AU593403B2

AU593403B2 - A building method

Info

Publication number: AU593403B2
Application number: AU80886/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John O'Dell
Original assignee: JOHN O DELL
Current assignee: JOHN O DELL
Priority date: 1986-11-05
Filing date: 1987-11-05
Publication date: 1990-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-05
Also published as: AU8088687A

Description

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593403 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952-1969 Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: JOHN O'DELL Ct wt rr *i r t *P I: f t6

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7 Redden Street, Portsmith, Cairns. Qld. 4870.

Actual Inventor(s): Address for service: JOHN O'DELL G.R. CULLEN

COMPANY

Dalgety House, 79 Eagle Street, BRISBANE. Qld. Australia.

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441 I I 4 4 1 4 4 COMPLETE PATENT SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION

ENTITLED:

A BUILDING METHOD The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to us: i ta P:i 4 i i LL .i 31 :i ~s i :i a! o h-.

,a -1-in onh mml hpr. qaid threaded rod S, T DOLLA G. Ahearn) To: The Commissioner of Patents, TGA-3Commonwealth of Australia.

TGA-3f -2- THIS INVENTION relates to a building method and in particular to a method of construction of permanent or temporary buildings.

In the past, fabric covered temporary and permanent structures have found usefulness where the installation of "hard" buildings is either inappropriate or unnecessary. Present structures currently in use include tents, shade houses for horticulture and weather-sensitive agriculture, temporary or emergency accommodation, hangarage and storage of goods and vehicles, and World Exposition structures in both Japan and Australia.

A disadvantage inherent in structures of the past has been the provision of a weatherproof join between panels of fabric. A second more serious drawback has been, 15 in ully joined and essentially unitary structures, the i 0 O' great windage area available for the wind to lift the fabric covering off the structure by destroying the 4 attachment between frame and fabric.

c To date, this susceptibility to wind has prevented ttt such structures from attaining a cyclone rating of better a o eto, than a severe disadvantage when such structures may be required to provide emergency accommodation in just these adverse wind conditions.

Where the fabric on structure has been provided in i panels or sections to avoid this problem, a second problem arises with the integrity of the joins between the fabric Spanels in respect of weather and insect proofing.

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In weather conditions that are quite moderate and where the prior art shelters are in no danger of destruction, the prior art structures tend to vibrate and the fabric covering flap as the wind finds the fabric's harmonic frequency.

To alleviate some of the abovestated disadvantges, resort has been made in the past to over-engineering of structures, thus increasing complexity and cost. For example, the large canvas over tubular aluminium frame structures currently in use with several armies requires three complex canvas stitched up panels, 98 sections of r S aluminium knuckles to provide an unbraced structure of 4, Sfeet by 30 feet. The fabric covering is manually laced S together with great labour along double lapped joins, and the .5 joined canvas is retained on the frame by no fewer than 112 it nylon rope ties.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a permanent or temporary covered building which S substantially overcomes the disadvantages of structures of 20 the past.

Further objects and advantages will hereinafter 9.

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f v 6' 49 become apparent.

Accordingly, there is provided a building frame including a frame member having a recess extend i 25 substantially along an outercface thereof, San elongate tensionable member disposed within s I 1 1 :N 1 ing aid 11 VU 2- 886/87 F, 44 recess, and at

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a a., a a a flexible panel member, an edge of which is insertable between said recess and said elongate tensionable member, whereby tensioning of said elongate tensionable member results in securement of said flexible panel member to said frame member.

The frame members of the present invention may be of any suitable shape including part circular, part elliptical or a peaked arch. For example, a higher roof peak may be necessary in areas where snow accumulation may be a problem; in this case an arch frame may be most 94 appropriate. Part elliptical frames may suit a particular storage need, for example, storage for bulk grain or the like where the mound to be covered is low relative to its base 15 width. However, in most applications, part circular frames are preferred for their simplicity in the rolling process of manufacture and for their general applicability in use.

The frame material may be any suitable material with sufficient strength for the application. For example, on a small scale reinforced plastics may be used; on a larger scale cost factors and increased tension in the wire may require the use of steel or aluminium.

Alumninium and steel are thus the preferred material for use in the present invention, with steel being the most cost effective in a majority of applications.

However, where transport of a completely knocked down (CKD) structure is desired, the W \ight saving pro \erties of a 4.

Ba a a L t aluminium may be preferred particularly when air transport is necessary, as is often the case with movement of emergency shelters to cyclone affected areas.

The cross-section of the frame member may be of any shape, provided that a channel is provided in the section to allow the entrapment of the flexible panel by the tensioning means. The preferred frame section is a V-channel or right angle section, the frame being curved away from the open face of the section. It is particularly preferred that the section comprises two such sections as above, arranged in a vertical nested arrangement with a S. space therebetween and weldably joined apex to valley by a o continuous or intermittent web.

Such a section makes provision for double skinning 99 of a structure, with an air gap between the skins, which S4*9 configuration has good insulation properties, of value in extreme conditions of temperature. It also presents the frame as a truss of exceptional strength for its weight.

99 The at least two frame members may be maintained in their desired relative positions by any suitable means e 20 maintaining the relative positions of two or more frame S, members. Thus it is envisaged that concreting the ends of the frames to the site, equally constitute fixing means fbr the purposes of this invention, as does any combination of Sthese or equivalent means.

i A particularly preferred fixing means is the combination of plates welded to the ends of the frames and v i 'f 'I g 1 1 1 1 W 1 11 1 1 i 2 -6a.

*a a a a an j t a .r a 1P a+ a a I a cross braces between the plates and points on the adjacent frame. The plates may be provided with bolt holes by means of which the structure may be affixed to a footing. It is also preferred to use, in combination with this fixing means, spacer means comprising threaded rods between adjacent frames, the relative positions of the frames being defined by nuts on the threaded rods.

In multi-section structures, it may be preferred that several threaded rods extend through all of the frames to provide longitudinal reinforcing for the structure.

Conversely, each section may have its own set of rods. The rods may pass, in the double skin configuration, through the space between the skins, picking up the continuous or intermittent web as the points of attachment.

Alternatively, the threaded rods may be in the form of tubular spacers having threaded ends.

The flexible panels may be of any suitable material including synthetic shade cloth, reinforced and unreinforced polymeric film materials and traditional canvas. The material is chosen by the end use for which the structure is required. For example, it is envisaged that the structure of the present invention will find use in horticulture as a shade house, requiring the use of shade cloth. An advantage of the present invention is that in the same general structure, several differently shaded areas may be provided by the use of different shade cloth in different sections. The preferred double skinned *1 t "I: ::1 41 ii" CI Ii"1 I

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-7embodiment of the present invention also enables grading of shade by the use of two layers of shade cloth to provide degrees of shade not obtainable from commercial grades of shade cloth now available.

For weatherproof structures, a reinforced ultra-violet resistant vinyl material is preferred. In the case where double skinned construction is used, the vinyl film used on the innermost skin can be of a lower UV rating to save cost.

The at least one elongate, tensionable members of the present invention may take any form consistent with the function of trapping a portion of the flexible panel within the channel of the respective frame member. Preferably to r 4 t ensure security on the fabric, the tensionable members may se erun through a sleeve on the edge of the fabric, a suitable t sleeve being formed by turning the edge of the fabric and welding, sewing or glueing the turned portion to the SW; fabric. Alternatively the sleeve may be subsequently

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e affixed to the edge of the fabric.

2 The tensionable members are preferably woven or monofiliament high tensile strength wires of low ductility to minimise strain relief under constant stress. The preferred wire is strained by one or more straining means, preferably located at the ends of the frames.

A preferred straining means is provided by a threaded rod to which one end of the wire is affixed. The preferred threaded rod is passed through the end plates of 1 1 1 1 7 t -8the frames, where space beneath permits, or the end plates may have a tensioning plate welded thereto to receive the threaded rod. To turn the wire from its channel orientated direction to a direction perpendicular to the tensioning plate, a rod may be welded across the end of the channel about which the wire may turn. The threaded rod is then tensioned through' the tension plate by means of a nut.

Alternatively, the preferred wire may be tensioned against a tensioning plate weldably or otherwise fixed into the channel such that the tensioning point is at an arbitrary point above the end of the frame member. This arrangement may be preferable where a gap or clearance between the ground and the lower edge of the flexible panel is required.

S 15 The wire may have one of the above tensioners at each end or may have the wire fixed to the end of the frame at one end and have tensioning means at the other.

The invention is further described with reference to the drawings attached hereto.

20.. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a single panel S circular "tunnel structure" in accordance with the present invention. The fabric covering is omitted for clarity; Figure 2 is a cutaway detail of the end of the frame, showing the tensioning and fabric arrangement as Swould be seen at the end of a structure in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a cutaway detail illustrating the end iI; o w 1 1 1 1 0 j I -9of an intermediate frame between panels of a structure in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 4 is a plan view of an alternative tensioning method to that illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

In the figures, the curved frame members comprise, in this case, inner 2 and outer 3 channels interconnected by web members 4. The ends of the channels are mutually supported on a footplate 5 welded to the ends thereof, the footplate bein.g provided with holes 6 to enable the 'structure to be affixed to a footing.

The inner 2 and outer 3 channels are each provided *ot with cable turns 7, 8 across the open face of the channels at a position co-operative with a tensioning plate 9 ao4 integral with the footplate 5. The tensioning plate 9 is .L *provided with holes 10 adapted to receive a threaded cable "t a ends 11' 12 terminating cables 13, 14. Tensioning is effected by tightening the cables 13, 14 via cable ends 11, 12 using tensioning nuts 23, 24. The cables 13, 14 pass i through bead regions 15, 16 of the inner 17 and outer 18 2 'fabric skins, the fabric skins being retained in the channels 2, 3 by tensioning the cables 13, 14. The web .o members 4 are drilled with holes 19 adapted to receive frame connecting rods 20, the rods 20 being provided with' threaded ends 21 and being fixed to the web members 4 by nuts 22.

In use, the tensioning features of the frame ends mounted on footplate 5 retains the' fabric skins being so •i

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dimensioned that they are stretched taut between che frames. Thus connecting rods 20 are concealed between the skins in the air space therebetween, which airspace provides effective insulation.

Where the tensioning is to be provided other than by way of the base, a tensioning member 25 is weldably affixed to the frame member 3 by web portion 26. The tensioning member 25 is provided with holes 27 adapted to receive threaded rods 12 bearing the wires 14 as above.

The tensioning member 25 has clearance at 28 from the frame member 3 to permit the fabric panel 18 to lie in the .I channel of the frame member 3 below the tensioning member An advantage of the present invention is that it S15 provides a fabric covered structure wherein the fabric is r t provided in panels which are easily assembled over frames, and which possesses infect and weatherproof joins between c the panels.

t A further advantage of the present invention is f that it provides a cyclone-rateable fabric covered structure of simple construction and few parts which may be assembled with a minimum of expenditure of labour and time.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a series of frame members for a fabric S i\ 5 covered structure, which frame members are substantially identical to each other enabling structures of all length's integer to the fabric panel dimensions to be erected.

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-11- Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of S the invention as herein set forth in the following claims.

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Claims

2. A building frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein Ssaid'frame member is part circular in shape.
3. o A building frame as claimed in claims 1 or 2, Swherein'two elongate tensionable members are located in said recess.
4. A building frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said elongate- tensionable mIember se'cures- a separate flexible panel member' upon tensi'oning of said elongate tensionable member. A building frame as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said recess comprises a substantially U-shaped channel.
6. A building frame as claimed in any one claims 1 to 4, wherein said recess comprises a V-shaped channel.
7. A building frame as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said recess comprises a right angle section. I i:- -~1 96~ u 4 4. Re, ,a 8 41 4ta 4' tr 13
8. A building frame as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said frame member is provided with a pair of said recesses.
9. A building frame as claimed in claim 8 wherein one of said pair .of recesses is spaced inwardly with respect to the other of said pair of recesses. A building frame as claimed in claim 9 wherein a first flexible panel member is secured to one of said pair of recesses and a second flexible panel member is secured to the other of said pair of recesses.
11. A building frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said flexible panel member is formed with a sleeve and said elongate tensionable member extends through said sleeve.
12. A building frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said flexible panel member is of a material selected from synthetic shade cloth, reinforced and unreinforced polymeric film materials and canvas.
13. A building frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said elongate tensionable member is a woven or mono-filament high tensile strength wire.
14. A building frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said elongate tensionable member is tensioned by a tensioning means. A building frame as claimed in claim 14 wherein said tensioning means comprises a threaded rod attached to an 6 1 It 0' P *D I II *e f t f EC 14 end of said elongate tensionable member, said threaded rod cooperating with at least one tensioning plate affixed to said frame members.
16. A building frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this fohrth day of July 1989 JOHN O'DELL By his Patent Attorneys G. R. CULLEN CO. T.l SI .1. A i f c r t i| S t 1 *j'St t t tI