillars, and a second panel which is hinged about a horizontal axis at the upper ends of said posts, the lengths of the shorter sides of this second panel being taller than the height of said posts, the length of the ridge-pole piece and the dimension of said longer sides of said two panels being equal to the length of one of said 10 longer sides of said frame, a third said panel being hinged by a hinge to each of said f-i-r--t and second panels about a horizontal axis and along a free longer side of l .each of said firot and second panels, this third panel supporting a portion of the floor of the ground level and 15 having a longer side which is opposite said hinge and is of a length equal to that of the longer sides of said first and second panels, said longer side of said third H panel being arranged to extend side by side along a corresponding said longer side of the frame, said hinges of said first second and third panel being arranged so that said first panel hinged to the ridge-pole piece can fold back against said pillars on both sides of said pillars and so that an internal face of said third panel folds back onto an internal face of said second panel, hinged to said posts, the second and third two panels, when so folded back onto each other, being arranged to 41 fold back against said posts fixed to the frame, on both sides of said posts, said front and rear facades of the building each made of two groups of movable panels separated from each other at floor level in the position taken by said rectangular floor when the building is expanded to said second volume, the first group of said movable panels constituting one of said front and rear facades at the ground level story comprising two equal rectangular panels and two equal panels each having the 10 shape of a rectangular trapezium, which are hinged to one *0 0*0another two by two to respective hinges about a vertical axis to the corresponding posts fixed to the frame, said respective hinges being arranged so that external faces of a respective rectangular panel and of a respective S 15 rectangular trapezium-shaped panel hinged to the same :*:post can be folded back onto each other substantially in aprolongation of a corresponding longer side of the frame, the second group of panels forming one of said front and S" rear facades at the first story level comprising two equal right triangle-shaped panels each having two sides meeting at a right angle, which are hinged by respective hinges along one of the sides of the right angle and about a vertical axis to one of the pillars fixed to the floor, the last-mentioned hinges being arranged so that external faces of both said triangle-panels can be folded back onto each other on both sides of a vertical plane passing IM2 42 through the longitudinal axes of said pillars and in prolongation of said frame.
2. 3. A prefabricated building as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that it has four facades, a ground level story and a first story and, when the building occupies said second volume, resembles a right rectangular parallelipiped having a lower base and an upper base, said frame which supports a portion of the floor of the ground SC-r nta.l I level story occupying a whole median portion of the lower 10 base of said right rectangular parallelipiped, said lower base also comprising two movable, rectangular and equal panels, which are arranged to support two otiier portions of the floor of the ground level story and which are hinged by respective hinges on both longer sides of the S" 15 frame about horizontal axes, so that internal faces of e ,these two panels can be folded back onto the corresponding I• ones of said posts, said floor being associated with two further movable, rectangular and equal panels which are arranged to support a respective two portions of a floor of the first story, and which are substantially of the same area as said two panels hinged to the frame, said two further panels being hinged by respective hinges about horizontal axes to the corresponding tops of posts fixed to the frame, the last-mentioned hinges of both said two further panels being arranged so that respective lower faces thereof can be folded back onto respective external 43 faces of corresponding ones of said two panels hinged to the frame, when said two panels hinged to the frame have been folded back onto corresponding ones of said posts, a building roof situated in said upper base of said right rectangular parallelipiped being planar and made of a fixed median panel, which is rectangular and has two longer sides and is assembled to the upper ends of said pillars, which pillars are telescopic and fixed to said floor, the area of which fixed median panel is less than 10 that of Baid floor and being further made of two movable rectangular panels which are equal and hinged by respective hinge means about horizontal axes, along the two longer sides of the fixed panel, the two side facades of the building coinciding with two lateral opposed faces of the right rectangular parallelipiped, which opposed faces are parallel to said longer sides of the frame, each being made of two movable, rectangular and substantially equal panels the area of which is at the most equal to that of said two movable panels of the roof, one first panel of said panels of each lateral face being hinged by a respective hinge about a horizontal axis along a free edge of a respective said movable panels of s aid roof hinged by a respective hinge to the fixed panel and which pnl en igdb epciehneaotis parallel to this latter hinge, and the second of said 44 horizontal axis along a free edge of the first movable panel of said roof and which is parallel to the hinge of a latter to the movable panel hinged to the fixed panel, the dimensions of the four said fixed and movable panels and their respective said hinges being arranged so that an external face of the second panel can be folded back onto an external face of the first panel, also so that an internal face of the first panel can be folded back onto an internal face of the movable panel hinged to the fixed 10 panel, and so that said three movable panels, which are C. S accordion-pleated, can be folded back onto said pillars in order that an internal face of the second panel is facing a. the pillars, a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the pillars forming a symmetry plane of the building, the front and rear facades of said j 9 building, which are perpendicular to the symmetry plane, being each formed of two groups of rectangular and movable panels which are separated from each other at the level of the floor for the ground level story in the position of S 20 the floor of the ground level story when the building is expanded to said second volume, a first group of panels which forms one of the said front and rear facades at the Slevel of the first story comprising four rectangular panels which are equal two-by- two an hinged by respective hinges twe-by- twe about respective vertical axes to the corresponding posts fixed to the frame, the dimensions of the rFepeetivo two of said four panels fixed to a same I 0 v said post, when considered perpendicularly to the aforesaid symmetry plane, corresponding to half of one of the shorter sides of the said frame and to one of the shorter sides of the respective movable panel hinged along one of the longer sides of said frame respectively, hinges of said first group of panels being arranged so that external faces of the respective panels of said first group which are hinged to the one post can be folded back onto each other in prolongation of the corresponding 10 longer side of the frame, a second group of panels forming one of said front and rear facades at the level of the second story comprising two equal and rectangular panels hinged by respective hinges about respective vertical axes eoeo onto the corresponding said pillar fixed to the floor, the I o last-mentioned said hinges being arranged so that external faces of both said panels of said second group can be folded back onto each other, in a direction parallel to S•the aforesaid symmetry plane in prolongation of said frame.
3. 4. A prefabricated building as claimed in Claim 1 having a ground level story and a first story and characterized in that said building, when it occupies said second volume, resembles a right prism having upper and lower bases which are regular octagons, said frame which supports a portion of the floor of the ground level 46 story substantially occupying a median portion of the lower base of said prism, which portion is comprised between two opposed sides of the respective octagon, this base also comprising a first two movable panels, which are equal and each shaped substantially as an isosceles trapezium having a longer base and a shorter base and are intended to support two other portions of the floor of the ground level story, said isosceles trapezium panels being hinged by respective hinges along their longer bases on 10 both longer sides of the frame and about horizontal axes, so that internal faces thereof can be folded back onto *~.corresponding ones of said posts fixed to the frame, said floor, the area of which is substantially equal to that of the frame and which is intended to support a median 15 portion of a floor of the first story, being associated with a second two movable panels which are equal and each shaped as an isosceles trapezium, the area of which is substantially equal to that of said first two movable panels which are hinged to said frame and are arranged to support two other portions of the second story floor, which second two panels are hinged by respective hinges about respective horizontal axes to the corresponding upper ends of said posts fixed to the frame, hinges of said second two movable panels being arranged so that respective lower faces thereof can be folded back onto an external face of the corresponding first two panels hinged NI, 47 to the frame when said first two panels have been folded back onto the corresponding posts, a building roof situated in the upper base of the prism being planar and made of a fixed median panel, which is rectangular, has two longer and two shorter sides and is assembled to the upper ends of said pillars, which are fixed to said floor and are telescopic, and the area of which is lower than that of said floor and further made of two equal movable panels which are hinged by respective hinges about 1 0 respective horizontal axes, on both sides of said fixed 0: median panel and along the longer sides of said fixed median panel, the perimeter of each of these two equal movable panels further comprising, in addition to a side S"along which such panel is hinged to the fixed median panel and the length of which is equal to the length of the respective longer sides of said fixed median panel, *three sides corresponding to those of the respective octagon and two sides contiguous to a side along which the respective movable panel is hinged to the fixed median panel, the length of which is substantially equal to half of one side of the respective octagon less half of one of the shorter sides of the fixed median panel, the builCing having eight facades coinciding with eight lateral faces of the prism, said facades being constituted by two similar groups of movable rectangular panels, which are located on both sides of an imaginary vertical plane I passing through the longitudinal axes of a respective two of said pillars fixed on said floor, which vertical plane is a symmetry plane of the building, each of said similar panel groups being subdivided into two series of superimposed panels, each of said similar panel groups comprising, on both sides of a first movable rectangular panel which is parallel to said symmetry plane and which is hinged by a respective hinge about a horizontal axis, along a correspond free edge of the respective movable panel forming a part of said building roof, two second movable rectangular panels, including one first panel the area of which is substantially equal to that of one of the lateral faces of the prism, and a second panel the area of which is substantially equal to half the area of a lateral 15 face of the prism, when considered in a direction parallel to ridges of said prism, said one first and two second movable panels being hinged to each other by respective hinges, about respective vertical axes, so that the panels of each said group can be located in prolongation to each other according to a direction parallel to the aforesaid symmetry plane, both series of panels forming each said panel group being obtained by subdividing the panels of the respective said group substantially at the level of said flocr when said floor occupies a position corresponding to said second volume and according to a plane parallel to the bases of the prism, said two series 49 of panels being hinged along this plane about a horizontal axis so as to be able, when the panels of one said group are located in prolongation to each other, to be folded back onto each other in order so that external faces of the panels of said group are facing each other, said fixed median panel and said movable roof panels, and also the panels of the said two panel groups which form the facades and the respective hinges, being arranged so that the respective panel series of each same group and the corresponding roof panel can be accordion-pleated so as to be finally folded back against the pillars fixed to said floor, on both sides of these pillars. A prefabricated building as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that it has four facades, a ground level V. story, a first and a second story, and in that said builingwhen it occupies said second volume, resembles a right rectangular parallelepiped having an upper base and a lower base, which said frame supports a portion of a flooring of the ground level and occupies a whole median portion of the lower base of the parallelepiped, floor, of V said first story the area of whioh floor is substantially equal to that of said frame, being intended to support a median portion of a flooring of the first story, supporting four vertical shaped pieces which are of equal lengths which are shorter than the corresponding dimension of said gauge, which shaped pieces are situated and fixed ~"L -d ~1 to the corners of said floor of said first story so that said posts fixed to said frame can slide into said shaped pieces along a direction parallel to their longitudinal axes, a second story floor, having an area which is substantially equal to that of said floor of said first story and which is irntended to support a median portion of a flooring of the second story, being arranged between said shaped pieces so as to be guided on said shaped pieces in order to be able to be moved, in parallel 10 direction to a usual upper surface thereof, along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of these shaped pieces, between two extreme positions, one first position corresponding to the first volume, in which the floor of said second story is situated near the floor of oe.oei 15 said first story, and a second position corresponding to the second volume, in which said floor of said second story is located near the upper ends of said shaped pieces which are fixed to the floor of said first story and in eooe which the posts fixed to the frame slide, at least two of said pillars being telescopic vertical pillars fixed to the floor of sai.d second story so that their longitudinal axes are substantially located in a vertical symmetry plane of the building, which plane passes through an intersection point tf rectangle diagonals delimiting an upper face of said frame and is parallel to the longer side of this rectangle, a building roof situated in the upper base of the parallelepiped being planar and made of vim -M 7 y P I 4 ':4 1. a fixed media panel, which is rectangular and has two longer and two shorter sides and is assembled to the upper ends of the pillars fixed to the floor of the second story and the area of which is less than that of the floor of the second story, and further made of two rectangular movable panels which are equal and hinged by respective hinges about horizontal axes along the longer sides of the fixed median panel, portions of side facades of the building, corresponding to the first and second stories 10 and which coincide with corresponding parts of two opposed lateral faces of the parallelepiped, which are parallel to the longer sides of said frame being each made of two rectangular and equal, movable panels the area of which is at the most equal to that of both movable roof panels, 15 including one first panel which is hinged by a respective hinge about a horizontal axis along a free edge of the movable roof panel hinged by a respective hinge :o the fixed median panel and which is parallel to the last-mentioned said hinge, and a second panel hinged by a respective hinge about a horizontal axis, along a free edge of a respective first movable panel and which is parallel to said hinge of said first movable panel to the respective movable roof panel, the dimensions of the four said fixed and movable panels and their respective hinges being arranged so that an external face of a respective i i 52 said second panel can be folded back onto an external face of a respective said first panel, also so that an internal face of the respective said first panel can be folded back onto an internal face of the respective said movable roof panel, which is hinged to the fixed median panel, and so that the respective three said movable panels when accordion-pleated, can be folded back in a direction parallel to said pillars so that an external face of the second panel is oriented towards said pillars, the second 10 story floor which supports a median portion of the flooring of the second story being associated with two movable, rectangular and equal panels which are arranged e ee to support two other portions of the flooring of the second story and which are hinged by respective hinges, on :r 15 both sides of the bases of the pillars fixed to the floor of the second story, about horizontal axes, so that their •upper faces can be folded back against the pillars in order that each of said panels associated with said first story floor is situated between said pillars and the three aforesaid corresponding panels can become accordion- pleated, the first floor which supports a median portion of the flooring of the first story being associated with two further similar groups of three movable panels which are rectangular and equal, and further groups being arranged on both sides of the longer sides of said floor <P LI. 53 of said first story and each comprising a first panel hinged by a respective hinge to the floor of said first story about one of the longer sides of the floor of the first story and around a horizontal axis and arranged to support a portion of the flooring of the first story, a second panel hinged by a respective hinge about a horizontal axis along a free edge of the respective first panel which is opposite the hinge of that first panel to the floor of said first story, and arranged to form a 1 i0 portion of the building facade corresponding to the ground level story and which coincides with a corresponding part o of one of the opposed lateral faces of the parallelepiped which are parallel to the longer sides of the frame, and a third panel hinged by a respective hinge about a 15 horizontal axis along a free edge of the respective second panel opposite the respective hinge of the latter to the respective first panel, which is arranged to support a portion of the floor of the ground level story, said third panel having two longer sides and two shorter sides, the three panels of each said further group of three movable panels and their respective hinges being arranged so that an upper face of the respective third panel can be folded back onto an internal face of the respective second panel, in order that a lower face of the respective third panel can be then folded back onto a lower face of the respective first panel, and in order that an upper face j\/CI U1 Alf ~-($ILI I- 54 of the respective first panel can be folded back against said shaped pieces fixed to the floor of the first story, front and rear facades of the building which are perpendicular to said symmetry plane being each formed of three groups of movable and rectangular panels, separated from each other at the levels of both the floors of the first and second stories in the positions of the floors of the first and second stories when the building is expanded, the first group of panels which forms one of said front and rear facades at the level of the ground 10 level story comprising four rectangular panels which are .IA P0,6PS equal to two by two an hinged twe-by-twe by respective hinges, about respective vertical axes onto a corresponding said post, fixed to the frame, the eatCk patr dimensions of beth panels fixed to a respective same post, 15 considered perpendicularly to said symmetry plane, respectively and substantially corresponding to half of one of the shorter sides of the frame and to one of the shorter sides of the respective third panel, hinges of said first group of panels being arranged so that external faces of the panels hinged to a respective post can be folded back onto each other substantially in prolongation of the corresponding longer side of the frame, the second group of panels, which forms one of the front and rear facades at the level of the first story comprising four rectangular panels which are equal two-by-two ad r hinged we-by -twe by respective hinges about vertical axes on the corresponding said shaped pieces fixed to the said e&ech /4a'BF floor of said first story, the dimensions of fbh panels fixed to the same said shaped piece, when considered perpendicularly to the said symmetry plane, corresponding respectively and substantially to half of one of the shorter sides of the floor of said second story and to one of the shorter sides of the first panel, hinges of said second group of panels being arranged so that external 10 faces of the panels hinged to a respective shaped piece can be folded back on each other substantially in prolongation of the corresponding longer side of the frame, the third group of panels which forms one of said front and rear facades at the level of the second story comprising two level rectangular panels hinged by respective hinges about respective vertical axes onto the e•0o corresponding pillar fixed to the floor of the second story, the last-mentioned said hinges being arranged so that external faces of said two equal rectangular panels can be folded back onto each other, into a direction parallel to said symmetry plane and in prolongation of said frame.
4. 6. A prefabricated building as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said means arranged to make easier the movements of said rectangular floor are arranged to make 7 VT 56 easier movements of said rectangular floor along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of said posts fixed to said frame and accordingly the movements of said movable panels, and comprise mechanical jacks which are associated with said frame in order to bear on said frame 1and on said rectangular floor or permanently inside said posts so as to rest on said frame and said rectangular floor. A prefabricated building as claimed in any one of 10 Claims i, 3 or 4, wherein said pillars are telescopic and said means arranged to make easier the movements along a vertical direction of said rectangular floor and the movements of the movable building panels further comprise jacks which are associated with the telescopic pillars fixed to said rectangular floor and supporting a fixed panel of said roof. o Li
5. 8. A prefabricated building as claimed in Claim wherein said means are arranged to make easier the movements of said floors of said first and second stories along a vertical direction, and the movements of th- Smovable building panels and comprise a first set of jacks associated with the frame and the floor of said first story supporting said shaped pieces sliding onto said posts fixed to said frame so as to rest on said frame and said floor of said first story, and of a second set of jacks associated with said floor of said first story and said floor of said second story, to which are fixed said pillars supporting the fixed median panel of the roof, and which pillars are telescopic, so as to rest on said floors of said first story and said second story, and of a third set of jacks which is associated with said telescopic 10 pillars,
6. 9. A prefabricated building as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein said movable panels forming the building are peripherally provided with respective sealing S"joints, said means intended to make easier the movements of said floor being arranged to relieve, when the building passes from the second volume to said first volume, the pressure exerting on said joints and to release said joints from respective surfaces contacted by said joints, so as to prevent any damage thereto, when the movable panels are moved, and in order that, when the building passes from said first volume to said second volume to compress said joints when the movable panels occupy respective positions corresponding to the expanded building. 58 A prefabricated building as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, which further comprises means for allowing the building to revolve around a vertical axis passing through the intersection point of diagonals of an imaginary rectangle delimiting an upper face of the frame.
7. 11. A prefabricated building as claimed in Claim wherein said means for allowing the building to revolve around the vertical axis comprise a race having a 0i longitudinal axis which coincides with said vertical axis 10 and which is supported by the frame, a flooring which is o parallel to the frame and of a same shape and surface area as those of said frame, said flooring being supported by said race, said posts being fixed to said flooring, a •circular rail which is coaxial with said race and made of oee• 00.. 15 several sections, said rail being fixed to said flooring and to the respective movable panels arranged to support flooring of the ground level story of the building, rollers borne by said means intended to ensure the stability of the building being provided and arranged so as to cooperate with said rail in order to contribute to building stability, and a brake-motor which is arranged to be controlled depending on the sun position in order to rotate the building around said vertical axis. I 59
8. 12. A prefabricated building as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, which is equipped with electrical equipment, water and gas pipes, a heating installation, sewage drain pipes and sewage treatments means, as well as means for plugging and connecting various electrical appliances. DATED THIS "~u/L day of October, 1991. r r I FERNAND JULES BAURANT By his Patent Attorney KERRY MOORE CHRYSILIOU of CHRYSILIOU MOORE CHRYSILIOU 1 ABSTRACT The inventions concerns a prefabricated building which is on one level, or with at least one upper story, which can be transported, in particular by road, and which is made of elements assembled and hinged to each other so that this building is capable by a single modification of the position of its component elements of occupying two extreme volumes, the first volume being that in which the overall building sizes are reduced to a loading gauge, in particular a road gauge and the second volume corresponding to the expanded and habitable building. o 1