JP7802525B2 - Building foundation structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a simple foundation structure for small-scale buildings.

Conventional flood-resistant building foundation structures are known, for example, from the technologies described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-200080 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-127680 (Patent Document 2). According to the technology described in Patent Document 1, a building connected to movable piles inserted into outer shell piles rises due to buoyancy when the water level rises due to a flood. According to the technology described in Patent Document 2, the lower concrete foundation and the upper building body are connected by telescoping columns consisting of inner and outer columns, and the building body rises due to buoyancy when a flood occurs.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-200080 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-127680

However, the inventors have discovered that there are areas that need further improvement in the above-mentioned conventional structures. Specifically, because the structure is embedded in the building foundation, it cannot be easily installed, removed, or relocated from the building foundation, and it cannot be installed directly on asphalt-paved surfaces such as parking lots or existing concrete floors, making it disadvantageous for relocating or temporary buildings. Furthermore, when constructing a building on soil, it is generally necessary to conduct a ground survey to prevent the building from sinking, which requires time and effort. Meanwhile, there is a demand for small, flood-resistant buildings that can be installed as easily as possible on unpaved ground or concrete or asphalt-paved surfaces.

In light of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a flood-resistant building foundation structure that does not require embedment and can be installed more easily than conventional structures.

For this purpose, the building foundation structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of posts that can extend upward and are erected on the ground surface to support the building's superstructure at their upper ends, a weight container that rests on the ground surface directly below the superstructure, and connecting members that detachably connect the superstructure and the weight container.

According to this invention, a building foundation can be established simply by placing the bundles and weight containers on the ground, making it suitable for relocating or temporary buildings. Furthermore, by filling the weight containers with water, the weights become heavy and protect the building's superstructure from tipping over, ensuring safety against crosswinds and earthquakes. Furthermore, in the event of a flood, the weight containers and/or the building's superstructure act as buoyant bodies, keeping the building's superstructure afloat, while the bundles act as lifting guides, extending upward and preventing water from flooding the superstructure above its floor level.

The structure of the bundle of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is stretchable. In one aspect of the present invention, the bundle has a lower member extending upward from the bottom end of the bundle, an upper member extending downward from the top end of the bundle to engage with the lower member and slide along the lower member, a lower limit stopper provided on one of the lower and upper members and abutting against the other to determine the lower limit sliding position of the upper member, and an upper limit stopper provided on one of the lower and upper members and abutting against the other to determine the upper limit sliding position of the upper member. According to this aspect, the bundle is provided with a sliding structure and functions as an elevation guide. Furthermore, if the bundle stretches too much, the upper member will not separate from the lower member, preventing the upper structure from being swept away.

Although the sliding structure of the bundle of the present invention is not particularly limited, in a preferred aspect of the present invention, the lower member includes a lower end member provided at the lower end of the bundle and contacting the ground surface, and an axial member extending upward from the lower end member, the upper member includes a tubular member extending downward from the upper end of the bundle and having an opening at its lower end through which the axial member is passed and accommodating an upper end region of the axial member, the lower limit stopper is attached to the lower end portion of the axial member so as to be adjustable in height and abuts against the lower end of the tubular member, thereby determining the lower sliding limit position of the tubular member and supporting the tubular member from below, and the upper limit stopper is provided at the upper end of the axial member and engages with the lower end opening of the tubular member, thereby determining the upper sliding limit position of the tubular member. According to this aspect, the standing length of the bundle can be adjusted by adjusting the height of the lower limit stopper.

The mechanism for adjusting the height position of the lower limit stopper is not particularly limited. In a more preferred aspect of the present invention, a male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member, and the lower limit stopper has an internally threaded hole that threadably engages with the male thread of the shaft member. According to this aspect, the erect length of the bundle is adjusted using a screw mechanism. In another aspect, the height position of the lower limit stopper may be adjusted using a hydraulic mechanism.

In one aspect of the present invention, the device further comprises a hole formed on the ground surface to accommodate part or all of the bundle. According to this aspect, when the building is demolished, the bundle can be accommodated in the hole to complete the cleanup. The part of the bundle may be, for example, the lower member of the bundle or the axial member of the bundle. In another aspect, the hole need not be formed on the ground surface.

The arrangement of the bundles is not particularly limited, but in one aspect of the present invention, multiple bundles are arranged horizontally at intervals along the rectangular outline of the superstructure, defining a space below the superstructure, and are arranged at both ends of the short sides of the rectangular outline, defining a single opening between the short sides and the ground. This aspect makes it possible to insert a trailer, facilitating the installation and removal of the building. Furthermore, no bundles are arranged along the short sides.

In this way, this invention allows buildings to be easily installed without the need for root installation, ensures durability against wind and earthquakes, and prevents flooding above the floor level even during floods.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the bundle of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the embodiment is subjected to a lateral force. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the embodiment is installed on a slope. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment floating on water. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the bundle of the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the present invention floating on water. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a bundle according to a modified example of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a bundle according to a modified example of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a side view showing the relocation of the building of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a building according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a plan view of the building foundation structure according to the same embodiment. Building 10 is a small-scale structure occupying an area of 10 to 15 square meters in the plan view of Figure 2, and includes posts 11, weights 21, a superstructure 31, connecting means 41, and fasteners 51.

Only the outline of the superstructure 31 is shown in the drawing. The superstructure 31 is one story high and, as mentioned above, has a floor area of 10 to 15 square meters. As shown in the plan view of Figure 2, the outer wall of the superstructure 31 has an outline 32 such as a rectangle. The superstructure 31 and the building 10 may be rectangular, oblong, or other shapes not shown. The superstructure 31 is located directly above the weight 21.

Multiple beams 11 form the foundation structure of the building 10 and are arranged along the contour 32 of the outer wall of the superstructure 31, supporting the superstructure 31 from below. In this embodiment, beams 11 are placed at each corner of the rectangular contour of the superstructure 31, and beams 11 are also placed in the center of the long sides of the rectangular contour of the superstructure 31.

The weight 21 is placed in the center of the building 10, directly below the superstructure 31, and is surrounded by multiple bundles 11. The connecting means 41 connects the weight 21 to the superstructure 31.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bundle 11, partially cut away to reveal the interior of the bundle 11. The bundle 11 extends vertically and includes a lower end member 12, an axial member 13, a tubular member 14, and a tubular support member 15. The lower end member 12 is a plate that contacts the ground surface S and supports the lower end of the axial member 13.

The shaft member 13 extends straight in the vertical direction, with its lower end fixed to the lower end member 12 and its upper end region, including its upper end, housed in the tubular member 14. The tubular member 14 is a cylindrical body extending downward from the top of the bundle 11, and the top end of the tubular member 14, i.e., the top end of the bundle 11, is fixed to the bottom surface of the upper structure 31. A bottom end opening 14h is formed at the bottom end of the tubular member 14. The shaft member 13 passes through the bottom end opening 14h. As will be described in more detail below, the tubular member 14 is able to slide upward along the shaft member 13. A tube support member 15 is attached to the lower end of the shaft member 13. The tube support member 15 abuts against and supports the lower end of the tubular member 14.

The height position of the tube support member 15 can be adjusted in the vertical direction along the shaft member 13. In this embodiment, a male thread 13t is formed on the outer periphery of the shaft member 13. The tube support member 15 is ring-shaped and has a female thread on its inner periphery that screws into the male thread 13t. By rotating the tube support member 15, the tube support member 15 moves in the vertical direction over the threads of the male thread 13t. This allows the height position of the tube support member 15 to be adjusted.

By adjusting the height position of the tube support member 15, the tube member 14 is displaced in the vertical direction. This makes it possible to adjust the height of the upper end of the bundle 11 in the vertical direction. In other words, the erect length of the bundle 11 is adjusted by the tube support member 15. Alternatively, as a variation not shown, instead of the male screw 13t, the bundle 11 has a hydraulic mechanism driven by hydraulic pressure, and the height position of the tube support member 15 is adjusted by the hydraulic mechanism. As will be described in more detail later, in this embodiment, not only is the erect length of the bundle 11 adjustable by the tube support member 15, but the tube member 14 can also be extended by moving away from the tube support member 15.

The pile 11 is erected on the ground surface S. The ground surface S may be soil, an asphalt pavement, or a concrete pavement. The ground including the ground surface S does not require compaction or special ground improvement work. In this embodiment, the ground surface S is a paved surface. The lower end member 12 of the pile 11 is fixed to the pavement on the ground surface S with a fixing device 51. The fixing device 51 may be, for example, an anchor bolt, a nail, a penetration stake, etc. Preferably, concrete blocks are arranged on the ground surface S, and the fixing device 51 is preferably hammered into the concrete blocks that form the ground surface S. The lower end member 12 may be placed on the top surface of the concrete block.

Returning to Figure 1 for explanation, the bundle 11 supports the superstructure 31 at its upper end. The superstructure 31 is a box-like structure that can float on water. The weight 21 is composed of a hollow weight container and the contents, such as water, soil, or sand, that are filled into this weight container. Therefore, the weight 21 becomes a lightweight, empty container that floats on water by draining the water or soil from its contents. The weight 21 also becomes heavy when filled with water or soil.

The weight container is a steel or resin tank that prevents leakage of its contents. The weight container is filled with a heavy load, such as water or soil, at the installation site of the building 10 until it reaches a predetermined weight, e.g., heavier than the superstructure. As shown in the plan view of Figure 2, the weight 21 is positioned inside the building's outline 32 and away from the beams 11. The weight 21 is placed flat on the ground surface S and directly supported by the ground. Regarding the flat placement, to increase friction, a non-slip structure such as a protrusion may be provided on the bottom of the weight 21, or a rubber mat may be placed between the weight 21 and the ground surface S. Due to its heavy weight, the weight 21 will not move due to lateral forces during an earthquake. In this embodiment, the weight 21 and lower end member 12 are placed directly on the ground surface S, such as a parking lot, without any excavation of the ground surface S, and can be easily relocated to another location.

The height dimension of the weight 21 is smaller than the width and depth dimensions of the weight 21, and is smaller than the height dimension of the bundle 11 as shown in Figure 1a. The weight 21 is placed flat on the ground surface S. Placing the weight 21 flat reduces the surface pressure, making it less likely for the weight 21 to sink from the ground surface S.

The connecting means 41 is composed of one or more connecting members and connects the weight 21 to a cross member installed on the underside of the superstructure 31. In this embodiment, the connecting means 41 is a combination of rails and runners, allowing relative movement in the vertical direction, but restricting relative movement in the horizontal direction, for example, the direction of arrangement of a pair of parallel-arranged connecting means, such as the width direction of the weight. The connecting means 41 may also include a fixing device that restricts the relative vertical movement described above. This fixing device may be, for example, a mechanism that allows relative vertical movement slower than a predetermined speed but prohibits relative vertical movement faster than the predetermined speed, specifically a cam mechanism or damper. Alternatively, the fixing device may be a releasable restraint, such as a combination of a hook and a chain of sufficient length. A chain of sufficient length allows relative vertical movement of the connecting means 41 within the excess chain length, but prohibits relative vertical movement beyond the excess chain length. The fixing device can be released by disengaging the hook from the chain.

The connecting means 41 are arranged in pairs on both sides of the width of the weight 21. One or more pairs of connecting means 41 may be provided. Because the connecting means 41 allow relative movement in the vertical direction, the superstructure 15 will maintain its height even if ground subsidence gradually progresses and the weight 21 sinks.

Figure 4 shows how horizontal force Hf due to strong winds, earthquakes, etc. acts on building 10. When horizontal force Hf acts on superstructure 31, horizontal movement of superstructure 31 is restricted by weight 21 and connecting means 41, preventing horizontal movement of superstructure 31. Furthermore, horizontal force Hf applies an overturning moment to superstructure 31, but weight 21 and connecting means 41 apply a reaction moment Rv, preventing superstructure 31 from overturning. As described above, the connecting means includes fixing devices that prohibit relative movement in the vertical direction. The fixing devices prevent superstructure 31 from suddenly overturning due to strong winds, earthquakes, etc.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the installation of the building 10 on a sloping ground SL. By appropriately adjusting the height position of the tubular support member 15 of the beam 11, the upper structure 31 can be maintained horizontal. The weight 21 is placed flat to match the inclination angle of the sloping ground SL.

Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views showing the state of the building 10 during a flood, with Figure 6 showing the entire building 10 and Figure 7 showing the bundle 11 removed. First, if a flood is expected, the contents of the weight 21 are emptied. For example, a pump is used to drain the water from the weight container, emptying the weight container. The empty weight container acts as a buoyancy body, providing buoyancy to the superstructure 31.

When the ground surface S is actually submerged in water W due to a flood, the upper structure 31 and weight container rise together and float above the water surface. The bundle 11 acts as a lift guide, extending upward and guiding the upper structure 31 as it moves up and down. Referring to Figure 7, a stopper 16 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft member 13. The stopper 16 is larger than the lower end opening 14h of the tubular member 14 and engages with the lower end of the tubular member 14. In other words, the stopper 16 determines the upper limit of the vertical movement of the tubular member 14. This prevents the tubular member 14 from slipping upward from the shaft member 13. The bundle 11 keeps the upper structure 31 in its original horizontal position while it floats on the water W, preventing it from being swept away by the flood. The tubular support member 15 determines the lower limit of the vertical movement of the tubular member 14.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a building 20 according to a modified example of the present invention. In Figure 8, components common to the above-described embodiment are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again; only the differences will be explained here. First, when a flood is predicted, the weight 21 remains with its contents inside. The connecting means 41 allows for relative movement in the vertical direction, or the connection is released before a flood occurs.

When a flood actually occurs and the ground surface S is submerged in water W, the upper structure 31 separates from the weight 21, rises, and floats above the surface of the water W. The bundle 11 also stretches out. In contrast, the weight 21 remains installed on the ground surface S and does not move.

The superstructure 31 and weight 21 may be interconnected by a wire (not shown) approximately equal to the maximum extension of the bundle 11 (Figure 7). This ensures that the superstructure 31 remains in its original horizontal position while floating on the water W, and is not swept away by floodwaters.

Figures 9 and 10 are vertical cross-sectional views of a bundle 11 according to a modified example of the present invention. A hollow pile 17 is buried in the ground surface S. The hollow pile 17 defines a hole 18 that accommodates the shaft member 13. The overall length of the hole 18 is longer than the overall length of the shaft member 13. The inner diameter of the hole 18 is larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 13. A bottom member 12 is placed on the top of the hollow pile 17. The bottom member 12 has a female threaded hole in its center that threads onto a male thread 13t. As shown in Figure 9, the shaft member 13 can be advanced downward beyond the bottom member 12 by turning the screw. This allows the standing height of the shaft member 13 from the ground surface S to be adjusted. Furthermore, when the building 10 is removed, the entire shaft member 13 can be stored in the hole 18.

Figure 11 is a side view showing the state when the building 10 is being removed. When removing the building 10, the erect length of the bundles 11 is increased. A space T is defined between the bottom of the superstructure 31 and the ground surface S. As shown in Figure 2, the contour of the superstructure 31 is rectangular, and bundles 11 are placed only on both ends of the short sides of the rectangular contour, but no bundles are placed in the middle of the short sides. Such short sides form a space opening that communicates with the space T. Referring to Figure 11, the superstructure 31 is made higher than the loading platform 102 of the trailer 101. When the loading platform 102 travels backward on the ground surface S, as shown by the arrow, it enters the space T through the above-mentioned space opening and is inserted directly below the superstructure 31. Next, the tube support member 15 is rotated to shorten the bundles 11, and the superstructure 31 is loaded onto the loading platform 102. Of course, the width of the loading platform 102 is narrower than the spacing between the bundles 11, 11 arranged on the short side of the superstructure 31. It is advisable to keep the bundles 11 short while transporting the building 10. The building 10 can also be installed on the ground by reversing the procedure described above.

The building foundation structure of this embodiment comprises a plurality of beams 11 that can freely extend upward and are erected on the ground surface S to support the upper structure 31 at their upper ends, a weight 21 that is in contact with the ground surface S directly below the upper structure 31, and a connecting means 41 that detachably connects the upper structure 31 and the weight 21.

The bundle 11 has a shaft member 13 as a lower member extending upward from the bottom end of the bundle 11, a tubular member 14 as an upper member extending downward from the top end of the bundle 11, engaging with the shaft member 13 and sliding along the shaft member 13, a lower limit stopper (tubular support member 15) attached to the shaft member 13 as a lower member and contacting the tubular member 14 as an upper member to determine the lower limit sliding position of the upper member, and an upper limit stopper (stopper 16) attached to either the lower or upper member and contacting the other to determine the upper limit sliding position of the upper member.

The lower member mentioned above includes a lower end member 12 that is provided at the lower end of the bundle 11 and comes into contact with the ground surface S, and a shaft member 13 that extends upward from the lower end member 12. The upper member mentioned above includes a tubular member 14 that extends downward from the upper end of the bundle 11, has a lower end opening 14h, and accommodates the upper end region of the shaft member 13 with the shaft member 13 passing through the lower end opening 14h. A tubular support member 15 serving as a lower limit stopper is attached to the lower end portion of the shaft member 13 so that its height position can be adjusted, and by abutting against the lower end of the tubular member 14, it determines the lower limit sliding position of the tubular member 14 and supports the tubular member 14 from below.

As shown in Figure 7, the stopper 16, which serves as an upper limit stopper, is provided at the upper end of the shaft member 13 and determines the upper limit sliding position of the tubular member 14 by engaging with the lower end opening 14h of the tubular member 14.

As shown in Figure 9, the shaft member 13 can extend downward beyond the lower end member 12. As shown in Figure 3, a male thread 13t is formed on the outer surface of the shaft member 13, and the tube support member 15, which serves as a lower limit stopper, has a female threaded hole that screws into the male thread 13t. As shown in Figure 10, a hole 18 is formed in the ground surface S and accommodates part or all of the bundle 11.

As shown in Figure 2, multiple bundles 11, 11... are arranged horizontally at intervals along the rectangular outline of the superstructure 31. The bundles 11, 11... define a space T (Figure 11) below the superstructure 31. Two bundles 11, 11 are arranged at each end of the short side of the rectangular outline, defining a space opening between the short side and the ground surface S. Note that no bundles are arranged along the short side.

According to this embodiment, the building 10 can be installed simply by placing it on the ground surface S of a parking lot or the like, making installation simple and eliminating the need for foundation work such as root cutting. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by adjusting the erection length of the beams 11 using the tubular support members 15, ground subsidence of the superstructure 31 due to aging is eliminated. This means that there is no need for ground surveys. Even if ground subsidence does occur, the lightened building 10 can be easily restored to its horizontal state using jacking equipment or the like.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the bundle 11, weight 21, and superstructure 31 are separate structures, and the weight 21 contains the weight container and its contents, so the weight container can be emptied and the building 10 can be easily relocated.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the beams 11 and the weights 21 are separated, and the beams 11 do not support the weights 21, making the beams 11 and the superstructure 31 lighter and preventing the beams 11 and the superstructure 31 from sinking into the ground. Because the weights 21 are heavy, there is a concern that they may sink into the ground surface S over time, but this does not affect the beams 11 and the superstructure 31, which are located in a different horizontal position from the weights 21.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 8, the superstructure 31 can float on water W in the event of a flood, preventing damage to the building 10 from flooding above the floor level. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the building 10 is maintained in its original horizontal position by the fasteners 51. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, regardless of whether the fasteners 51 are present, the building 10 is maintained in its original horizontal position by connecting the weight 21 and the superstructure 31 with a wire of an appropriate length.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the lower end or the entire shaft member 13 can be accommodated in a hole 18 provided in the ground surface S, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the erection length of all bundles 11 can be maximized as needed, and the loading platform 102 of the trailer 101 can be inserted into the short side of the rectangular outline of the superstructure 31 as shown in Figure 11, allowing the building 10 to be easily installed and removed.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiments within the same scope as the present invention or within an equivalent scope. For example, some configurations can be extracted from the above-described embodiment, and other configurations can be extracted from the above-described modified example, and these extracted configurations can be combined.

In another embodiment (not shown), the connecting means 41 may be a detachable connector. The building 10 may also be equipped with a sensor (not shown). Such a sensor detects the occurrence of a flood and outputs a signal to start a drive mechanism that discharges the contents from the weight 21 or a drive mechanism that connects or disconnects the connecting means 41.

The weight 21 may be a weight container that is normally empty. When needed, water is poured into the weight container for use. The water in the weight container can be used for domestic purposes.

The connecting means 41 that connects the upper structure 31 and the weight container to each other may be a chain that hangs down from the upper structure 31 under its own weight alone. This chain has some excess length and is not normally tensioned, but becomes taut when a horizontal force is applied, preventing the upper structure 31 from tipping over.

This invention can be advantageously used in buildings.

10 Building, 11 Foundation structure, 12 Grounding member (lower member),
13 shaft member (lower member), 13t male screw, 14 cylindrical member (upper member),
14h: Lower end opening; 15: Cylinder support member (lower limit stopper);
16 stopper (upper limit stopper), 17 hollow post, 18 hole,
21 weight (including weight container); 31 upper structure; 32 profile;
41 Connecting means, 51 Fixing device, S Ground surface, SL Slope.

Claims (6)

a plurality of beams that can extend upward and are erected on the ground surface and support the superstructure of the building at their upper ends;
a weight container that is placed on the ground surface directly below the superstructure;
A building foundation structure comprising a connecting means for detachably connecting the superstructure and the weight container. The bundle is
a lower member extending upward from a lower end of the bundle;
an upper member extending downward from the upper end of the stack to engage with the lower member and slide along the lower member;
a lower limit stopper provided on one of the lower member and the upper member and contacting the other to define a lower limit slide position of the upper member;
2. The building foundation structure according to claim 1, further comprising an upper limit stopper provided on one of the lower member and the upper member and contacting the other to define an upper limit slide position of the upper member. the lower member includes a lower end member provided at the lower end of the bundle and in contact with the ground surface, and a shaft member extending upward from the lower end member,
the upper member includes a tubular member extending downward from the upper end of the bundle, having an opening at a lower end, through which the shaft member is passed, and accommodating an upper end region of the shaft member;
the lower limit stopper is attached to a lower end portion of the shaft member so as to be adjustable in height position, and abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical member to define the slide lower limit position of the cylindrical member and support the cylindrical member from below;
3. The building foundation structure according to claim 2, wherein the upper limit stopper is provided at the upper end of the shaft member and engages with the lower end opening of the tubular member to define an upper limit sliding position of the tubular member. A male thread is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft member,
The building foundation structure according to claim 3 , wherein the lower limit stopper has an internally threaded hole that is threadably engaged with the external thread. The building foundation structure described in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising holes formed in the ground surface to accommodate some or all of the bundles. The plurality of bundles are
horizontally spaced apart along a rectangular contour of the superstructure to define a space below the superstructure;
The building foundation structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the base members are arranged at both ends of the short sides of the rectangular outline, and define an opening of the space between the short sides and the ground surface.