ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR BLAST RESISTANT MODULAR BUILDINGS

Abstract

A building module for use in constructing a blast-resistant modular building. The building module includes a pair of parallel skid members and a rectangular body mounted on the skid members. The body includes sides, a roof and a floor defining an interior of the building module. A first side of the body includes an opening. A flange co-extensive with opposite sides and a top of the first side includes a plurality of holes for receiving respective bolt-type fasteners. Alignment pins project outwardly from the body proximal a bottom of the first side, for engaging corresponding alignment holes of the other building module. Each alignment pin includes a cylindrical portion at a base end of the pin, and a tapered portion. The cylindrical portion has a diameter corresponding to that of a respective alignment hole such that, when the alignment pin is fully seated in its respective alignment hole, the opening in the first side is secured in proper alignment with a corresponding opening of the other module, and shear loads between the two modules are transferred through the alignment pins. The tapered portion engages the respective alignment hole to properly guide the two module into proper alignment as the two modules are drawn together.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is the first application filed in respect of the present invention.

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to modular buildings, and in particular to an attachment mechanism for blast resistant modular buildings.

BACKGROUND

Modular buildings are well known in the art. A typical modular building is generally composed of two or more building units, or modules, interconnected by an attachment mechanism. Generally, each module comprises one or more walls, a floor structure, and a roof or ceiling structure, so as to at least partially define an enclosed space. Each module is normally sized to permit transport, for example using a conventional flat-bed trailer.

The attachment mechanism is used to secure individual modules together to create an assembled building structure having an interior space which is protected from environmental elements such as weather. Typically, the attachment mechanism is configured to facilitate disassembly of the building structure.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,694,621 and 6,871,453 (both to Locke) disclose systems for aligning and securing components of a modular building, which are representative of the art. In these systems, each building component is provided with a metal plate (see FIG. 1, items 16 and 18) having a conical recess (FIGS. 1, at 17 and 19). A tapered connector (see FIG. 1, item 10) is designed to mate with these conical recesses to align the two building components. Tension rods (FIGS. 1 at 10 and 26) are then used to hold the building components together. This arrangement facilitates obtaining accurate alignment between two components as they are brought together during assembly of a modular building.

In the oil and gas industry, it is frequently desirable to use modular buildings at various work-sites. The use of modular buildings in this context is useful because it facilitates re-location and re-use of buildings and building components at different sites as the need arises.

An important feature of the oil and gas industry is that, at many sites, there is a significant risk that an accidental leak of natural gas, H₂S or petroleum can cause an explosion and fire. The American Petroleum Institute (API) has published Recommended Practice (RP) 752/753 which specifies different classes of blast-resistant structures, based on respective blast overpressures of 3 pounds per square inch (psi) and higher. Blast overpressures of these levels will typically destroy conventional modular buildings such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,694,621 and 6,871,453. When such a building is being used to house personnel, fire-fighting equipment and first-aid supplies, an effective initial response to the accident is severely hampered.

Accordingly, there is a need for a readily transportable modular building system that, when assembled, can satisfy the requirements of API RP 752/753.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a building module for use in constructing a blast-resistant modular building. The building module includes a pair of parallel skid members and a rectangular body mounted on the skid members. The body includes sides, a roof and a floor defining an interior of the building module. A first side of the body includes an opening. A flange co-extensive with opposite sides and a top of the first side includes a plurality of holes for receiving respective bolt-type fasteners. Alignment pins project outwardly from the body proximal a bottom of the first side, for engaging corresponding alignment holes of the other building module. Each alignment pin includes a cylindrical portion at a base end of the pin, and a tapered portion. The cylindrical portion has a diameter corresponding to that of a respective alignment hole such that, when the alignment pin is fully seated in its respective alignment hole, the opening in the first side is secured in proper alignment with a corresponding opening of the other module, and shear loads between the two modules are transferred through the alignment pins. The tapered portion engages the respective alignment hole to properly guide the two module into proper alignment as the two modules are drawn together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Representative embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing building modules in accordance with a first representative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates features of an attachment mechanism usable in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an alignment pin in the attachment mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative arrangement of the alignment pins of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIGS. 5a-5b illustrate embodiments in which an alignment pin and an alignment hole are provided together in a common pillow-block; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a building module in accordance with a second representative embodiment of the present invention;

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides mechanisms for blast resistant modular buildings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a blast-resistant modular building 2 is shown, which is assembled together using a pair of building modules 4. Each building module comprises a pair of parallel skid members 6, and a rectangular body 8 mounted on the skid members.

In general, the skid members 6 are used to provide a substantially rigid support for the body 8 of the building module 4, which is not subject to toppling in an event that the body 8 experiences a sideways motion when struck by a blast shockwave. Conventional modular building units are supported by adjustable legs or jack-stands, which enable the module to be installed on un-even ground and leveled. However, a blast shockwave can easily subject the module to a sideways thrust which can cause the legs or jack-stands to topple over and collapse. The use of skid members 6 as shown in FIG. 1 avoids this problem. Acceptable levelling of the building module 4 on a job-site can be achieved by levelling the ground (eg using a bulldozer) or providing a gravel bed on which the building module 4 can be placed. A further advantage of the skid members 6 is that they distribute the weight of the building module 4 over a large surface area, which helps prevent the skid members 6 from sinking into the ground. If desired, the skid members 6 may be linked together using cross-members 10 to construct a substantially rigid frame. The skid members 6 may be constructed of structural steel I-beams, for example.

The body 8 generally comprises sides 12, a roof 14 and a floor 16 defining an interior of the building module 4. Preferably, the body 8 is sized to facilitate transport using, for example, a conventional flat-bed trailer. In some embodiments, the dimensions of the body are closely similar to those of a conventional shipping container. Preferably, at least the sides 12, and roof 16 of the body are reinforced, for example using welded steel structural members, to provide high structural strength without adding excessive weight. An armoured cladding, for example of steel sheet, on the exterior of the body provides both protection from weather and projectile debris ejected from an explosion. One or more windows 18 and doors 20 may be provided in the body 8, as desired. Preferably, windows 18 are suitably armoured using techniques known in the art to provide blast resistance. Doors 20 may be similarly armoured, and in addition are preferably positioned such that, when the building module 4 is positioned at a job-site, the door 20 is located on the opposite side of the modular building from any potential explosion hazards. Arranging the module 4 in this manner enables the assembled modular building 2 to provide blast protection for the door 10.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, a side 12 of the body 4 includes an opening, which provides an interior passage enabling personnel to move around the interior space of a modular building 2 constructed of two or more modules 4 joined together. In some embodiments, the opening encompasses the entire side 12 of the module body, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1. However, this is not essential. Smaller openings may be provided, as desired.

In order to attach one building module 4 to another building module 4, an attachment system is provided, which includes, a flange 22 for mating with a respective flange of the other module, and alignment pins 24 for engaging corresponding alignment holes of the other building module. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the flange 22 is co-extensive with opposite sides and the top of the open side of the module body 4. A plurality of holes 26 spaced along the flange 22 enables the two building modules 4 to be secured together using bolt-type fasteners.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the holes 26 are preferably elongated with their major axis oriented longitudinally with respect the module body 8. This arrangement is advantageous in that the enlarged holes simplify insertion of bolts during assembly of the modular building 2. Followings assembly, the elongated holes 26 are also beneficial in that they permit relative longitudinal motion between the joined modules 4, which helps reduce shear loading of the bolts if a blast shockwave hits the modular building 2 at an angle.

The alignment pins 24 project outwardly from the module body 8 proximal the bottom of the open side, so as to engage corresponding alignment holes of the other building module 4. As may be seen in FIG. 3, each alignment pin 24 includes a cylindrical portion 26 at a base end of the pin 24, and a tapered portion 28. The cylindrical portion 26 has a diameter corresponding to that of a respective alignment hole, such that when the alignment pin 24 is fully seated in its respective alignment hole, the opening in the side of the module body 8 is secured in proper alignment with a corresponding opening of the other module 4. In this condition, shear loads between the two modules 4 are also transferred through the alignment pins 24. The tapered portion 28 is designed to engage its respective alignment hole to properly guide the two modules 4 into proper alignment as the two modules are drawn together.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a respective alignment pin is located at each end of the open side of the module body, for example affixed to a portion of the associated skid member that projects beyond the end of the module body. The open side of the other module has pillow-blocks 30 (FIG. 1) which provide a respective alignment hole for receiving the alignment pins 24. Other suitable arrangements of alignment pins, and alignment holes, can be provided as desired.

For example, FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which a plurality of alignment pins 24 are arranged along the bottom of the open side of the module body 8. This arrangement offers the same advantages as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, but provides greater shear strength by virtue of having a greater number of pins 24.

In some embodiments, it is desirable to provide a symmetrical arrangement of alignment pins and holes, so that every building module can be fitted with the same configuration of alignment pins and holes, and can be joined to each other interchangeably as desired. FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate one method of accomplishing this, in which an alignment pin 24 and a pillow block 30 containing an alignment hole 32 are incorporated into a single unit 34. In the embodiment of FIG. 5b, a pair of these units 34 are mounted at opposite ends of the open side of the module body 8, in a manner similar to that of FIG. 1. It will be seen that when this arrangement is reversed (as will occur when two modules 4 are rotated so that their respective open sides face one another) the alignment pins 24 of one module 4 will automatically line up with the alignment holes 32 of the other module 4, so that the two modules 4 can be drawn together and properly attached. Other arrangements of alignment pins 24 and holes 34 can be used, if desired, and are considered to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the module body 8 is providing with a single open side, and so is capable of attaching to one other building module 4. Building modules 4 having two or more open sides may be constructed, as desired. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates a building module 4d in which both longitudinal sides of the module body 8 have openings, along with flanges 22, alignment pins 24 and alignment holes 32 (all as described above) to facilitate attachment to respective building modules 4. As may be appreciated, the building module 4d of FIG. 6 enables the assembly of a blast resistant modular building 2 of any desired size, by joining together a suitable number of building modules 4, 4d.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A building module for use in constructing a blast-resistant modular building, the building module comprising:

a pair of parallel skid members;

a rectangular body mounted on the skid members, the body comprising sides, a roof and a floor defining an interior of the building module, a first side of the body including an opening;

a flange for mating with a respective flange of an other module, the flange being co-extensive with opposite sides and a top of the first side, and including a plurality of holes for receiving respective bolt-type fasteners;

alignment pins projecting outwardly from the body proximal a bottom of the first side, for engaging corresponding alignment holes of the other building module, each alignment pin including: a cylindrical portion at a base end of the pin, the cylindrical portion having a diameter corresponding to that of a respective alignment hole such that, when the alignment pin is fully seated in its respective alignment hole, the opening in the first side is secured in proper alignment with a corresponding opening of the other module, and shear loads between the two modules are transferred through the alignment pins; and a tapered portion at a distal end of the pin, the tapered portion engaging the respective alignment hole to properly guide the two module into proper alignment as the two modules are drawn together.

2. The building module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening encompasses a portion of the first side of the body.

3. The building module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening encompasses substantially an entire area of the first side of the body.

4. The building module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holes in the flange are elongated.

5. The building module as claimed in claim 4, wherein a major axis of each elongated hole is oriented longitudinally with respect to the first side, so as to permit relative movement between the two modules in the longitudinal direction.

6. The building module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a respective alignment pin is disposed at opposite ends of the first side.

7. The building module as claimed in claim 6, wherein each alignment pin is affixed to a respective one of the skid members.

8. The building module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of alignment pin are disposed in spaced relation along the bottom of the first side.

9. The building module as claimed in claim 8, wherein each alignment pin is affixed to a respective one of the skid members.

10. The building module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising alignment holes for receiving corresponding alignment pins of the other module.

11. The building module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the alignment pins and alignment holes a symmetrically arranged such that each of the building modules can have a common arrangement of alignment pins and alignment holes.