Modular Protective Building Structure with Pivoting Fillable Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective building structures for combat environments face challenges in rapid assembly with limited resources and adaptability to unpredictable conditions, particularly in providing effective overhead protection from ordinance detonations.

Innovation Solution

A modular kit comprising a support frame, pivotable rectangular prismatic panel members, elongate stanchion members, coupling members, and raising mechanisms, allowing for easy assembly and adjustment on uneven terrain, with fillable panel members and adjustable stanchion orientations to accommodate varying slopes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If modular protective building structures are designed with high mass and high logistics resources to withstand explosive forces, then protection performance is improved, but assembly difficulty and logistical constraints increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection performanceVSAvoidassembly difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective building structure is divided into modular components including panel members, support frames, stanchion members, and coupling members that can be independently transported and assembled. Each panel member is a self-contained unit with fill material compartments, allowing rapid assembly without requiring extensive construction resources while maintaining protective performance through the collective modular system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If protective building structures are designed for rapid assembly with limited resources, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to unpredictable battlefield conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidadaptability to conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The stanchion members are designed with adjustable orientations and the coupling members allow variable positioning along the stanchions, enabling the structure to adapt to uneven terrain and varying battlefield conditions. The panel members can be configured in different arrangements to accommodate various protection requirements while maintaining rapid assembly capability through the standardized modular interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If concrete panels are made thick (up to 20 cm) to provide overhead protection, then protection performance is improved, but weight and logistics requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverhead protection capabilityVSAvoidpanel weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The panel members are designed as hollow structures with internal compartments that are filled with lighter materials such as earth, sand, or water rather than using solid concrete throughout. This porous/fill approach provides the necessary mass for blast protection while significantly reducing the structural weight and logistics requirements compared to solid concrete panels of equivalent thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables rapid and adaptable assembly of protective building structures that can withstand overhead ordinance detonations, with minimal construction support and logistical constraints, ensuring effective protection in unpredictable battlefield conditions.

Implementation Method 1

raising means, for mechanically raising said support frame vertically while coupled to said stanchion members to a desired vertical height along said stanchion members

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

each of said panel members pivotably couplable to said at least one support frame, and pivotable from a vertical position where said fill material may be inserted in said panel member, to a horizontal position overlying said support frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS8667741B1Kit for assembling a building structure resistant to overhead ordinance detonations

Publication Date: 2014.03.11 DYNAMIC SHELTERS

AI summary

Kits for assembling a protective building structure that is resistant to and protects occupants from overhead ordinance detonations, are provided. The kits comprise modular parts for assembling an overhead protective building structure that can be packaged for delivery and assembly in a field location. The kits have self-contained mechanisms for facilitating assembly of the kits with limited construction resources. A pivoting support frame permits the panel members to pivot from a vertical position for filling the panel members with fill material, to a horizontal position on the support frame, to thereby form the overhead cover. Self-raising means are also included in the kits to lift and vertically position the overhead cover along supporting stanchions positioned at each end of the support frame.