US3832819A

US3832819A - Method of constructing building and apparatus for carrying out said method

Info

Publication number: US3832819A
Application number: US00305065A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Houdin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-26
Filing date: 1972-11-09
Publication date: 1974-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-03
Also published as: FR2160758A1; FR2160758B1; GB1410050A; DE2257423A1

Abstract

Building is constructed by assembling roof on temporary beams which project beyond the building. Roof is either constructed on beams in final position or raised on beams after construction. The space beneath the roof is then shielded from the weather by tarpaulins or the like and the remainder of the building erected in this space. The invention includes apparatus for use in thus constructing the building.

Description

United States Patent Houdin Sept. 3, 1974 [5 METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BUILDING 3,722,171 3/1973 Godley 52/745 figfigfggg FOR CARRYING OUT FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 687,727 2/1953 I Great Britain 52/741 [76] Inventor: Henri Rene Houdin, 18 Rue 235,526 6/1945 Switzerland 52/127 Theodore de Banville, Paris, France 742,704 1/ 1956 Great Britain 52/741 [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1972 Primary ExaminerHenry C. Sutherland 1 Appl' 305,065 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brisebois & Kruger {30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1 57] ABSTRACT 0v 9 France Buildmg 1s constructed by assemblmg roof on tempo- [52] U S Cl 52 52 52/745 rary beams which project beyond the building. Roof is [51] E5 2 i 21/00 either constructed on beams in final position or raised [58] Fie'ld 52/2 63 741 745 on beams after construction. The space beneath the roof is then shielded from the weather by tarpaulins or [56] References Cited the like and the remainder of the building erected in this space. The invention includes apparatus for use in UNITED STATES PATENTS thus constructing the building. 2,355,248 8/1944 Stevens 52/741 3,555,754 1/1971 Kellogg 52/282 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUSEFB 1 14 SH!!! 3 If 4 METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BUILDING AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new method of constructing buildings and to devices for use in carrying out this method.

The invention is particularly well adapted to the construction of buildings of relatively small dimensions such as homes, but is not limited to such applications.

The present invention is intended to permit the construction of buildings under conditions of comfort and protection from bad weather which are the same as if the work were being done in a shop.

These conditions are obtained in accordance with the invention by simple means which permit a completely rational organisation of the work site and make it possible to use materials such as prefabricated components under dry conditions in accordance with an established plan, independent of atmospheric conditions'and without any reason to fear that the different components which have been brought together in order to construct the building will suffer from bad weather, as is the case under conventional conditions.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a process for constructing buildings essentially characterized by the fact that the first step is to construct the roof frame and the roof proper of the building by supporting them on beams which are themselves supported by posts or the like located outside the area to be occupied by the building which is to be constructed. The space inside which the building is to be constructed is protected by tarpaulins or other sheet material supported, for example, by the roof frame or on cables. The walls or supporting members of the building are then constructed and the building finished. The posts which first supported the roof are then removed.

In a first method embodying the invention the first step is to position on the supporting posts those beams which are to support the roof during the construction and the roof trusses are then positioned on the beams in the positions which they are to finally occupy in the completed building, after which the roof is completed.

Protective tarpaulins or the like are then positioned outside the building which is to be constructed.

In a preferred embodiment, the two beams which support the roof during the construction of the building are connected at their end by two cross members so as to form a rigid frame supported at each corner by a vertical post. The seating of the posts (which may, for example, be in a footing provided for this purpose) and the structure of the posts and beams are such as to provide adequate support for the complete roof and the protective members located outside the building, taking into account the various pressures which may be expected, especially from wind and snow.

In another method of utilizing the process according to the invention, the frame and cover of the roof are constructed on the ground on which the building is to be built, and then raised by jacks or the like, which may be incorporated into the posts used to support the beams which carry the roof during the construction of the building. The construction then proceeds as previously indicated.

In a third embodiment of the invention the roof is built under cover by erecting on the construction site an inflatable cover of sufficient size to cover the roof while lying on the ground, which cover is removed in order to raise the roof into its final position. In this In accordance with the invention it is preferable to prepare the site with its connections to various service lines such as water, gas, electricity, telephone and sewers before the roof is raised into place. The foundation,

7 on the contrary, may be advantageously constructed inside the enclosure formed in accordance with the invention.

Once the roofing and location of the tarpaulins has been completed (and this does not generally take too much time) it is then possible to carry out the other construction steps in any conventional way, relying as necessary on the local work force, since no specialized materials are required, and the existence of the roof facilitates the exact location of the various structural components.

This method of construction also makes it possible for persons who have no particular qualifications to do I a large part of the construction work on a home. In effect, the firm which positions the roof and provides the protection for the space within which the house is to be built may also install the foundations and the floor of the first storey, and complete certain technical work including the installation of sanitary and heating facilities, water and electricity, after which the rest of the work may be carried out by the purchaser of the building, provided that he possesses a minimum of technical knowledge, without having his work disturbed by bad weather, so that he may complete the job over as long a period of time as he desires.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide as a new article of manufacture a device for use in carrying out the above process which device is characterized by the fact that it comprises beams which are detachably mounted on posts, means fixed to the roof frame which permit it to rest on said beams, and means such as timbers, frames or cables adapted to support the tarpaulin or other protective members defining the space within which construction is to take place.

In a particular embodiment the beams consist of two separable and pivotally attached sections which may be individually removed at the end of construction.

In order that the invention may be better understood, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a building being constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail view on a larger scale showing the part within the circle IV in FIG. 2; and

FIG. is a detail view on a larger scale showing the part encircled by the circle V in FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 shows the two gabled walls 1 and 2 and the two side walls3 and 4 of a building being constructed in accordance with the invention.

It also schematically shows the four roof trusses 5, 6, 7 and 8 supported by two

beams

11 and 12 connected at their ends by cross members 13 and 14, with the frame thus formed supported above the ground on four posts 15. Shuttering not shown insures the rigidity of the frame formed by the

beams

11, 12, 13 and 14 on the posts 15 when the height of the beams is not in itself sufficient to provide the necessary reinforcement.

As clearly shown on FIG. 1, the length of the

beams

11 and 12 which support the trusses 5, 6, 7 and 8 is substantially greater than the length of the

sides

3 and 4 so as to leave a space between the posts 15 and the gable walls 1 and 2. In practice, it is desirable to be able to provide a space about one meter wide between the posts 15 and the gable walls. The beam 12 is shown on FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 3 clearly shows how this beam 12 is supported at each end by a post 15 which is anchored at its base by bolts 16 in a footing 17.

As schematically shown on FIG. 3, the beam 12 consists of two parts connected together by a pivot joint 18 in the upper strut and a jack in the lower strut. The purpose of this pivot joint and jack will be hereinafter explained.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 each truss is produced by joining together two triangular members formed from a rafter 20, a tie-beam 21 and an oblique member 22. The rigidity of this truss is increased by the

crossbars

23, 24, 25 and 26.

The various longitudinal members are connected to each othef by gusset plates in a conventional manner. The gusset plate 26a which connects the rafter and the crossbars and 26 has a bearing surface 27 which rests on the beam 12 during construction. To facilitate easy mounting of the trusses after the

beams

11, 12, 13 and 14 have been placed in position, the end 28 of the tie-beam is separably bolted to the remainder of the beam so that when the truss is raised with a lifting device it is possible to have it rest directly on the two

beams

11 and 12.

The truss is assembled on the ground in a very simple manner by bolting together the two gusset plates 29 which connect the rafters 20 to the oblique members 22. This is accomplished by bringing the two gussets together and then connecting them by bolts or rivets 30. At the lower part of the truss, the truss is completed by a bar 31 fixed to a gusset 32 which is itself bolted to the gusset 33 which connects the tie-beam 21 and the

crossbars

22, 24 and 25.

These assemblies are shown on a larger scale on FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a part of the rafters 34 and shingles 35 which form the roof. It also shows the gutter 36 and the timbers 37 which comprise a vertical post 38 connected to an inclined member 39 which is attached at its upper end to the beam 12. It will be noted that, in the embodiment shown, this inclined member 39 is positioned above the wall 4 so as not to interfere with its construction. FIG. 2 also shows how the tarpaulin 40, the upper end of which is attached at 41 beneath the gutter 36 closes off the space in which the building is to be constructed by descending to the lower end of the post 38, where it terminates in a skirt 41, while being attached to the bottom of the post by a tie 42 which engages, for example, a hook 43. FIG. 3 shows how the timbers 44 comprise a vertical post 45 and an inclined part 46 connected to the crossbars l3 and 14 and support the tarpaulin 40, which is attached at its lower edge as shown in FIG. 2. It follows that around the periphery of the building and up to the height of the lower edge of the roof the tarpaulin 40 rests on the posts 39 and 45 and defines, in the embodiment described, a substantially vertical wall. In order to make the gables weather tight, cables 47 are stretched which extend from the ridge pole of the roof and are attached to pins or other anchoring means 48 located in the ground.

In this way the upper part of the gable is covered by the tarpaulin 40 along three slopes, as may be seen on FIG. 1.

The method according to the invention is carried out in the following way:

Firstly, the ground is prepared as necessary, the footings for the posts are formed, and the various service lines for gas, electricity, sewers, etc. are emplaced. The

beams

11 and 12 and the crossbars l3 and 14 are then mounted on the posts 15 which are attached by the bolts 16 to their footings l7.

After having assembled the trusses 5, 6, 7 and 8' on the ground, they are raised into position by a lifting device so that they rest on the

beams

11 and 12. The parts 28 of the trusses are attached after the trusses are positioned on the

beams

11 and 12. The purlins 9 are mounted in place, together with the rafters 34, the sheathing, and the covering members such as the shingles 35. The timbers 37 are positioned along the side walls and the timbers 44 along the gable walls. The cables 47 are stretched between the ridge pole and the hook means 48 which have been previously anchored, and the tarpaulins are positioned as shown on the drawings and as hereinbefore described.

One or more doors may'be provided in the tarpaulins in order to permit access into the space enclosed thereby. The foundations for the floor of thefirst storey, the walls and the supporting members of the frame are then constructed and the building is internally finished and provided with fixtures.

When the building has been completed the tarpaulins 40 are removed, together with the

timbers

37 and 44 and the cables 47.

In order to remove the

beams

11 and 12 after having withdrawn the bolts 16 which connect the posts 15 to their footings 17,-the jacks 19 are operated in such a manner as to flex the beams downwardly, the two halves of the beams pivoting slightly about the pivot pins 18. The pivot pins 18 are then removed and the beams 1 1 and 12 extracted, each half being brought out through the gabled wall from which it projects. It is then only necessary to complete the finishing of the building and close the openings required to pass the

beams

11 and 12.

It will be seen that the process according to the invention makes it possible to construct a building in a particularly simple and economical manner while protected from the weather.

In an alternative process, it is possible to assemble the frame constituted by the

beams

11 and 12 and the crossbars l3 and 14 on the ground, constructing the roof frame and the roof proper directly on the frame lying on the ground, and then lift the complete roof as sembly into the position which it is to finally occupy by means of lifting devices substituted for the posts 15. In another alternative arrangement it is possible to construct the roof beneath an inflated structure, once the ground has been prepared.

It will of course be appreciated that the embodiments described have been given purely by way of example, and may be modified as to detail without thereby departing from the basic principles of the invention. In particular it is obvious that the process may be carried out with structural members different from those which have been described and that the trusses may be of either metallic construction or wood, for example. Similarly, it follows that the beams which support the roof frame during the construction may be of a different structure and nature than those described, and that the means for supporting the tarpaulins which enclose the working space may be selected in another manner.

What is claimed is:

1. Method of constructing a building which comprises the steps of positioning temporary horizontal roof-frame supporting beams so that they extend across the space project beyond said space at each end,

providing temporary vertical supports for said beams positioned outside said space,

constructing the roof-frame and the roof of said building while supported on said temporary horizontal beams,

protecting said space from the weather by providing temporary shielding means surrounding said space,

constructing the walls and any other portions of the building which are to. permanently support said roof-frame inside the space thus protected,

transfering the load imposed by said roof-framc and roof from said temporary horizontal beams and vertical supports to the permanent supporting walls,

and then removing said temporary beams, said vertical supports and said shielding means.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1 in which said temporary roof-supporting beams are first mounted on said temporary supports at a height such that a roof con structed thereon will occupy its final position and the roof is then constructed on said beams.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1 in which the roof is constructed on said beams at ground level and subsequently lifted to rest at its final level on said supports.

4. Process as claimed in claim 3 in which the roof is constructed beneath an inflatable temporary cover.

Claims

1. Method of constructing a building which comprises the steps of positioning temporary horizontal roof-frame supporting beams so that they extend across the space which is to be occupied by said building and project beyond said space at each end, providing temporary vertical supports for said beams positioned outside said space, constructing the roof-frame and the roof of said building while supported on said temporary horizontal beams, protecting said space from the weather by providing temporary shielding means surrounding said space, constructing the walls and any other portions of the building which are to permanently support said roof-frame inside the space thus protected, transfering the load imposed by said roof-frame and roof from said temporary horizontal beams and vertical supports to the permanent supporting walls, and then removing said temporary beams, said vertical supports and said shielding means.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1 in which said temporary roof-supporting beams are first mounted on said temporary supports at a height such that a roof constructed thereon will occupy its final position and the roof is then constructed on said beams.