Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~5138S
This invention relates to a method and kit for prefabri-
cated construction. Despite the time-saving enjoyed in the
erection of prefabricated structures, as compared to conventional
building practices, this advantage is somewhat off-set by the
procedures commonly used for secural of the components of the
structure. Complicated bolting and fixing procedures are often
necessary and may be time consuming. ThiS is especially disadvan-
tageous in the erection of temporary structures, such as the huts
commonly employed on major construction sites, or by geologists
and surveyors who frequently have to move their base of operations.
The invention accordingly seeks to provide a method for
prefabricated construction which is simple and rapid, and a kit
for use in the method.
SUMMARY OF TME INVENTION
A first aspect of the invention provides a method of
forming a prefabricated structure including the steps of position-
ing support blocks having grooves on their upper sides in a pre-
determined relationship around the boundary of the floor area of
the structure, levelling the blocks, positioning floor panels to
span the floor area of the space so that ribs depending from the
floor panels locate in the grooves in the blocks, positioning
upright wall panels loosely around the boundary of the structure
with their lower edges located in the grooves as slide fits along-
side the ribs, positioning at least one roof panel between the
upper edges of opposite wall panels of the structure and drawing
the opposite wall panels together frictionally to engage the or
each roof panel between them.
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~5138~
The joints between adjacent wall panels may be sealed
against the effects of inclement weather by the insertion of a
sealant between the adjacent panels. The sealant is preferably
deformable, so that when the wall panels are drawn together, the
sealant is compressed to seal the joints.
The joints between adjacent roof panels may be sealed by
the sliding insertion of complemental roof elements at the joints.
Eaves may be provided by the sliding insertion of eave members at
the extremities of the roof.
A second aspect of the invention provides a kit for the
construction of a prefabricated structure, the kit including a
plurality of support blocks having grooves formed on their upper
sides for arrangement in a predetermined relationship around the
boundary of the floor area of the structure, at least one floor
panel which can be positioned to span the floor area of the struc-
ture and which has depending ribs at its extremities for location
in the grooves, a series of wall panels which can be located
loosely in an upright attitude with their lower edqes located in
the grooves as slide fits alongside the ribs of the floor panels,
means for drawing the wall panels together, and at least one roof
panel which can be engaged frictionally between the upper edges of
opposite wall panels of the structure when the wall panels are
drawn together.
The grooves on the upper sides of the blocks may con-
veniently be formed by structural members, such as channel sections,
engaged in the blocks.
The kit may also include a deformable sealant for inser-
tion into the joints between adjacent wall panels, so that when
~513~35
the wall panels are drawn together, the sealant is deformed to
seal the joints. A suitable sealant is silicone rubber.
The roof panels may be supplemented by the provision of
complemental sealing elements and by the provision of complemental
eave members.
For reasons of insulation, the wall panels and the roof
panels may be hollow and filled with an insulating material such
as fibre-glass. To enable the construction crew to arrange the
support blocks quickly and accurately around the boundary of the
floor area of the space, the kit may also include a template
engageable in the grooves.
Preferably, the floor panels of the kit are formed by
securing planks in abutting relationship to a peripheral frame.
The frame then forms the depending ribs.
The invention will further be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 shows support blocks being positioned with the
aid of a template;
Figure 2 shows the engagement of ribs fixed to the floor
panels with grooves on the upper surfaces of a support block;
Figure 3 shows the accommodation of a rib and a wall
panel in a groove on the upper surface of a support block;
Figure 4 shows the connection of two adjacent wall
panels, the connection being sealed;
Figure 5 shows the engagement of a roof panel by wall
panels; and
Figure 6 shows a method of sealing joints between
adjacent roof panels and of providing an eave.
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~513~
As shown in Figure 1, a number of support blocks 10 are
roughly positioned on the ground. Each block is provided with a
groove 12. The grooves 12 are formed by suitable lengths of
channel section, which are fixed to the blocks by lugs welded to
the underside of the webs of the channel sections and cast into
the blocks.
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Correct positioning of the b10cks and the grooves may be achieved by the
_ use of a temDlate 14, which is removed before the laying of the floor panels.
Figure 2 shows two adjacent floor panels 16 and 18 each provided with ribs
20 and 22. The floor panels are made of timber planks 24 fixed by screws
26 to the ribs 20 and 22 which are lengths of square tubular section. The
floor panels are laid with the ribs in the grooves 28. It will be apprec-
iated that the blocks lO in Figure l may be positioned solely with the use
of the floor panels, instead of the template 14. Figure 3 shows a floor
panel 30, which has a rib 32, in engagement with a channel section 34 fixed
to a block 36. When all the floor panels required for the structure have
been laid, the wall panels are erected.
In Figu~re 3 there is illustrated a wall panel 38 inserted into the channel
section 34, in t~e space left after location of the rib 32. The size of
the channel 34 is chosen so as to provide a reasonably good fit of the rib
and wall panel.
Figure 4 shows the connection of-adjacent wall panels 42 and 44 by a clamping
device 40. A sealant 46 may be provided against inclement weather, and the
! wall panels 42 may be hollow with a suitable insulating filler, such as fibre-
glass 48. The action of the clamping device draws the wall panels 42 and 44
-together during connection, thus compressing the sealant 46 to effectively
close the joint.
Wall panels are connected at various desirable elevations to provide a rigid
structure.
Figure 5 shows ~a roof panel 50 of corrugated iron. Fixed to the bottom of
the corrugated iron is an insulated ceiling 52. The roof panel is dropped
between the wall panels 54 and 56 before final fastening of the clamping
devices, such as 40 in Figure 4. As the wall panels are drawn together by
the clamping devices, their top edges firmly engage the ceiling 52, holding
it against the effects of wind.
~51385
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The joint.58 between adjacent roof panels 60 and 62 is sealed by sliding
a narrow sectio~ of corrugated iron 64, between the.corrugated~iron of
-the roof panels and the ceilings. Similarly, an eave is provided by
sliding in a section of corrugated iron 66, the eave serving to direct
rain water away from the wall panels of the structure.
The wall panels may have any co~bination.of doors and windows, preferably
~! of such a type that the panels have no projections. The windows may, for
instance, be of a sliding variety, and the doors may have recessed handles.
Wall panels may then be stacked.far more economically when not in use.
tO The invention thus provides a simple and rapid method for erection of a
structure, with no involved connection-procedures. The components of the
structure are easily transported and use up a minimum of space during tran-
sportation or storage. The use~.of clamping devices such as 40, which is
d:~scribed in a co-pendina patent a~nlication allows operator's access from
~nly one side of the wall panels. Due to the simplicity of the operation
the labour requ:irement is low.
