Improvements in Portable Huts, Houses, or the like, applicable for Military, Colonial, or other Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION!
Improvements in Portable Huts, Houses, or the like, applicable for
Military, Colonial, or other Purposes.
"I, EUGENE PATART, of 5, Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows;
The invention relates to improvements in portable huts houses or the like.
applicable for military, colonial or other purposes.
Soldiers, colonists, agricultural emigrants, gold diggers and others proceeding
to remote places meet with difficulty, in procuring a dwelling suitable to the
exigencies of the climate and commonly are compelled to live under canvas until
a proper building can be erected and this latter in most places is difficult to achieve
owing to the cost and labour of transporting suitable building materials and until
the erection of such a dwelling they are exposed to climatic influences.
Now the object of the present invention is to obtain an inexpensive structure
which is capable of being casily transported and which when erected will effec-
tually resist all weather influences attack by insects or animals and afford a
substantial dwelling or shelter.
In carrying the invention into effect the structure is formed of sheet galvanized
iron preferably corrugated, or it might be of other suitable material, and with
double walls for the purpose hereinafter described.
Each wall is composed of the required number of sheets of iron at their edges
perforated to receive bolts so that when overlapped the sheets may be securely
connected together the fastenings being upon the inside and the roof is similarly
formed but is preferably inclined whilst if desired a floor of similar construction
may be employed.
Two structures are thus formed one within the other-and of such dimensions
as to leave a considerable space, for example about eight inches or a foot, between
them whilst suitable openings are provided for windows and doors, the ciges of
the walls bordering such openings being lined with transverse plates flanged and
perforated at their edges to enable them to be bolted to the walls.
The walls are held at the required distance apart by distance pieces or stays
which may consist of stretchers at their ends fitting into sockets on the opposite
faces of the walls or otherwise fixed thereto or where it is desired to provide
adjustable stretchers so that the distance apart of the walls may be varied within
certain limits crossed stays or stretcliers pivotally connected at the point of cross-
ing are employed and in the same manner an adjustable lattice stay or stretcher
constructed like a lazy tongs may be adopted where a considerable length of stay
is required or the distance pieces may consist of frames.
The double walled structure having been erected in the manner above described
the space between the walls is solidly filled in with any suitable material that

page_text: happens to be at hand and which for example may be the soil upon which the
house is erected, sand, shingle, broken quartz or even straw or leaves closely.
packed, but the mineral is for various reasons preferable to the vegetable matter
and the space is then closed at the top by horizontal plates.
Or the space may be filled with any textile or fibrous material which is at the
moment available and such for example as old rugs, blankets, ropes or the skins
of animals.
Part of the space between the walls may be partitioned off to constitute a
chimney for a stove or a chimney pipe may be carried through such space.
Where the house is erected upon a loose soil or foundation the walls at the
lower part may be provided with laterally extending flanges to afford a better
bearing or foundation and with the same object the lower ends of the double walls
may be closed.
In cases where the spaces between the walls are not wholly filled the lower
parts of said spaces may be filled with some heavy material and said material may
be enclosed by a horizontal partition.
The house may be erected upon the surface of the ground or in countries sub-
ject to earthquakes or cyclones it may be sunk or embedded a suitable distance in
the ground and at the lower part provided with lateral extensions so that it will
be secure against any disturbances of the above character.
17
A house or the like constructed in the manner above described will be easily
portable before erection, can be put together with great rapidity by unskilled
persons and when erected will present a solid structure capable of resisting, any
degree of heat or cold or other climatic influences and will thus afford a greater
degree of comfort to the occupant than is possible with any portable structure of
the ordinary type.
The parts constituting the houses are preferably formed of given sizes so that
by multiplying the parts. required for a small house a larger one may be
constructed.
Dated this 5th day of July 1899.
Improvements in Portable Huts, Houses, or the like, applicable for
Military, Colonial, or other Purposes.
I, EUGENE PAYART, of 5, Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to improvements in portable huts houses field hospitals
railway stations or the like applicable for military colonial or other purposes.
Soldiers, colonists, agricultural emigrants, gold diggers and others proceeding
to remote places meet with difficulty in procuring a dwelling suitable to the
exigencies of the climate and commonly are compelled to live under canvas until
a proper building can be erected and this latter in most places is difficult to achieve
owing to the coat and labour of transporting suitable building materials and until
the erection of such a dwelling they are exposed to climatic influences.
Now the object of the present invention is to obtain an inexpensive structure
which is capable of being easily transported and which when erected will effec-

page_text: tually resist all weather influences, attack by insects or animals and afford a
substantial dwelling or shelter.
In carrying the invention into effect the structure is formed of sheet galvanized
iron preferably corrugated, or it might be of other suitable material, and with
double walls for the purpose hereinafter described.
Each wall is composed of the required number of sheets of iron at their edges
perforated to receive bolts so that when overlapped the sheets uiay be securely
connected together the fastenings being upon the inside and the roof is similarly
formed but is preferably inclined whilst if desired a floor of similar construction
may be employed.
Two structures are thus formed one within the other and of such dimensions
as to leave a considerable space, for example about eight inches or a foot, between
them whilst suitable openings are provided for windows and doors the edges of
the walls bordering such openings being lined with transverse plates flanged and
perforated at their edges to enable them to be bolted to the walls.
The walls are held at the required distance apart by distance pieces or stays
which may consist of stretchers at their ends fitting into sockets on the opposite
faces of the walls or otherwise fixed thereto or where it is desired to provide
adjustable stretchers so that the distance apart of the walls may be varied within
certain limits crossed stays or stretchers pivotally connected at the point of cross-
ing are employed and in the same manner an adjustable lattice stay or stretcher
constructed like a lazytongs may be adopted where a considerable length of stay
is required or the distance pieces may consist of frames.
The double walled structure having been erected in the manner above described
the space between the walls is solidly filled in with any suitable material that
happens to be at hand and which for example may be the soil upon which the
house is erected, sand, shingle broken quartz or even straw or leaves closely
packed but the mineral is for various reasons preferable to the vegetable matter
und the space is then closed at the top by horizontal plates.
Or the space may be filled with any textile or fibrous material which is at the
moment available and such for example as old rugs, blankets, ropes or the skins
of animals.
Part of the space between the walls may be partitioned off to constitute a
chimney for a stove or a chimney pipe may be carried through such space.
Where the house, is erected upon a loose soil or foundation the walls at the
lower part may be provided with laterally extending flanges to afford a better
bearing or foundation and with the same object the lower ends of the double walls
may be closed.
In cases where the spaces between the walls are not wholly filled the lower
parts of said spaces may be filled with some heavy material and said material may
be enclosed by a horizontal partition.
The house may be erected upon the surface of the ground or in countries sub-
ject to earthquakes or cyclones it may be sunk or embedded a suitable distance in
the ground and at the lower part provided with lateral extensions so that it will
be secure against any disturbances of the above character.
A house or the like constructed in the manner above described will be easily
portable before erection, can be put together with great rapidity by unskilled
persons and when erected will present a solid structure capable of resisting any
degree of heat or cold or other climatic influences and will thus afford a greater
degree of comfort to the occupant than is possible with any portable structure of
the ordinary type.
The parts constituting the houses are preferably formed of given sizes so that
by multiplying the parts required for a small house a larger one may be
constructed.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings
more fully to describe the same.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2 of a four
roomed 'house constructed according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section of part of one of the walls thereof.
Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of parts illustrating the employment of. sup-
porting columns to the walls.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section tliereof.
Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section of parts illustrating a slight modifi-
cation in the means for regulating the thickness of the wall.
Figure 8 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 9 is a vertical transverse section of parts illustrating a further modifi-
cation in the regulating means.
Figure 10 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 11 is a vertical transverse section of parts illustrating a further modifi-
cation in the regulating means.
Figure 12 is a plan thereof.
Figure 13 is a vertical transverse section of parts illustrating a further modifi-
cation in the regulating means.
Figure 14 is a plan thereof.
Figure 15 is a vertical section of a portion of a house constructed according to
the present invention illustrating a modification in the means for connecting the
roof with the walls and raising the same.
Figure 16 is a side elevation of part of a stockade constructed according to the
present invention and
Figure 17 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 16.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference Figures 5 and 6 are drawn to an increased scale and Figures 3 to 14 to
a further increased scale with respect to l'igures 1 and 2 and 15 to 17.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4 a represents the walls of the structure which are
composed of a number of sheets of corrugated iron or it might be other suitable
material at or near their edges perforated to receive bolts a so that when over-
lapped the sheets a may be securely connected together.
Two structures are thus formed one within the other so as to constitute'a double
wall and they are proportioned and separated so as to leave a considerable
space a between them for example about eight inches or a foot whilst suitable
openings 6 are provided for doors which are preferably formed double so as
to enclose a non-conducting wall of air between them and similar openings are
also provided in suitable positions for windows which may also be double if
desired.
The edges of the double walls a bordering said openings 6 are lined with trans-
verse plates a flanged and perforated through the flanges to enable them to be
bolted to the walls.
The two structures a constituting the walls are held at the required distance
apart by means of distance pieces which in the present example consist of plates a
or horizontal partitions having flanges rivetted thereto, perforated to receive the
headed bolts a which pass therethrough and through both structures a and upon
the interior of the wall are threaded and provided with fly nuts a¹ by the aid
of which the two structures a are securely fastened together.
The space a² between the two structures a may as shown at Figure 1 be solidly
filled in with any suitable material that happens to be at hand and which for
example may be the soil upon which the house is erected, sand, shingle, broken
.quartz or even straw or leaves closely packed but the mineral is for various reasons
preferable to the vegetable matter and the space a² above the filling is then closed
by one of the horizontal plates a
Or the space a³ may, be filled in with any textile or fibrous material which is

page_text: at the moment available and such for example as old rugs, blankets, ropes or
the skins of animals.
Part of the space a between the two structures a is partitioned off by
plates to enclose the stove pipe or chimney d' of a stove d designed for heating
and cooking or the space may itself constitute the chimney.
«
A part is similarly partitioned off to form a cupboard and provided with
shelves as shown at Figure 1 which may consist of the horizontal partitions «*
and the required opening in the wall may be formed by cutting one of the iron
sheets or sinking the same deeper in the ground than adjacent sheets whilst a
sliding hinged or other door may be provided to the cupboard as will be readily
understood.
When the house is erected upon a loose soil or foundation the walls a at the
lower part may be provided with laterally extending flanges or feet a* to afford
a better bearing or foundation and with the same 'object the lower ends of the
double walls may be closed by the plates a*.
In cases where the spaces as of the walls a are not wholly filled in the lower
parts of said spaces may be filled with some heavy material and said material
may be enclosed by a horizontal partition such as a'.
The house may be erected upon the surface of the ground or in countries sub-
ject to earthquakes or cyclones it may as shown at Figure 1 be sunk or embedded
a suitable distance in the ground' and at the lower part provided with lateral
extensions a* so that it will be secure against any disturbances of the above.
character.
The roofe of the house is constructed in a similar manner to the walls the
bolts a passing through tubular distance pieces or stretchers at and the roof is
preferably inclined, as shown, to throw off rain and it is securely braced by means
of tie bars e¹. -
The descending part 3 of the roof is caused to embrace and telescopically slide
upon the walls a so that the roof may for the purpose of ventilation. be bodily
raised by any suitable means when required in order to expose a ventilating
opening or openings such as aand thus be retained by the upper bolts a of the
walls a which pass through vertical slots in the descending part of the roof e.
If desired the house may be provided with a floor constructed on the same
principle as the walls.
In the example given at Figures 5 and 6 is shown a means of giving additional
stability to the building whether it be placed upon the surface of the ground or
embedded therein.
This device consists of an angle iron pillar f which is provided with an extended
and spiked foot fadapted either to be driven into the surface of the ground or
embedded therein and one of these pillars f is intended to be placed in each angle
of the building either in the interior of the room or in the space a² between the
two structures a as shown more particularly at Figure 6 (and roughly indicated
at Figure 2) and the pillar f may be bolted to one of the structures a if desired.
In the example given at Figures 7 and 8 the application of a modified form
of stretcher or distance piece as to the structures a is illustrated and which con-
sists of a bar a at its ends received into sockets a** fixed to the structures a.
In the example given at Figures 9 and 10 a further modification in the form
and arrangement of the stretcher or distance piece is shown and in this case the
stretcher consists of a length of corrugated iron sheet at arranged as a horizontal
partition between the structures a said sheet being securely held in place by the
bolts a which are arranged alternately above and below said sheet or partition..
In the example given at Figures 11 and 12 the distance pieces or stretchers
take the form of rectangular frames a' which are supported upon the bolts a¹ and
at their ends are fastened together by bolts a so as to be capable of being readily
taken apart for transport.
In the example given at Figures 13 and 14 provision is made for readily vary-

page_text: .
ing the dimensions of the distance pieces or stretchers so that the distance apart of
the structures a may be varied within certain limits.
For this purpose according to one arrangement a series of stays stretchers or
bars are crossed and pivotally connected together at the point of crossing a
but not, as shown, connected to adjacent stays so that cach cross is independent
any suitable means being employed to fix the bars in the desired position.
Or as shown in the drawings, the ends of the bars may be pivotally connected
at a to adjacent crossed bars thus forming an adjustable lattice stay or stretcher
constructed like a lazytongs and in order to adjust this device in the manner
desired a right and left handed screw is employed which engages coacting
nuts a pivotally connected to the ends of the bars and an adjustable stretcher
is thus obtained suitable to be employed where a considerable length of the
structure a is required to be erected with great rapidity.
In the example given at Figure 15 a modified means of connecting the rope e
with the walls a and raising the same is shown.
This device consists of an arrangement of lazytongs levers e having the end
of one of the levers pivotally connected with the roof and another of the levers
similarly connected with the wall a a screw e being employed to extend or retract
the levers and thus raise or lower the roof e by which arrangement a ventilating
space a of any desired extent within certain limits may readily be formed between
the roof c and walls a but no claim is made to the means for raising the roof.
In the example given at Figures 16 and 17 the invention is shown applied to
a stockade the walls of which are constructed in a similar manner to that shown
and described with respect to Figures 1 to 4 but in this case the wall a is formed
tapered in transverse section and alternate sections of the wall are sunk deeper
in the ground than the others in order to form embrasures all
C
It will be understood that the invention is applicable to a variety of other
uses for example it may be employed in the construction of silos, wells, or the
like with considerable advantage.
The parts constituting the houses or the like are preferably formed of given
sizes so that by multiplying the parts required for a small house a larger one may
be constructed.
It will be evident that in lieu of the bolts other suitable fastenings such as
long hooks may be employed for connecting the two parts of the double walls.
A house or the like constructed in the manner above described will be easily
portable before erection, can be put together with great rapidity by unskilled
persons and when erected will present a solid structure capable of resisting any
degree of heat or cold or other climatic influences and will thus afford a greater
degree of comfort to the occupant than is possible with any portable structure
of the ordinary type.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is —
1. A portable house or structure having double walls formed of overlapping
sheets of corrugated galvanized iron or the like adapted to receive bolts or other
fastenings, distance pieces such as bars, or horizontal partitions between the two
parts of the walls, bolts, hooks or other means for connecting said parts and
retaining the distance pieces in position and fastening on the inside of the house.
or wall or the like and a filling of sand or other material in the space within the
walls substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A portable house or structure having double walls formed of overlapping
sheets of corrugated galvanized iron or the like adapted to receive bolts or other
fastenings, distance pieces such as bars or horizontal partitious between the two
parts of the walls, bolts hooks or other means for connecting said parts and
retaining the distance pieces in position and fastening on the inside of the house
or wall or the like, a filling. of sand or other material in the space within the

page_text: walls and a double roof of similar construction substantially as hercin shown and.
described.
3. A portable house or structure having double walls formed of overlapping
sheets of corrugated galvanized iron or the like adapted to receive long bolts,
hooks or other fastenings for connecting the two parts of the wall and distance
pieces such as those represented at Figures 7 to 14 for separating the two parts
of said walls substantially as herein shown and described.
4. A portable house or structure constructed in manner substantially as herein
shown and described.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents,