Patent GB-930645-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the construction of buildings and like structures
IPC: E04C2/16
Filed: 1959-09-24
Abstract: 930,645. Laminates. R. K. MATTHEWS. April 6, 1960 [Sept. 24, 1959], No. 32514/59. Class 140. Structures are made by assembling into the desired shape of the structure a plurality of blocks of absorbent, cellular, fibrous or like material, such as fibre-board, felt, or glass mat, each comprising three or more sheet elements adapted to be stored in flat condition and folded to prismatic shape for use, providing hinged or pliable spacers between the sheet elements and, whilst maintaining the structure in shape, applying a synthetic resin, e.g. a solution of a cold-setting resin applied by spraying, and allowing the resin to set to bond together and rigidify the components of the structure. Other, thermosetting or thermoplastic, resins requiring heat to secure setting, may be used. The blocks may comprise three sheets hingedly secured together, e.g. by adhesive tape along their longer edges such that when folded together they form a hollow triangular prism. A box-form block, having four sides hinged together and hinged top and bottom, may be stored flat but when opened may be held in the form of a solid rectangular block by a corrugated spacer inserted therein. Another form of block, Fig. 3, comprises rectangular sides 24 . . . 27, a central cylindrical portion 29 and connecting webs 28. An inflatable tube 30 may be inserted into the portion 29 by way of support before impregnation with resin. Fig. 5 shows two sheets 32, 33 spaced by webs 34 which are hingedly secured to both sheets and-are at rightangles to them when the block is opened from the flat for rigidification. The webs 34 may alternatively be secured in alternate arrangement to one sheet only and be of such length that in open position each is disposed diagonally with its free end resting against the secured end of the adjacent web. In a further modification the webs 34 may be replaced by a single zig-zag web secured, as by staples, to the sheets 32, 33 at alternate points. In this modification the sheets 32, 33 may be curved and shaped into spherical segments which may be bonded together into a hemispherical structure. In further modifications the webs 34 may be replaced by tubular webs secured to both sheets 32, 33, the tubes being of circular cross-section, or of semi-circular cross-section and having their bases secured alternately to the upper and lower sheets, the tubes in both constructions being held expanded to the degree required during the impregnation process by inflated members which remain as part of the structure. In Fig. 10, curved sheets 51, 52 are spaced by members 53 comprising hollow cylinders placed over pins 54 and containing annular inflated inserts. The cylinders 53 may be of flexible material which shortens when laterally inflated, thus permitting, by the degree of inflation, the spacing of the sheets 51, 52 to be adjusted before impregnation. An alternative spacing member comprises a number of ropes or tapes bonded together at one end, which is secured to one of the sheets, and bonded at their free ends to the other sheet at points well spaced from each other. A connecting member for joining two twin-sheet structures comprises a central body portion having a bore for accommodating a reinforcing member, and having on one side a pair of flanges which fit over the sheets of one structure and on the other side a similar pair of flanges of reduced spacing which fit into the paired sheets of the other structure.