AU688461B2

AU688461B2 - Transportable building module with extendible frame unit

Info

Publication number: AU688461B2
Application number: AU16482/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Donald Stewart Napier
Original assignee: D S NAPIER Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ds Napier Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-04-13
Filing date: 1995-04-13
Publication date: 1998-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-13
Also published as: AU1648295A

Description

A-

'TRANSPORTABLE BUILDING MODULE WITH EXTENDIBLE FRAME UNIT" This invention relates generally to transportable building modules, and in one aspect is especially applicable to the provision of two-storey transportable houses.

It is known to pre-construct houses at a base yard and then to transport the houses by road, either whole or in two or more modules, to a client's allotment. According to one approach, a house is provided in transportable half-modules with sloping roofs which are brought together on-site to form a house with a conventional pitched roof. A transportable house is a very satisfactory means of providing a house in a more remote or difficult location where building expenses on site may be higher than elsewhere. This approach differs from those in which buildings are erected from components or opened eg folded out from wholly collapsed assemblies.

*s A principal constraint in the design of transportable houses is the strict dimensiorial 'limit set by road transport authorities. The difficulty lies in providing aesthetically pleasing external features within the dimensional limit without compromising the 20 internal floor space of the house. The present applicant's prior Australian patent 539799 and patent application 10702/92, and UK patent publication 2257170, have addressed this issue in different ways. Patent 539799 discloses a transportable house in which a verandah roof is hinged, about a pivot axis located on a roof rafter of the house, from a retracted condition, in which the roof lies flat against the outer 25 side wall of the house, to a raised outwardly extending position. The structure disclosed in GB 2257170 allows for a higher pitched roof by having the upper portion of the roof trusses in a pivotably collapsible form. Patent application 10702/92 discloses a transportable house with lower and upper storey modules.

Russian patent publication 2000399 proposes an arrangement in which various modules hingedly fold up and wrap about a core module. Other outwardly foldable components collapsed against core modules are also disclosed in US 2780843, US 9504 12,p;\oper\gjntran.ruIpl I L. Y FIIPMELCD\97294010?7 42 4464868 and US 3348344.

Other disclosures known to the present applicant include RU 2000403, SU 1789620, WO90/13241, US 3460297, US 3983665 and US 5209030.

It is an object of the invention to provide a transportable building module, especially but not exclusively for a transportable house, in which external embellishments, such as an alcove, can be provided without offending against a prescribed dimensional limit for road transport.

The invention accordingly provides a transportable building module comprising a first frame unit defining a floor sub-frame and one or more wall sub-frames about a first space, an opening in said first frame unit, and a second frame unit supported with respect to said first frame unit for movement through said opening between a transport condition in which the second frame unit is wholly or largely disposed within said first space, and an extended condition in which the second frame unit is disposed to define one or more sub-frames for a second space generally adjacent said first space wherein, a transportable building module comprising a first frame unit defining a floor sub-frame and one or more wall sub-frames about a first space, an opening in said first frame unit, and a second 20 frame unit supported with respect to said first frame unit for movement through said o opening between a transport condition in which the second frame unit is wholly or largely disposed within said first space, and an extended condition in which the second frame unit is disposed to define one or more sub-frames for a second space generally adjacent said first space, wherein said opening is in said, or one of said, wall sub-frames, 25 and wherein, in its extended condition, the second frame unit defines an alcove at said opening.

0 Preferably, the second frame unit is hingedly mounted with respect to the first frame unit whereby the movement through the opening is a pivotal movement.

Preferably, the hinged mounting is to or adjacent the floor sub-frame, whereby the second frame unit lies across the floor sub-frame in its transport position, but ext,: ds upright RB Noutwardly of and about the opening in its extended condition.

F IIPMELCD\97294010.7 3 Advantageously, the second frame unit includes one or more windows so that, in its extended condition, the alcove has the appearance of a bay window or similar arrangement.

The module, in this aspect, may further include an auxiliary roof section for the alcove hingedly mounted above and adjacent said opening so that it too may be moved from a retracted position to an extended positiin in which it cooperates with the extended secono frame unit. The second frame unit advantageously includes its own floor structure which may be cooperable with foundation means such as eg stumps at the site at which the building is erected.

The invention also provides a transportable building comprising a plurality of interengageable complementary transportable modules, at least one of which is a module according to the invention.

^The invention still further provides a method of erecting a building module comprising at least partially constructing a transportable building module according to the invention at a first site, transporting the module with said second frame unit in its transport condition 20 to a second site, locating the module at the second site, and moving said second frame unit through said opening to its extended condition.

Also afforded by the invention is a transportable building module including a floor segment and one or more wall segments defining an external dimension during transport 25 of the module, wherein at least one of said wall segments further defines an opening and the module includes a wall section mounted for movement through said opening between a retracted position within said dimension during transport and an extended position in which the wall section lies outwardly of and at least partially closes said opening.

The terms "frame" and "sub-frame" herein are broadly employed and may refer, eg, to a frame of timber or metal beams and/or other components, or to a slab frame eg a tilt slab, or to any structure serving as a supporting frame or core.

FHiPMELCD97294010.7 d 4 The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views through a segment of a transportable house with a bay window alcove provided according to an embodiment of the invention, and showing the configuration respectively during transport and after erection on site; and Figures 3 and 4 are simple diagrammatic three-dimensional views corresponding to Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, in cross-section, a segment of a transportable house 110 including a floor sub-frame 112 fitted with panel flooring 114, and a wall structure 116 including a frame unit 126 having timber top plates supported by timber studs 132. Floor sub-frame 112 includes C-section steel bearers 65 and multiple transverse timber joists 67, and is generally of the form illustrated and described in Australian patent application 10702/92. Wall structure 116 includes appropriate external cladding such as o S•weatherboards 116b. The normal practice is to construct most of the house including a o roof and internal walls and fittings, at a base yard, and to then transport the house, in separate modules, for re-erections on a pre-prepared foundation at a client's allotment.

20 The house is designed to be split into two similar half-modules along the gable to allow transport of the two separate mouules.

Wall structure 116 is pre-formed with a window opening 70 including lintel 72 but, instead of the conventional approach in which a window would be fixed in position in the 25 opening at the base site, opening 70 is fitted with a retractable bay window assembly Assembly 75 comprises a wall section 76 and an auxiliary roof section 78 each S separately hinged in position for pivotal movement from a retracted position (Figures 1 and 3) in space 130 within the external dimension defined by cladding 116b to an extended position (Figures 2 and 4) in which the two sections interlock to form the bay window assembly 75 about space 131 adjacent space 130.

Wall section 76 includes a frame unit 142 having a floor sub-frame 80 with bearers 81 xtending parallel to wall structure 116, and transverse joists 82. The floor sub-frame is St~ 110N IU7~ FItPMeCD97294010.7 overlaid with panel flooring 84 and the outer bearer 81 supports a lower cavity wall portion 86 with studs 87, interior plasterboard lining 88 and weather board cladding 89 to match cladding 116b. The outer wall segment 85 is completed by a timber framed glass window 90 and the wall section 76 additionally includes end wall segments 92,93 which may be either of two-part construction similar to outer wall segment 85 or formed in any other suitable materials.

Main panel flooring 114 stops short of the outer edge of floor sub-frame 112, while panel flooring 84 of wall section 76 overhangs inner bearer 81 of floor sub-frame 80. This overhanging portion 84a of panel flooring 84 is fastened to panel flooring 114 by a series of spaced butt hinges 95 which are fastened onto the top surfaces of both floor panels at the base site. Portion 84a overlies main bearer 65 in the exteided position of the assembly The wall section may include a window seat or bench 94 to complete the bay window effect.

.i Auxiliary roof section 78 would typically include a matching timber frame 96 supporting, according to choice, any roofing material 97 suitable3 for the purpose, for example glass 20 or a galvanised or colour bond steel. Frame 96 is hinged to lintel or other frame member 72 by a second series of simple butt hinges 98 fixed to the outside faces of the lintel and roof section.

S.When the house is first constructed at a base site, wall section 76 and roof section 78 are :o 25 assembled and secured in place by their respective hinges 95,98. The wall section is laid down over the across the panel flooring 114 and roof section 78 is dropped down substantially under beam 72. In this way both sections are retained within the external lateral dimension defined by cladding 116b. Hinges 95 are aligned inwardly of the outer edge of main floor sub-frame 112 to accommodate floor sub-frame 80 within this dimension. The house is then transported by truck either whole or in modules and reerected at the client's allotment on a suitable foundation, for example an array of stumps 99. Wall section 76 and roof section 78 are swung out on their respective hinges and fastened together so that the roof section serves as a slopi,;; auxiliary roof for the bay

I

FHPMELCD\972940107 6 window assembly 75. Lip portion 84a of panel flooring 84 is fastened, eg by nailing, onto joists 67 of main floor frame 112. The hinges 95 may then be removed so as not to be an obstruction to the floor surface. It will be noted from figures 2 and 4 that a line of capped stumps 99a is provided to directly support outer floor bearers 81 of floor subframe It will be appreciated that the arrangement described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 provides additional floor space and an attractive externally projecting embellishment for the house while still being able to provide the outer walls at the maximum lateral dimensional limit for road transport.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

ee* a* a a L _I

Claims

1. A transportable building module comprising a first frame unit defining a floor sub-frame and one or more wall sub-frames about a first space, an opening in said first frame unit, and a second frame unit supported with respect to said first frame unit for movement through said opening between a transport condition in which the second frame unit is wholly or largely disposed within said first space, and an extended condition in which the second frame unit is disposed to define one or more sub-frames for a second space generally adjacent said first space, wherein said opening is in said, or one of said, wall sub-frames, and wherein, in its extended condition, the second frame unit defines an alcove at said opening.

2. A transportable building module according to claim 1 wherein the second frame unit is hingedly mounted with respect to the first frame unit whereby said movement through said opening is a pivotal movement.

A transportable building module according to claim 2 wherein said hinged mounting is to or adjacent said floor sub-frame, whereby the second frame unit lies 0000 across the floor sub-frame in its transport condition but extends upright outwardly of and 0e S 20 about said opening in its extended condition.

4. A transportable building module according to any preceding claim whierein said second frame unit includes one or more windows so that, in its extended condition, said alcove has the appearance of a bay window or similar arrangement. ON

5. A transportable building module according to any preceding claim further including an auxiliary roof section for said alcove hingedly mounted above and adjacent said opening so that it too may be moved from a retracted position to an extended position in which it cooperates with the extended second frame unit.

6. A transportable building module according to any preceding claim wherein said second frame unit includes its own floor sub-frame which may be cooperable with S foundation means such as eg stumps at the site at which the building is erected. FHIPM ELCI\97294010.

7. A transportable building module according to any preceding claim wherein said first frame unit includes a first section including said first hpace, and one or more further adjacent sections.

8. A transportable building module according to any preceding claim further including internal lining, external cladding and other fittings on said frame units, and a roof structure on one or both of said frame units.

9. A transportable building comprising a plurality of interengageable complementary transportable modules, at least one of which is a module according to any preceding claim.

A transportable building module including a floor segment and one or more wall segments defining an external dimension during transport of the module, wherein at least one or said wall segments further defines an opening and the module includes a wall .section mounted for movement through said opening between a retracted position within said dimension during transport and an extended position in which the wall section lies 0" outwardly of and at least partially closes said opening.

11. A transportable building module according to claim 10 wherein the wall section is hingedly mounted with respect to said opening whereby said movement through said opening is a pivotal movement. S.o 25

12. A transportable building module according to claim 11 wherein said hinged mounting is to or adjacent said floor segment, whereby said wall section lies across the 0 'floor segment in its retracted position but extends upright outwardly of and about said opening in its extended position.

13. A transportable building module according to any one of claims 10 to 12 further including an auxiliary roof section for said wall section hingedly mounted above and adjacent said opening so that it too may be moved from a retracted position to an extended position in which it cooperates with the extended wall section. FIIM EI.C D\972940 10.7 9

14. A transportable building module according to any one of claims Ioto 13 wherein said wall section includes its own floor sub-frame which may be cooperable with foundation means such as eg stumps at the site at which the building is erected.

A transportable building module according to any one c ,';Iaims 10 to 14 further including internal lining, external cladding and other fittings on said wall segment(s) and wall section, and a roof structure on said wall segment(s).

16. A transportable building comprising a plurality of interengageable complementary transportable modules, at least one of which is a module according to any one of claims to

17. A method of erecting a building module comprising at least partially constructing a transportable building module according to any one of claims 1 to 8 at a first site, transporting the module with said second frr.me unit in its transport condition to a second site, locating the module at the second site, and moving said second frame unit through said opening to its extended condition. 9t 9 20

18. A method according to claim 17 further including, in either order or simultaneously, thereafter removing the original mounting of the second frame unit for said movement and substituting other fastening means. .9

19. A method of erecting a building module comprising at least partially constructing 25 a transportable building module according to any one of claims 10 to 15 at a first site, transporting the module with said wall section in its retracted condition to a second site, locating the module at the second site, and moving said wall section through said opening to its extended position.

20. A method according to claim 19 further including, in either order or simultaneously, thereafter removing the original mounting of said wall section for said movement and substituting other fastening means. IPMELCD\97294010.7

21. A transportable building module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. D.S. Napier Pty Ltd by Freehills Patent Attorneys Patent Attorneys for the Applicant 30 October 1997 V. 0 S.