GB2124270A

GB2124270A - Building with hyperbolic paraboloidal roof

Info

Publication number: GB2124270A
Application number: GB08317606A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Ernest Crawford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-07-09
Filing date: 1983-06-29
Publication date: 1984-02-15
Also published as: AU1668983A; GB8317606D0

Abstract

In one form the invention is a shelter which includes a plurality of roofing panels e.g. in grid framework 18 each of which having a generally hyperbolic paraboloidal configuration; the lower sides of each panel being adapted to locate respectively with the sides of adjacent pairs of "A" frame walling elements 12.1, 12.2 etc., and the upper sides to locate with roof supporting elements 14 and 16 which elements join the apices of the "A" frame elements. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shelters This invention relates to method and means for construction and erection of shelters.

More particularly the invention sets out to provide so-called economy or low-cost housing units capable of speedy erection at least partly from pre-formed members delivered to site. The prior art contains many examples of prefabricated dwellings most of which meet to a greater or lesser degree the objective of providing low-cost housing but the search for lower costs combined with approved building standards of durability and aesthetic appeal continues.

The invention believes that he has produced a system which, in combination, achieves a greater measure of the desirable objectives sought to be achieved by pre-construction of shelters or dwellings of the kind in question.

According to the invention a shelter includes a foundation; at least three walling elements supportable upon the foundation in the substantially vertical plane relative to the foundation; at least one doorway in a walling element and at least one substantially hyperbolic paraboloidal roofing element adapted to mate with at least the upper zones of the walling elements.

Also accordingmho the invention the upper zones of at least two walling elements are adapted to carry a roof supporting element which is adapted to mate with complementally shaped portions of the hyperbolic paraboloid roofing element.

Further according to the invention the walling elements are of the type commonly referred to as "A" frame construction and the roof supporting element joins the apices of the walling elements.

Yet further according to the invention the lower sides of the or each hyperbolic paraboloidal element are adapted to locate respectively with the sides of an adjacent pair of "A" frame walling elements and the upper sides to locate with the roof supporting element.

Also according to the invention the method of erecting a shelter includes the steps of locating a foundation upon a chosen site; supporting a required number of walling elements upon the foundation in the substantially vertical plane relative to the foundation; and completing the structure by locating at least one substantially hyperbolic paraboloidal configuration roofing element upon the structure in conjunction with conventional roofing if required.

Further according to the invention the method of erecting a shelter includes using a sufficient number of hyperbolic paraboloidal roofing elements so as to complete total roofing and part side walling of the spaces between adjacent walling elements.

To avoid ambiguity, in this specification and attached claims, the expression "substantially hyperbolic paraboloidal roofing element" shall mean a structure as illustrated by numeral 18 in the drawing and which, by virtue of its unique shape and configuration, serves the dual function of roof and side wall when located in a shelter as illustrated in the description and the attached drawing.

To facilitate further understanding, one form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic isometric projection.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral 10 shows generally the basic framework of a low cost dwelling. Numerals 12.1,12.2,12.3 and 12.4 show "A" shaped wall frames which are adapted to be pre-fabricated or built on site. Wall frame 12.1 has door frame 12.15 and wall frame 12.4 has window frame 12.16. Roof support elements are shown by 14 and 16. A section of the roofing grid framework is indicated by numeral 18.

A square, four sided dwelling along the lines of this form of the invention may be erected using the following steps.

Pile foundations (not shown) are laid at the site of the four corners of the dwelling (three of which are indicated at areas 20.1,20.2 and 20.3). The bases of "A" frame walls 12.1,12.2, 12.3 and 1 2.4 are fixed in a conventional manner to their respective pile foundations (not shown), e.g. base corner 12.10 of wall frame 12.1 and base corner 12.40 of wall frame 12.4 meet and are fixed to the same pile foundation (not shown) at area 20.2. In similar fashion base corner 12.41 of wall frame 12.4 and base corner 12.31 of wall frame 12.3 meet and are fixed to the same pile foundation (not shown) at area 20.1. The wall frames 12.1,12.2,12.3 and 12.4 are fixed to the pile foundations (not shown) in a manner such that the flat planes created by the said wall frames are substantially vertical.

The apices of wall frames 12.1 and 12.3 are joined by roof support element 1 6 and the apices of wall frames 12.2 and 12.4 are joined by roof support element 14. Roof support elements 14 and 1 6 aru fixed together at their zone of mutual intersection.

A roofing grid framework 18 is installed within each of the following areas: (a) the area bounded by roof support elements 14(a.) and 1 6(a) and the sides of the wall frames 12.4 and 12.1;and (b) the area bounded by roof support elements 16(a) and 14(b) and the sides of wall frames 12.1 and 12.2; and (c) the area bounded by roof support elements 14(b) and 16(b) and the sides of wall frames 12.2 and 12.3; and (d) the area bounded by roof support elements 16(b) and 14(a) and the sides of wall frames 12.3 and 12.4.

The spaces within the wall frames 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4 are then filled with a suitable insulation material (not shown). A wire type netting is then fixed on the inside and outside of the dwelling adjacent to but spaced from the insulation material. Plaster or gunite is then set onto the inside and outside of the dwelling on the wire netting (not shown).

In this specification "gunite" refers to a cement/sand aggregate commonly known in the building trade.

To complete the roof, insulation material (not shown) is placed between the upper and lower grid frameworks 1 8.

The upper framework 18 is then gunited and then overdecked with waterproofing. The lower roofing grid framework 18, now being on the inside of the dwelling, is plastered thus forming a ceiling.

It will be seen that other types of roof may be used in conjunction with this type of dwelling, for example, fibreglass or even thatch.

Other aspects of the building such as doors, windows, plumbing and electrical fittings are carried out in a substantially conventional manner.

As far as external decoration of the dwelling is concerned the inventor envisages that one could use conventional face bricks and/or painted plaster or any of the other methods of external decoration.

Other examples along this theme will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A shelter including a foundation; at least three walling elements supportable upon the foundation in the substantially vertical plane relative to the foundation; at least one doorway inpa walling element and at least one substantially hyperbolic paraboloidal roofing element adapted to mate with at least the upper zones of the walling elements.

2. A shelter according to claim 1 wherein the upper zone of at least two walling elements is adapted to carry a roof supporting element which is adapted to mate with complementally shaped portions of the hyperbolic paraboloid roofing element.

3. A shelter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the walling elements are of the type commonly referred to as "A" frame construction and the roof supporting element joins the apices of the three walling elements.

4. A shelter as claimed in any one of claims 1 through 3 wherein three hyperbolic paraboloid elements mater with the roof supporting structure joining the walling elements.

5. A shelter as claimed in any one of claims 1 through 4 in which the lower sides of each hyperbolic paraboloidal element are adapted to locate respectively with the sides of an adjacent pair of "A" frame walling elements and the upper sides to locate with the roof supporting element.

6. A method for erecting a shelter as claimed in any one of claims 1 through 5 which includes the steps of locating a foundation upon a chosen site; supporting a required number of walling elements upon the foundation in the substantially vertical plane relative to the foundation; and completing the structure by locating at least one substantially hyperbolic paraboloidal configuration roofing element upon the structure in conjunction with conventional roofing if required.

7. A method for erecting a shelter as claimed in claim 6 wherein a sufficient number of hyperbolic paraboloidal roofing elements are used so as to complete total roofing and part side walling of the spaces between adjacent walling elements.

8. A shelter substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A method for erecting a shelter substantially as herein described and exemplified.