SHELL STRUCTURE

Abstract: The shell structure comprises an elongated housing section (1) and gables (2, 3) which join the housing section and whose edges (7) define an opening in the shell structure. Housing section (1) and gables (2, 3) are corrugated. The housing section has a cross-section which is a parabolic shape. The corrugation in at least one of the gables is provided with an opening (4) which is preferably fitted with a watertightly closeable door or hatch (5).

Description: Shell structure The present invention relates to a shell structure, com¬ prising an elongated housing section and gables which join the housing section and whose edges define an open¬ ing in the shell structure. This type of shell structures have several applications, e.g. in civilian application as underground cellars, pub¬ lic shelters, storages etc. In military application, such shell structures can be used as dugouts. Particularly in civil application there are several prior known shell structures involving many drawbacks. Usual¬ ly such structures consist of a plurality of individual building elements. The structures are heavy and tedi- ous to install as this requires a lot of different work¬ ing machines and tools. Labour demand is also consider¬ able. An object of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose shell structure which satisfies the following require¬ ments: The shell structure is simple to manufacture. It comprises a .single body. The shell structure is light and stackable. It can be erected without special tools or special equipment. A shell structure of the invention is watertight and thus can be used either as an above-ground shelter structure or an underground dugout structure. The shell structure can also be applied as a means used for crossing waterways, either as a mobile unit or as a pontoon element in a bridge structure, the bridge cover being laid upon such pon¬ toon. In order to achieve these objects a shell structure of the invention is substantially characterized in that the housing section and gables are corrugated. Partic¬ ularly, when manufacturing a shell structure of rein¬ forced plastic, a corrugated structure can provide highly preferred strength values. Other pref rred embodiments of the invention are set- forth in the annexed non-independent claims. The invention will now be described in more detail in the following specification with reference made to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a shell struc¬ ture of the invention as seen from the outside, fig. 3 is also a perspective view but shows the interior of a shell structure, fig. 4 shows a shell structure as seen towards one of the gables, figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the application of a shell structure as a dugout, and figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the application of a shell structure as a pontoon and a bridge. Referring particularly to figs. 1-4, a shell structure comprises an elongated housing section 1 having a para- bolically shaped cross-section. The housing section is trough-like and provided with gables 2 and 3. A first gable 2 includes an .opening 4 in which is fitted a watertightly closeable door or hatch 5. The edges of elements 1-3 define an opening 6 into the shell struc¬ ture (fig. 3) . Running along the rim of opening 6 is a flange-shaped reinforcement 7. Both housing section 1 and each gable 2 and 3 are made of a corrugated sheet material. The sheet form has been achieved e.g. in reinforced plastic technology by laminating together layers of plastic and reinforced plastic upon a rein¬ forced plastic mould matching the shape of a shell struc- ture. Housing section 1 is provided with corrugations 8 which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said housing section, i.e. such corrugations are made vertical when a shell structure is positioned with opening 6 against the ground. Similarly, the gables have corrugations 9 positioned substantially perpendic¬ ularly to the gable edge, i.e. in substantially vertic¬ al position when a shell structure lies with opening 6 against the ground. It should be particularly noted that corrugations 8 and 9 in housing section 1 and gables 2, 3 are positioned in a manner thatin the junc¬ tion of these sections the corrugation extends in the same phase. When the cross-section of housing section 1 is formed into a parabolicall , hyperbolically or otherwise arch- shaped trough-like cylindrical surface whose cross- section is constant and, on the other hand, gables 2 and 3 are made rectilinear at the reinforcement 7 of edge 1 , the edges of the above-mentioned elements define a substantially rectangular opening 6. Reinforcement 7 can be fitted with lifting handles or a string running through holes in the flange for re¬ locating a shell structure. Especially figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the application of a shell structure of the invention as a dugout. A shell structure 1-3 is positioned in a pit dug in the ground with opening 6 facing downwards. Housing section 1 is fitted with tensile stress transmitting members, such as strings 14 or the like, which extend on either side of the housing section e.g. through housing section piercing holes and/or through reinforcement 7 and which are fastened to logs 12a, 12b extending lengthwise of the housing section. Reinforcement 7 is supported on a log 13 (fig. 6) and opening 6 is provided with a dug¬ out bottom covering, e.g. parallel blocks 15. This way a dugout embedded in the ground can be made a very sturdy construction as a combination of the inherent strength of a shell structure and an additional effect provided by strings 14 or the like. Within the scope of the invention it is also possible to combine dug¬ outs to form underground dugout systems for most vary-: ing applications. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the application of a shell structure of the invention as a pontoon element. Thus, the shell structure is provided on the sides thereof with two elongated bearing memebers, such as logs 16, which provide for the stability of a shell structure. As shown in fig. 8, shell structures can be placed successively with either the side faces of a housing section or the side faces of gables against each other, whereby a bridge construction covering 17 can be laid upon openings 6. It is obvious that a shell structure of the invention offers, in addition to the above-described, mostly military applications, extensive possible civil applic¬ ations e.g. as public shelters, storages, ground cel- lars etc. An opening or openings can also be provided in housing section 1. Gables 2 and 3 can be designed to be inclined towards the central portion of housing section 1 starting from edge 7. This is preferable especially for making the structures stackable on each other.

Claims: Claims 1. A shell structure, comprising an elongated housing section (1) and gables (2, 3) which join the housing section and whose edges (7) define an opening (6) in the shell structure, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said housing section (1) and/or gables (2, 3) are cor¬ rugated. 2. A shell structure as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the cross-sectional shape of said housing section is a parabolic shape or the like. 3. A shell structure as set forth in claim 1 , c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the shell structure is pro¬ vided with at least one opening (4) in the corrugation of gable (2, 3) and that said opening (4) is preferably fitted with a watertightly closeable dooor or hatch (5) . A. A shell structure as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the corrugations of housing section (1) and gables (2, 3) are arranged to extend in the same phase at a juncture (10, 11) of said elements. 5. A shell structure as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d n that it is made of reinforced plastic. 6. A shell structure as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that corrugations (8) in the hous¬ ing section are made perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing section and that corrugations (8) in gables (2, 3) are made substantially perpendic¬ ular to the edge of a respective gable. 7. A shell structure as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the cross-section of housing section (1) is designed as parabolically shaped trough¬ like cylindrical surface whose cross-section remains constant and that gables (2, 3) are made rectilinerar at the edge, the housing section opening (6) becoming rectangular in shape and that the edge of opening (6) is provided with a flange-like reinforcement (7) , run¬ ning around and preferably fitted with means, such as lifting handles for relocations of the shell structure. 8. An application of the shell structure as a dugout ■ assembly, wherein said housing section (1) of the shell structure is provided on either side with at least one string (14) or the like which is fixed in the ground preferably by means of an anchoring member (12a, 12b), such as a log. 9. An application of the shell structure as a pontoon element, wherein the shell structure is preferably pro¬ vided with stability-improving members, such as logs (16) placed on either side of the housing section, a necessary number of shell structures being set side by side and a bridge construction covering (17) being laid upon said openings (6) .

Inventors: LINDBERG RALF, NEVA PERTTI, LINDBERG, RALF, NEVA, PERTTI
Applicants: NEVA PERTTI, NEVA, PERTTI
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1, E04H9