GB1565499A

GB1565499A - Portable buildings

Info

Publication number: GB1565499A
Application number: GB4028875A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Portakabin Ltd
Current assignee: Portakabin Ltd
Priority date: 1976-12-31
Filing date: 1976-12-31
Publication date: 1980-04-23

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO PORTABLE BUILDINGS (71) We, PORTAKABIN LIMITED, a British Company of Huntington, North Yorkshire, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to portable buildings of the kind which are intended to be transported in a compact pack ready for erection when delivered to a suitable site.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with building constructions formed from one or more units each of which is potentially a complete building with roof, floor and walls, preferably complete with all necessary doors and windows, with appropriate means for assembling such units together if required to form two or more such units into a multi-unit building.

Whilst each such unit would normally be provided with four walls, under some circumstances one or both end walls, or one or both side walls, may be omitted entirely to enable the units to be joined end-to-end or side-by-side without the interposition of even a partial dividing wall.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such building units in the form of a readily transportable pack incorporating all necessary parts.

In accordance with the invention we provide a portable building unit comprising a floor structure, a roof structure and at least one wall structure in the form of a knocked down pack wherein the wall structure lies between the floor structure and the roof structure which latter structures are releasably secured together, wherein lifting brackets are provided to enable the roof structure to be lifted relative to the floor structure by means of a crane or the like, such brackets being initially disposed in a transport position in which they are not available for lifting the roof structure relative to the floor structure and being movable from said transport position into a position operative for lifting the roof structure only after the roof and floor structures have been released from one another.

In accordance with this arrangement it is impossible to lift the whole pack by means of the roof lifting brackets when they are in their operative, or roof lifting, position; the floor structure is usually the heaviest part of the unit and the means employed for securing the floor and roof structures together need not be capable of supporting the weight of the floor structure and any wall structures resting thereon.

The whole pack could be lifted by means of slings or the like passed beneath the floor structure, but preferably the latter affords provisions for the attachment of lifting hooks or chains of a crane or the like.

In one simple arrangement in accordance with the invention, the floor and roof structures may be secured together by means of a plurality of plates each extending between said structures and attached thereto by releasable fastening elements such as bolts and the roof lifting brackets may initially be attached to said plates by means of these fastening elements which are utilised for attaching the plates to the floor structure, the arrangement being such that in such transport positions apertures, eyes or other means afforded by said brackets for the reception of lifting hooks or chains are obstructed by said plates.

Because the brackets are secured in their transport position by the bolts or the like utilised for attaching the plates to the floor structure such plates must be detached from the latter before the brackets can be moved to their operative positions. In their operative positions the brackets may be secured to the roof structure at the same points as used for the attachment of the plates.

In an alternative arrangement, the floor and roof structures may be secured together by means of the roof lifting brackets in their inoperative positions. For example each bracket may comprise an apertured plate attached- initially to the floor and roof structures by means of releasable fastening elements in such a position that its aperture is obstructed by an adjacent part of the floor or roof structure, the plate being capable of being re-assembled in an alternative disposition in which it is attached only to the roof structure with its aperture unobstructed.

In a further possible arrangement, in its transport position each roof lifting bracket may be attached to the floor structure to serve as a lifting point for the whole pack, the operative, or roof-lifting position for the bracket being occupied initially by the plate or other means whereby the roof and floor structures are secured together so that the bracket cannot be attached to the roof structure without first disconnecting such means from the latter.

The plate utilised for securing the roof and floor structures together may be each formed with a flat head at its upper end and a foot at its lower end so that two or more such units may be stacked together with the feet of the plates of one pack resting on the heads of the plates of another pack.

Where the floor structure includes longitudinally extending beams supporting the floor proper, such plates are preferably secured to such longitudinal beams either directly or through intermediate spacer members, rather than through the floor proper.

Where the building unit is of the kind provided with legs arranged adjacent to side walls at positions spaced apart along the length thereof, the plates for securing the roof and floor structures together in the pack may be adapted to be secured to the roof and floor structures by means of the attachment points provided for the legs.

Preferably, one or more of the wall structures of the building unit are secured to the roof structure by flexible connecting means extending between an upper region of each such wall structure and an adjacent edge of the roof structure so that when the roof structure is lifted by means of said lifting brackets the wall structures are simultaneously lifted by said flexible members to vertical positions substantially coincident with the edges of the floor structures ready for securing to the latter.

This arrangement is described and claimed in our co-pending Applications No.

40285/75 (Serial No. 1565497) and 40287/ 75 (Serial No. 1565498).

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 shows a knocked down pack in end view; FIGURE 2 shows an end portion of the pack in side view; FIGURE 3 illustrates a stage in the erection of the building from the pack; and FIGURE 4 shows a perspective view of the fully erected building unit.

The building unit in accordince with the invention incorporates a prefabricated roof structure 10, a prefabricated floor structure 20, prefabricated side wall structures 30 and 40, and two prefabricated end wall structures 50, only one of which is shown in the accompanying drawings.

The roof structure 10 incorporates vertically disposed longitudinal facia elements 11 and transverse facia elements 12 which add rigidity to the structure.

The floor structure 20 includes a flat floor proper 21 provided at its longitudinal edges 21a and 21b with angle section members 22 on which the lower edges of the wall structures 30 and 40 are intended to rest. The floor srtucture 20 also includes a pair of longitudinally extending beams 23 which are secured together by means of cross-members not visible in the accompanying drawings, but similar to the crossmember 71 forming part of the frame structure 70 as hereinafter described.

The wall structures 30 and 40 are each complete with all necessary doors as shown at 41 and windows as shown at 42 in Figure 4. Likewise, the end wall structures 50 are also provided with any necessary doors and windows as shown at 52.

In the pack, the end wall structures 50 are each laid separately on the floor structure 20 adjacent to the respective ends at which they are to be erected, and as shown they are conveniently arranged with their height extending transverse. The end wall structures 50 are secured in position on the floor structure 20 by means of angle section members 53 which are used subsequently for securing the end and side wall structures together at the corners of the unit.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the side wall structures 30 and 40 rest on one another on top of the end wall structures 50 and preferably strips of soft wood or the like are arranged to extend transversely between these structures in order to prevent damage thereto. The side and end wall structures are arranged with their outer faces downwards and the side wall structures 30 and 40 are secured to the roof structure 10 by means of flexible straps 33 and 43 extending between the upper edges of the wall structures and the upper edges of the facia elements 11 of the roof structure. The straps are secured at their ends to the inner faces of the wall structures and the facia members.

At two points along its length, each longitudinal facia element 11 is provided with anchorage points 13 for roof lifting brackets 65. Each lifting bracket 65 com prises an apertured plate which in its operative position as shown in Figure 3 is bolted directly to the anchorage point 13 of the facia element 11 in such a position that an aperture 66 therein is able to receive a lifting hook 64.

However, the roof lifting brackets are initially assembled in a transport position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 so that they cannot be utilised for lifting the entire pack. In the transport position the brackets 65 are associated with elongated plates 60 whereby the floor and roof structures are secured together.

Each plate 60 includes an upper portion 61 bolted directly to the roof structure 10 at a respective anchorage point 13 and an inwardly offset lower portion 63 which is bolted to a spacer member 69 in the form of a short length of square section tube secured to one of the longitudinal beams 23 of the floor structure. For this purpose, the tube includes end plates formed with bolt holes. The outermost end plate also carries an angle section bar 68 secured to the underside of the angle section member 22 at the edge of the floor 21. The lower portion 63 of the plate 60 is bolted to the outermost end plate of the spacer member 69. The upper and lower portions are preferably integrally united by an inclined portion 67. In its transport position each bracket 65 is secured to the lower plate 63 through the same bolts which secure the plate to the spacer member 69.As can be seen the part of the bracket 65 in which the aperture 66 is formed is then in face-to-face relation with the inclined portion 67 of the plate 60 so that the aperture is obstructed and not accesible to lifting hooks or the like.

If desired, at its lower end, the lower portion 63 may be provided with an outwardly directed flange or foot 64 which is adapted to rest on an inwardly directed flange 62 at the upper end of the upper portion of another similar bracket if the pack is stacked on top of a similar pack.

Such stacking of the packs is however mainly facilitated by the frameworks 70 previously referred to. As can be seen from Figure 2, the longitudinal beams 23 of the floor structure include end portions which project endwise beyond the floor 21 and such portions are joined together by a transversely extending beam 71. Each end portion of the beams 23 carries a pair of angle section members 72 to which upright posts 73 are secured. Triangular reinforcing plates 74 extending between the posts 73 and the cross-member 71 to connect these together in a vertical framework.

The posts 73 carry plates 75 at their upper ends and preferably such plates have upturned flanges at three of their edges so as to be adapted to receive and positively locate the projecting end portions of the longitudinal beams 23 of a superposed pack. The vertical framework 70 may normally be removed from the beams 23 after the unit has been erected.

For transport, the packs rest on the longitudinal beams 23 and where provided the feet 64, and the whole pack is liftable by means of chains passed around the beams 71. Alternatively, the latter may be provided with specific lifting brackets designed to be engaged by a crane hook.

On delivery, the pack is placed in the desired position and then the plates 60 are removed entirely. This also necessitates the removal of the brackets 65 from their transport positions and they are then secured to the roof structures in their operative positions, i.e. at the anchorage points 13. The roof structure 11 is then lifted by means of the brackets 65 and, as shown in Figure 3, the side wall structures 30 and 40 are simultaneously lifted by means of the straps 33 and 34. The lower edge 35 of the side wall structure 30 slides over the uppermost, inner face of the side wall structure 40 and at the same time the lower edge 45 of the side wall structure 40 slides in the opposite direction over the uppermost, inner face of the end wall structures 50.As mentioned previously, strips of soft wood may be interposed between the wall structures to facilitate this and protect them from damage. Where, as is normally the case, the width of the two end wall panels 50 is in combination less than the length of the floor 21, the space on the floor inbetween the two end wall panels would normally be provided with transversely ex tending strips of wood or the like to support the middle portion of the side wall structure 40.

As the roof structure 10 is lifted, the side wall structures 30 and 40 automatic ally assume vertical positions subsantially in alignment with the longitudinal edges of the floor 21 and due to the flexibility of the straps 33 and 43 they can readily be manoeuvred onto the angle members 22 and secured to the floor structure in this position. Thereafter, the end wall structures 50 can be removed from the base structure and, because of their smaller size, quite readily lifted into position manually and then secured to the end edges of the floor structure and to the end edges of the side wall structures by means of the angle section members 53.

The wall structures then form a rigid box and the roof structure 10 can be lowered into position with the facial elements 11 and 12 lying outwardly of the respective wall structures.

If the unit is of the type which is intended to be supported from the ground through the intermediary of legs, the attachment points 13 and those afforded by the spacer members 69 can be used for the attachment of such legs, which are preferably of telescopic form such as to enable the building to be jacked up after the legs are in position so that the longi tudinal beams 23 are clear of the ground and the unit is supported entirely by the legs.

Instead of employing the separate roof lifting brackets 65 it would alternatively be possible to provide an aperture similar to the aperture 66 in the plate 60 itself at a position in which the aperture is obstructed by the floor or roof structure when the plate is utilised to secure these structures together. For example the aperture could be formed in either the upper portion or the lower portion centrally of the bolt holes thereon for the reception of the bolts whereby the plate is secured respectively to the roof or floor structure. The plate 60 could, after removal, be reassembled with the roof structure in such a position that the aperture is uncovered.

If the aperture is in the upper position the plate would simply be raised and the lower portion would be bolted to the anchorage point 13 afforded by the roof structure. If the aperture is in the lower position the plate would simply be inverted and the upper portion 61, now lowermost would be re-secured to the roof structure.

In a further possible alternative arrangement, the roof lifting brackets 65 could in the transport position be bolted to the frames 70 to serve as lifting points for the entire pack, the brackets 65 being transferred to the anchorage points 13 after the plates 60 have been removed.

In a still further alternative, in which the roof lifting brackets are employed in their transport position for lifting the pack as a whole, such brackets could be secured to the spacer member 69 as shown in the illustrated embodiment, but be so designed that the aperture 66 is not obstructed by the adjacent plate 61. For example, the inclined portion of the bracket 65 could be extended outwardly beyond the upper limit of the inclined portion of the plate 61, the aperture 66 being disposed in such extended portion of the bracket so as to accesisble to a crane hook or the like at all times. With this arrangement, the entire pack could be lifted by means of the brackets 65 when in their transport positions without the weight of the floor structure, and the wall structures resting thereon, being transmitted through the plate 61.

It will be undersood that where the units are required to be joined directly in end-to-end relation, it would not be possible for the beams 23 to project endwise as shown. In this case, provision of stacking the packs if required, may be made entirely through flanges 62 and 64 of the plates 60, or upright posts similar to the posts 73 could be supported at the ends of transversely extending members, similar to the spacer members 69, projecting outwardly of the lateral edges of the pack, the transverse members also affording respective foot elements similar to feet 64 to engage the head plate 75 at the upper end of the post 73 of a lower pack.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A portable building unit comprising a floor structure, a roof structure and at least one wall structure in the form of a knocked down pack wherein the wall structure lies between the floor structure and the roof structure which latter structures are releasably secured together, wherein lifting brackets are provided to enable the roof structure to be lifted relative to the floor structure by means of a crane or the like, such brackets being initially disposed in a transport position in which they are not available for lifting the roof structure relative to the floor structure and being movable from said transport position into a position operative for lifting the roof structure only after the roof and floor structures have been released from one another.

2. A portable building unit according to Claim 1 wherein the floor structure affords provision for the attachment of lifting hooks or chains of a crane or the like.

3. A portable building unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the floor and roof structures are secured together by means of a plurality of plates each extending between said structures and attached thereto by releasable fastening elements such as bolts and the roof lifting brackets are initially attached to said plates by means of these fastening elements which are utilised for attaching the plates to the floor structure, the arrangement being such

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. be manoeuvred onto the angle members 22 and secured to the floor structure in this position. Thereafter, the end wall structures 50 can be removed from the base structure and, because of their smaller size, quite readily lifted into position manually and then secured to the end edges of the floor structure and to the end edges of the side wall structures by means of the angle section members 53. The wall structures then form a rigid box and the roof structure 10 can be lowered into position with the facial elements 11 and 12 lying outwardly of the respective wall structures. If the unit is of the type which is intended to be supported from the ground through the intermediary of legs, the attachment points 13 and those afforded by the spacer members 69 can be used for the attachment of such legs, which are preferably of telescopic form such as to enable the building to be jacked up after the legs are in position so that the longi tudinal beams 23 are clear of the ground and the unit is supported entirely by the legs. Instead of employing the separate roof lifting brackets 65 it would alternatively be possible to provide an aperture similar to the aperture 66 in the plate 60 itself at a position in which the aperture is obstructed by the floor or roof structure when the plate is utilised to secure these structures together. For example the aperture could be formed in either the upper portion or the lower portion centrally of the bolt holes thereon for the reception of the bolts whereby the plate is secured respectively to the roof or floor structure. The plate 60 could, after removal, be reassembled with the roof structure in such a position that the aperture is uncovered. If the aperture is in the upper position the plate would simply be raised and the lower portion would be bolted to the anchorage point 13 afforded by the roof structure. If the aperture is in the lower position the plate would simply be inverted and the upper portion 61, now lowermost would be re-secured to the roof structure. In a further possible alternative arrangement, the roof lifting brackets 65 could in the transport position be bolted to the frames 70 to serve as lifting points for the entire pack, the brackets 65 being transferred to the anchorage points 13 after the plates 60 have been removed. In a still further alternative, in which the roof lifting brackets are employed in their transport position for lifting the pack as a whole, such brackets could be secured to the spacer member 69 as shown in the illustrated embodiment, but be so designed that the aperture 66 is not obstructed by the adjacent plate 61. For example, the inclined portion of the bracket 65 could be extended outwardly beyond the upper limit of the inclined portion of the plate 61, the aperture 66 being disposed in such extended portion of the bracket so as to accesisble to a crane hook or the like at all times. With this arrangement, the entire pack could be lifted by means of the brackets 65 when in their transport positions without the weight of the floor structure, and the wall structures resting thereon, being transmitted through the plate 61. It will be undersood that where the units are required to be joined directly in end-to-end relation, it would not be possible for the beams 23 to project endwise as shown. In this case, provision of stacking the packs if required, may be made entirely through flanges 62 and 64 of the plates 60, or upright posts similar to the posts 73 could be supported at the ends of transversely extending members, similar to the spacer members 69, projecting outwardly of the lateral edges of the pack, the transverse members also affording respective foot elements similar to feet 64 to engage the head plate 75 at the upper end of the post 73 of a lower pack. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A portable building unit comprising a floor structure, a roof structure and at least one wall structure in the form of a knocked down pack wherein the wall structure lies between the floor structure and the roof structure which latter structures are releasably secured together, wherein lifting brackets are provided to enable the roof structure to be lifted relative to the floor structure by means of a crane or the like, such brackets being initially disposed in a transport position in which they are not available for lifting the roof structure relative to the floor structure and being movable from said transport position into a position operative for lifting the roof structure only after the roof and floor structures have been released from one another.

that in such transport positions apertures, eyes or other means afforded by said brackets for the reception of lifting hooks or chains are obstructed by said plates.

4. A portable building unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the roof lifting brackets in their inoperative positions serve to secure the floor and roof structures together.

5. A portable building unit according to Claim 4 wherein each roof lifting bracket comprises an apertured plate attached in its transport position to the floor and roof structures by means of releasable fastening elements in such a position that an aperture therein for the reception of a lifting hook or the like is obstructed by an adjacent part of the floor or roof structure, the plate being capable of being reassembled in an operative position in which it is attached only to the roof structure with its aperture unobstructed.

6. A portable building unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each roof lifting bracket in its transport position is attached to the floor structure so as to serve as a lifting point for the whole pack, the operative roof lifting position for each bracket being occupied initially by means whereby the roof and floor structures are secured together so that the bracket cannot be attached to the roof structure without first disconnecting such means from the latter.

7. A portable building unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means utilised for securing the roof and floor structures together each afford a flat head and a foot so that two or more such units may be stacked together with the feet of one pack resting on the heads of another pack.

8. A portable building unit according to Claim 7 wherein the floor structure includes longitudinally extending beams supporting the floor proper, and the means utilised for securing the roof and floor structures together are secured to such longitudinal beams either directly or through intermediate spacer members, rather than through the floor proper.

9. A portable building unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembled building is adapted to be supported by means of legs arranged adjacent to the side walls at positions spaced apart along the length thereof, the means for securing the floor and roof structures together in the pack being secured to the floor and roof structures through the attachment points provided for such legs whereby such legs may be secured to the assembled building after said means are removed.

10. A portable building unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the wall structures of the building unit are secured to the roof structure by flexible connecting means extending between an upper region of each such wall structure and an adjacent edge of the roof structure so that when the roof structure is lifted by means of said lifting brackets the wall structures are simultaneously lifted by said flexible members to vertical positions substantially coincident with the edges of the floor structure ready for securing to the latter.

11. A portable building unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.