US2878665A - Combination bunker and residential building structure - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1959 R. G. CRABBE 2,378,665

COMBINATION BUNKER AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDING STRUCTURE FilBd OC.. 20, 1955 Patented Mar. 24, 19,59

2,878,665 COMBINATION BUNKER AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDING STRUCTURE Rupert G. Crabbe, Mount Clemens, Mich.

Application October 20, 1955, Serial No. 541,798

1 Claim. (Cl. 721) This invention relates to building structures forresidential purposes and, in particular, to residential building structures providing protection against aerial bombs.

One object of this invention is to provide a combination bunker and residential building structure which is built on the surface of the ground to provide adequate drainage, yet which is banked in such a manner as to-deect the force of an aerial bomb blast other than a direct hit, and which may be lived in at all times in a comfortable and sanitary manner like an ordinary unprotected residence building.

Another object is to provide a combination bunker and residential building structure of the foregoing character which also includes a carport or garage recess or tunnel from which a protected entrance passageway rleads into the living quarters of the building structure.

Another object is to provide a combination bunker and residential building structure of the foregoing character wherein the roof of the structure, which is preferably of reinforced concrete lighted by glass blocks or` other similar light-admitting means, also provides a recreation area or deck for use by a family in times of peace.

Another object is to provide a combination bunker and residential building structure as set forth in the preceding objects, wherein a stairway or ladder in a vertical well or tunnel provides not only emergency exit at the opposite end of the living quarters from the main entrance thereof, but also provides means for rapidly reaching the roof deck.

Another object is to provide a combination bunker and residential building structure of the foregoing character wherein the oor of the living quarters is at or near the ground level outside the structure, the structure being surrounded by a sloping earthwork or embankment which is adapted to be planted with grass, shru'bbery, flowersor other foliage to enhance the appearance of the structure as well as to hold the earth in position and prevent erosion thereof as a result of rainfall on the roof deck.

Another object is to provide a combination bunker and residential building structure of the foregoing character wherein the carport or garage is in the form of a tunnel which is open at its opposite ends so that the force of an explosion can blow directly through it without interference other than from a possible automobile occupying the lower portion of the tunnel, thereby further protecting the entrances to the structure from being caved in by the force of such an explosion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a combination bunker and residential building structure, according to one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, with the roof partly in section, of the structure shown in Figure l and Figure 3 is a right-hand end elevation of the structure shown in Figures l and 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 to' 3V inclusive show a combined bunker and residential building structure, generally designated 10, according to one form of the invention as consisting generally of a building structure 12 surrounded by a sloping earthwork 14. The building structure 12 is preferably built of reinforced concrete with a fioor 16 disposed approximately at or near the ground level G surrounding the structure 10, opposite side walls 18 and 20, opposite end walls 22 and 24 and a roof 26 enclosing a living space or living quarters 28. The chamber 28 forming the living quarters is shown, for purposes of simplicity, as being without partitions but, in practice, such partitions would optionally be inserted4 for the convenience of the occupants at any location desired. The usual drainage arrangements (not shown) are provided for the oor 16, and also the usual sanitary and plumbing facilities, together with the usual lighting ixtures. Air conditioning or dehumidifying and heating equipment is also provided in climates where these are necessary or desirable. An emergency power source, such as an electrical generator driven by a gasoline or Diesel engine is also preferably provided. Air filtering and washing equipment for screening out or removing noxious gases or particles in the air, such as particles of radioactive isotopes resulting from a nuclear explosion, is also provided. All of this optional or conventional equipment has been omitted from the drawings to simplify the showing.

The floor 16 and the side and end walls 18, 20, 22 and 24'are of conventional construction and are provided with the usual water-proofing coatings to prevent damp- The roof 26 includes a reinforced concrete portion32v having a multiplicity of openings 34 in which transparent blocks 36 of glass or other suitable material are seated. The chamber 28 is provided with a -ceiling 38 with slightly smaller openings 40 aligned with the openings 34 to provide entrance of daylight as well as to form seatsfor holding the transparent blocks 36 in position. Conventional shades, roller blinds, Venetian blinds or louvers or the like are preferably provided beneath the ceiling openings 40 to regulate-the amount of daylight admitted as Well as to shield the occupants from flash burns from heat or, to some extent, from radiation emitted by the eX- plosion of a nuclear bomb. The roof 26 is also preferably provided with additional yventilation openings 42 spaced at intervals thereon and equipped with the stacks or conduits 44 .of ventilators 46, the conduits 44 in turn being provided with covers 48 hinged or otherwise adjustably secured thereto. The covers 48 are so arranged that they may be opened in normal weather and closed partially or wholly in bad weather and in times of pending aerial attack. The roof 26 is finally provided with a chimney opening 50 in which a chimbey 52 is mounted and provided with the usual ue 54 for connection to a stove, furnace, fireplace, water heater, or other heating appliance or appliances.

In order to provide access from the living quarters or chamber 28 to the roof surface 30, the end wall 22 is provided with an emergency exit doorway 56 equipped with a door 58 and opening into an upwardly-directed well or tunnel 60 of partially circular cross-section and equipped with a stairway or ladder 62. The emergency exit door 58 is preferably of the air-tight and water-tight f f e 3 compartment doorsfound in naval vessels at sea and provided with dogging cams g and levers for sealing it hermetically.

Theearthwork 14 surrounding the building structure 12 is preferably in the form of an embankment of frusto-. pyramidal shape with elongated sloping side portions 64 and 66 and sloping end portions 68 and 70 interconnecting them. v The earth of which this embankment 14 is composed is sloped at such an angle as to most eiectively deflect the blast coming from an explosion off to one side of the structure 10, such as from an aerial nuclear bomb. This earthwork or embankment 14 is preferably planted with` grass, shrubbery or other foliage tending n ot only.

to beautify the structure but also to hold the earth in position against erosion by water draining from the roof surface 30.

yMain access to the living quarters or chamber 28 is provided through inner and outer doorways 72 and 74 closed by doors 76 and 78 preferably of the same type as the door 58, at opposite ends of a reinforced concrete entryway, passageway or tunnel 80. The roof 26 preferably extends over the passageway 80 and likewise over a tunnel 82 with parallel walls 84 sloping downward at their opposite ends as at 86 to accord with the slope of the embankment 14. The roof extension portion 88 over the entrance passageway 80 and the further extension 90 over the transverse tunnel 82 are optionally apertured as at 92 and 94 respectively and equipped with transparentblocks 96 and 98 respectively for admission of daylight.

The outer doorway 74 opens into the transverse tunnell 82, which is provided with a oor 100 connected by a passageway iloor 102 to the main iloor 16. The iioors 100 and 102 are likewise preferably of concrete and suitably drained to permit water to ow away.

In the use of the combined bunker and residential building structure 10 of the invention, the occupants live in it as in an ordinary dwelling, and employ the tunnel or carport 82 for,i the purpose of holding the family automobile A, the latter being driven past the main entrance opening or doorway 74 in order to avoid obstructingthe latter. The ventilators 46, with or without motor. driven fans or other Ventilating equipment, provide adequate ventilation in times of peace and the covers 48 thereof may be raised or lowered in accordance with the desires of the occupant. The daylight coming through the transparent blocks 36, 96 and 98 may be regulated by the shades, blinds or louvers and these in turn may be used to provide blackout protection to prevent light from interior lighting from being visible in the sky overhead in time of war or imminent attack. By reason of its being banked by the sloping earthwork 14, the living quarters or chamber 28 is cool in summer and warm in winter. The roof surface 30 provides a recreation 'area for the family which may be equipped withA awnings, beach umbrellas, or other suitable porch or lawn equipment or furniture.

. In time of war or imminent attack, the ventilators 48 are closed and the shutters or blinds over the ceiling openings 40 likewise closed to prevent emission of light from the interior, so as to prevent detection by hostile aircraft than possibly to an automobile A therein, thereby pro-V overhead,"H If an aerial bomb explodes in the vicinity of the structure 10 and not directly overhead, its force will be deflected by the sloping embankment or earthwork 14, thus preventing collapsing of the side walls and roof 18 to 26 inclusive, protecting the residents of the structure from injury. The thickness of the earth and the roof 26 provide adequate protection for the residents against the heat blast accompanying the explosionaud also, in most cases, against the radiation blast which also results from a nuclear explosion. Moreover, the force of an explosion tends to pass harmlessly through the openended transverse tunnel 82 without serious damage other a protective earth embankment disposed against and out wardly of said side walls and surrounding said structure,

said embankment having inclined exposed surfaces sloping upwardly from the ground level substantially to the roof level, an elongated outer concrete access tunnel extending through said embankment from side to side thereof past said building structure and spaced laterally outward away from one side wall of said structure, and an elon-` gated inner concrete access tunnel disposed within saidv embankment substantially at right angles to said outer access tunnel and extending from said one side wall to` said outer access tunnel at a location intermediate the opposite yends of said outer access tunnel and communiopenings therethrough and relatively thick blocks of lighttransmitting material disposed in said openings.

References Cited in the le of this patent

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