A CONSTRUCTION METHOD AND KIT

Abstract: The method includes the steps of placing a series of support blocks (10) around the periphery of the floor area of the structure, locating floor panels (16, 18) in engagement with grooves (12) on the upper sides of the blocks (10) and locating wall panels (38) against the edges of the floor panels (16, 18) in the grooves (12). Roof panels can be inserted loosely between the wall panels, which are then drawn and held together to frictionally engage the roof panels in position. Extra roof elements can be added to seal the joints between the roof panels and to provide eaves for the structure. The joints between adjacent wall panels can also be sealed.

Description: A construction method and kit BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION THIS invention relates to a method and kit for prefabricated 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 disadvantageous 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 mova 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 THE INVENTION A first aspect of the invention provides a method for forming a floored and walled space including the steps of forming a floored and walled space including the steps of positioning support blocks having grooves on their upper sides around the boundary of the floor area of the space, levelling the blocks, positioning floor panels to span the floor area of the space, so that ribs depending from the floor panels engage in the grooves in the blocks, and positioning wall panels around the boundary in engagement with the grooves, the width of the grooves being chqsen to accomodate both the ribs and wall panels with a slide fit. Preferably, the wall panels are initially loosely positioned and then drawn together to form a rigid construction. 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. A second aspect of the invention provides a method of roofing a floored and walled space, including the steps of frictionally engaging at least one roof panel between opposite wall panels of the space. This method may be used in conjunction with the method of the first aspect of the invention, each roof panel being to placed between opposite wall panels of the space, which are then drawn together to engage the roof panel by frictionally between them. 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 third aspect of the invention provides a kit for the construction of a floored and walled space, the kit including a plurality of support blocks hating grooves formed on their upper sides for arrangement in a predetermined relationship around the boundary of at the floor area of the space, at least one floor panel having depending ribs at its extremities for engagement in the grooves, a plurality of wall panels for engagement in the grooves along- side the ribs, and means to draw the wall panels together to hold them in position. - The grooves on the upper sides of the blocks may conveniently be formed by structural members, such as channel sections, engaged in the blocks. The kit gay also include a deformable sealant for insertion into the joints between adjacent wall panels, so that when the wall panels are drawn together, the sealant is deformed to seal the joints. A suitable sealant is silicone rubber. For the construction.of'p floored, walled and roofed space, the kit may include at least one roof panel which is frictionally engageable between opposite wall panels of. the space. 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. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows support blocks being positioned pith 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 accomodation 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; Figu.re5 shows the engagement of a roof panel by wall panels; and Figure 6 shows a method of sealing joints between adjacent roof panels andof providing an eave. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 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. Correct positioning -of -the blocks and the grooves may be achieved by the use of a template 14, which is removed before the lazing 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 appreciated that the blocks l0.in Figure 1-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 Figure 3 there is illustrated a wall panel 38 inserted into the channel section 34, in the 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 fibreglass 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. The joint 58 between adJacent roof panels 60 and 62 is sealed by sliding a narrow sect on of corrugated iron 64., between the corrugatedHiron 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 combination. 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 rore economically when not in use. 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 transportation or storage. The use. of clamping devices such as 40, which is described in a co-pending patent application allows operator's access from only one side of the wall panels. Due to the simplicity of the operation the labour requirement is low.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A method of forming a floored-and walled space characterized by the steps of positioning support blocks having grooves on their upper sides around the boundary of the floor area of the space, levelling the blocks, positioning floor panels to span the floor area of the space, so that ribs depending from the floor panels engage in the grooves in the blocks and positioning wall panels around the boundary in engagement with the grooves, the width of the grooves being chosen to accommodate both the ribs and wall panels with a slide fit. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized by the step of drawing the wall panels towards each other to hold them in position around the boundary. 3. A method according to claim 2, characterized by the step of sealing the joints between-adjacent wal panels by positioning a deformable sealant between adjacent;panels and drawing them towards each other to compress the sealant. 4. A method according to any one of the above claims including the step of frictionally engaging at least one roof panel between opposite walls of the space. 5. A kit for the construction of a floored and wAlled space characterized by a plurality of support blocks having grooves formed on their upper sides for arrangement around the boundary of the floor area of the space, at least one floor panel having depending ribs at its extremities for engagement in the grooves alongside the ribs, and means to draw the wall panels together to hold them in position. 6. A kit according to claim 5 in which the grooves on the upper sides of the support blocks are formed by lengths of structural members in engagement with the blocks. 7. A kit according to either of claims 5 or 6 in which the kit includes a template engageable in.the grooves to allow the blocks to be arranged correctly in the predetermined-relationship around the boundary of the floor area of the space. 8. A kit according to any of claims 5 to 7, including at least one roof panel engageable frictionally between opposite wall panels of the space when the oppostie wall panels are drawn together.

Inventors: ARMSTRONG, GAVIN CAMPBELL
Applicants: ANGLO AMERICAN CORPORATION OF SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED
Application year: 1981
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1