During a disaster, whether natural or man-made, a housing shelter may often be desired and even necessary to provide protection for people, pets, and possessions, among other items, from conditions relating to such disasters.
Additionally, because some disasters can have effects that linger for long periods of time, a shelter constructed to protect occupants and their possessions ideally is able to sustain life for a specified duration of time longer than the effects of a disaster.
Embodiments of an apparatus are described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a pre-cast housing shelter unit. The shelter unit includes: a polygonal floor surface; a plurality of pre-cast wall panels arranged in a polygonal shape adjacent the floor surface; a plurality of pre-made connectors positioned between each of the wall panels at corners of the polygonal floor surface, wherein the connectors are attached in place on the floor surface on-site; and at least one ceiling panel attached to the wall panels, wherein the housing shelter is sealed, in which the building structure is configured to support life and provide protection from disasters. Other embodiments of the apparatus are also described, including a housing shelter having multiple units.
Embodiments of a method are also described. In one embodiment, the method is a method for constructing a unit of a pre-cast housing shelter. The method includes: casting a polygonal floor surface at an on-site location; connecting a plurality of pre-made connectors to the polygonal floor surface, wherein each of the pre-made connectors is placed at a corner of the polygonal floor surface; inserting pre-cast wall panels in between the connectors, wherein the wall panels enclose the polygonal floor surface; and attaching a pre-cast ceiling panel on top of the wall panels. Other embodiments of the method are also described.
Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrated by way of example of the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the principles described herein and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
The present specification discloses a housing shelter for use during a disaster. More particularly, the present specification relates to a pre-cast polygonal shelter having one or more units that are capable of protecting occupants and possessions during a man-made or a natural disaster while providing life support to the occupants for a specified duration.
Disasters are often unexpected, and can have drastic effects on a wide area, causing damage to buildings, highways, and other infrastructure, and can even have severely adverse effects on air quality. In such occasions, a sturdy housing shelter may be desirable for protecting and sustaining people and protecting their possessions for a sufficient period of time until the danger from the disaster has passed.
The shelter may be designed to protect and sustain occupants from threats such as nuclear blasts or fallout, biological weaponry, epidemics, pandemics, acts of terrorism, persistent power outages, toxic spills, general warfare, home invasion, tornadoes, fires, wind, earthquakes, drought, lightning, famine, and other threats that could arise which may affect the environment or infrastructure of buildings and transportation.
While many embodiments are described herein, at least some of the described embodiments present a paneled shelter system made using pre-cast panels. More specifically, the panels are pre-cast at an off-site location and transported to an on-site location where the shelter is constructed. In some embodiments, at least some of the pre-cast panels include concrete. In other embodiments, at least some of the pre-cast panels include plastics or other materials that may provide sufficient structural support for the shelter while also providing additional advantages, such as resistance to water or other materials or elements.
As shown in
Because the shelter 100 is designed to protect occupants from the environment, an airtight, controlled environment is desired. In order to create a controlled environment, the entry may be sealed with an airtight door 110 over the entry. The shelter 100 may also have a ventilation system that will allow oxygen to be introduced into the environment. If the shelter 100 is required to sustain life for a long period of time while preventing any impurities from air outside of the shelter 100 from entering, the ventilation system may filter the air between the interior and exterior of the shelter 100. Alternatively, the shelter 100 may include its own life support system large enough to provide oxygen to the occupants for as long as needed.
The shelter 100 in
The hexagonal shape of the units 105 also allows for more flexibility in design. While design and style are not necessary components of a shelter system, greater flexibility in such areas may be desired, particularly when the shelter 100 is designed to be habitable for an extended period of time. The shelter 100 in
Many other shelter design combinations are possible using the hexagonal units 105, units 105 with more or fewer sides, or a combination of units 105 with different numbers of sides. In a larger shelter cluster, the shelter 100 may have more than one vent to the ventilation system to allow for more air circulation, and may have more than one entry. Each individual unit 105 may have a vent to the ventilation system in case one or more of the units 105 is closed or sealed off from the rest.
A unit 105 having all exterior wall panels 202 of the same size may allow for cheaper and easier construction because the pre-cast panels may be cast using a minimal amount of equipment. According to one embodiment, the interior panels 200 may be the same size as the exterior wall panels 202, such that the interior panels 200 are made using the same pre-casting equipment as the exterior panels. In another embodiment, the interior panels 200 may be thinner than the exterior panels 202, but may be the same size and length as other interior panels 200.
The width of each of the exterior panels 202 may be identical in order to facilitate casting and to lower costs. The exterior panels 202 may be thick enough to provide structural support for the shelter 100, while at the same time providing protection for the occupants from the external environment. Underground shelters 100 must not only be able to support the weight of the ceiling panels and other roofing materials, but must also be able to support any dirt, soil or other materials used to cover the shelter 100. This is particularly helpful when the shelter 100 is to be used for protection from explosives, nuclear blasts, nuclear fallout, biological weapons, and pestilences. Thick, solid walls and an underground location may help reduce or eliminate threats from the outside environment.
The width of each of the interior panels 200 may also be identical to each other. The interior panels 200 are strong enough to support the ceiling panels for each of the units 105. Some shelters 100 may have many units 105 clustered together, as in
In an alternative embodiment, the width of all of the panels is identical irrespective of whether the panel is an interior or an exterior panel. In such an embodiment, the interior panels 200 may be thicker in some embodiments, or the exterior panels 202 may be thinner so that each of the exterior panels 202 and interior panels 200 has the same width according to a particular design specification. The inset 204 of each of the panels may be adjusted accordingly in order to support the ceiling panels.
In a shelter 100 using a hexagonal shape, the three-panel connector 300 is designed so that an angle of 120 degrees is between each panel when inserted into the connector, based on the geometry of a hexagon. In other embodiments in which the units 105 are not hexagonal, but are some different polygonal shape, the connector may be designed accordingly so that the panels are spaced according to the geometry of the shape.
In an alternative embodiment in which the interior wall panels 200 are the same width as the exterior wall panels 202, the portion of the connector 300 fitted to the interior wall panel 200 may be as wide as the portions of the connector 300 fitted to the exterior wall panels 200, such that the three-panel connector 300 is symmetrical.
A grout 305 and/or sealant or other adhesive material may be inserted into the panel connector 300 between the panels in order to join and stabilize the walls within the connector, and also to help seal the connector 300 after the grout is solidified. In one embodiment, the grout is used to fill at least one opening 312 and each channel 310 in the connector 300. In one embodiment, the grout may be a high strength grout for concrete. Additionally, the wall panels may have a bar or bars, such as a steel “T” bar, embedded within the panels, such that the bar extends from the end of the panel. The bar extends into the grout that is inserted in the panel connectors 300 between the panels, and may provide further structural support for the wall panels.
In one embodiment, at least part of a connector plate 400 is connected to a wall panel or floor panel before transporting the panel to the on-site location. This may be accomplished by placing the part of the connector plate 400 in the appropriate position when pre-casting the panel. Consequently, when the panels are installed on-site, the various parts of the connector plate 400 will be positioned proximate each other such that the parts may be welded together on-site to hold the panels in place. Other embodiments of the panels and/or connector plates 400 may connect the plates 400 to the panels in other ways not described herein.
In one embodiment, at least part of a connector plate 500 is connected to a wall panel or floor panel before transporting the panel to the on-site location. This may be accomplished by placing the part of the connector plate 500 in the appropriate position when pre-casting the panel. Consequently, when the panels are installed on-site, the various parts of the connector plate 500 will be positioned proximate each other such that the parts may be welded together on-site to hold the panels in place. Other embodiments of the panels and/or connector plates 500 may connect the plates 500 to the panels in other ways not described herein.
The shelter 100 may have more than one cluster of units 105 arranged in a partially or fully connected network 600 of clusters, as shown in the embodiment of
The shelter 100 may also have a pipe or series of pipes connected to the shelter 100 for waste disposal. The waste disposal system in the shelter 100 may be connected to a main waste disposal system that also connects to a main residence or to other residences. In some embodiments, the shelter 100 may have a waste disposal system that feeds into a separate septic tank.
In some shelters 100, it may be desirable to have a water source that is separate from a main water system in case the main water system becomes contaminated. The shelter 100 may have room within the units 105 for containers that are capable of storing water for an extended period of time. In another embodiment, the shelter 100 may have a water system connected to a large water storage tank. The shelter 100 may have water pipes running to any showers, sinks, toilets, and any appliances or other items or locations within the shelter 100.
The network of shelters 100 may be connected via air or water ducts, and may also be connected via passages that allow occupants to go from one cluster of the shelter network to another cluster without going above ground. In other embodiments, some of the shelter network 600 may share the same ventilation system, but may not be accessible from other clusters except through a primary entrance.
A cross-section of a single unit shelter 100 is shown in
The hole 702 may be deep enough for the roof of the shelter 100 to be below the ground surface. A base 704 may then be placed in the hole 702 as a simple foundation. According to one embodiment, the base 704 includes a concrete slab that is cast-in-place at the on-site location, though the base 704 may be made of materials other than concrete. A polygonal polymer board 706, such as a polyiso board or other foam/insulation material, may then be placed on top of the base concrete slab and a second, thinner concrete slab 708 having the same shape as the polymer board 706 may be cast-in-place on top of the polymer board. Floor insulation may help maintain temperature and moisture control within the shelter 100. Both the polymer board 706 and the second concrete slab 708 may form a polygonal floor surface 710 that has the shape that the unit 105 will have, such as a hexagon, though the polygonal floor surface 710 may include or be made of other materials. The second concrete slab 708 may cover weld taps at the base of the wall panels 202 where the floor connector plates 400 have been welded together. The second concrete slab 708 may also help with moisture control by lifting the floor higher.
Once the base 704 and polygonal floor surface 710 are set, the components that were manufactured off-site may be used to construct the rest of the shelter 100. Panel connectors 300 may then be attached to the base 704 at the corners of the floor surface 710 where the ends of wall panels 202 are to meet. The wall panels 202 are placed on top of the base 704 adjacent the edges of the polyiso board 706 and second concrete slab 708 and in between the panel connectors 300. The ends of the wall panels 202 may fit within the panel connectors 300, such that each end of each wall panel 202 is disposed within a panel connector 300. A high strength grout may be inserted into the panel connectors 300 such that when the grout solidifies it holds the wall panels 202 in place and helps provide structural support for the shelter 100.
In one embodiment, at least one ceiling panel 700 is placed on top of the wall panels 202. In other embodiments, more than one ceiling panel 700 may be placed on top of the wall panels 202 in order to cover the unit 105. The ceiling panel 700 may be a pre-cast concrete slab having the same shape as the floor surface 710, though with a greater circumference so that there is enough overlap with the wall panels 202 that the ceiling panel 700 rests securely on top of the wall panels 202. The ceiling panel 700 may be made of materials other than concrete.
A concrete roof slab 712 may then be cast-in-place to cover the ceiling panel 700 and any exposed portion of the wall panels 202 to help fix the various components in place. The cast-in-place roof slab 712 also provides support for the shelter 100 when the shelter 100 is buried underneath the surface 604. The shelter 100 may also have a waterproof covering 714 or membrane that covers the outer walls 202 and concrete slab 712—such as a foam board on top of the roof slab and a waterproofing skin around the exterior of the shelter 100—in order to prevent water from entering into the shelter 100 or potentially damaging the structure. The covering 714 may be tapered on the roof to help drain water or other liquids from above the shelter 100.
The hole 702 in which the shelter 100 is constructed may be filled with several materials. A layer of drain rock 716 or drain materials having a trench drain may be deposited around the perimeter of the shelter base. This layer of drain rock 716 may be used to collect and transfer moisture away from the shelter 100. A layer of gravel 718 may then be deposited in the hole, covering the shelter 100 completely. The layer of gravel 718 and layer of drain rock 716 may help quickly drain water that seeps into the ground in the area above and surrounding the shelter 100. A layer of dirt 720 and/or topsoil may then be deposited on top of the gravel, completely filling the hole.
The exterior wall panels 202 may also have a thickness of about twelve inches, according to one embodiment. Metal bars 802 may be embedded at least partially within the wall panels 202. Two vertical columns of bars 802 may be spaced vertically and horizontally with sufficient clearance from the surfaces of the wall panels 202 in order to provide optimal structural support. Additionally, the connector plates 400, 500 may be positioned within the wall panels and ceiling panels or floor panels. The ceiling panel 700 may have a thickness of about eight inches and may also include a row of bars 802. The base 704 may have a thickness of about twenty-one inches, also with two rows of metal bars 802 disposed within the base. Other embodiments of shelters 100 may include components with different measurements.
The shelter 100 may have an additional surface 804 or panel at each exterior wall panel. In one embodiment in which the wall panels 202 are concrete wall panels 202, for example, a pressure treated wood surface 804 may be attached to the inner surface 206 of the concrete wall panels 202, which may provide a smoother surface than a concrete wall panel would otherwise provide. Additionally, insulation may be added to the interior surface of the wall panels or otherwise added to the exterior wall panels 202 to help maintain a controlled environment within the shelter 100.
The wall panels 202 may include embedded steel plates with welded reinforcing, such as the connector plates 400, 500, to help hold the panels in place with respect to the floor surface 710 and ceiling panels 700. This may help provide structural stability for the shelter 100.
According to one embodiment, the amount of time in which the shelter 100 is capable of sustaining life may be determined beforehand by the nature of the disaster from which it is designed to protect. In another embodiment, the shelter 100 may be designed to protect against any type of disaster, whether anticipated or not.
In some embodiments, the method includes digging 1110 a hole in a ground surface at the on-site location in which the polygonal floor surface is cast. In some embodiments, the method includes covering an exterior surface of the unit with a waterproofing skin; and depositing a drain material around the exterior of the shelter within the hole, wherein the drain material directs fluid away from the shelter. In some embodiments, the method includes casting a ceiling slab to cover the unit; and covering the unit with a cover layer to bury the shelter underground, wherein the cover layer comprises an opening to grant access to the unit. In some embodiments, the method includes field welding any adjacent wall panels, floor panels, or ceiling panels together using connector plates to lock the panels in place. In some embodiments, the method includes filling the pre-made connectors with an adhesive material, wherein the adhesive material holds the wall panels in place and creates a seal.
In the above description, specific details of various embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be practiced with less than all of these specific details. In other instances, certain methods, procedures, components, structures, and/or functions are described in no more detail than to enable the various embodiments of the invention, for the sake of brevity and clarity.
Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from previous U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/296,512 by Lane Lythgoe entitled, “Pre-Cast Polygonal Shelter” filed Jan. 20, 2010, which provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Machine Translation of FR 2615884 A1. |
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