Modular building construction and lifting device and method for use therewith

Abstract

A method for erecting a modular building on the ground of a building site with the use of a lifting device having a support pedestal and having a mechanism therein for causing relative movement relative to the support pedestal comprising the steps of providing a floor supported by the ground and having an outer perimeter. A plurality of wall components are provided. The lower extremities of the wall components are hingedly secured to the perimeter of the floor. The lower extremities of the roof components are hingedly secured to the upper extremities of the wall components. The wall components and the roof components are positioned so that they lie in planes parallel to the floor. The support pedestal is vertically positioned on the floor. Pulling cables are secured to the upper extremities of the roof components and extend to the upper extremity of the support pedestal. A mechanism is coupled to the support pedestal and to the pulling cables for causing the cables to be pulled to cause raising of the roof components and in unison therewith the wall components until the wall components are vertical.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for erecting a modular building on the ground of a building site with the use of a lifting device having a support pedestal and having a mechanism therein for causing relative movement relative to the support pedestal comprising the steps of providing a generally horizontal floor lying in a plane supported by the ground at the building site and having an outer perimeter, providing a plurality of wall components having upper and lower extremities and having first and second side extremities and a plurality of roof components having upper and lower extremities and having first and second side extremities, hingedly securing the lower extremities of the wall components to the perimeter of the floor with the wall components being disposed in planes generally parallel to the plane of the generally horizontal floor, hingedly securing the lower extremities of the roof components to the upper extremities of the wall components and positioning the roof components so that they overlie in parallel planes the wall components, positioning a lifting device so that it is supported by the floor and is disposed within the perimeter of the floor, erecting a support pedestal over the floor so that it is disposed substantially vertically, anchoring the upper extremity of the support pedestal with respect to the floor, providing pulling cables secured to the extremities of the roof components and extending to the upper extremity of the support pedestal, providing a mechanism coupled to the support pedestal and to the pulling cables and causing the cables to be pulled to cause raising of the roof components and in unison therewith the wall components until the wall components are substantially vertical and fastening together the wall components when they are in a vertical position and fastening together the roof components to enclose an internal volume overlying the floor, detaching the anchoring cables and the pulling cables and removing the lifting device from the enclosed volume.  
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the fastening together of the wall components and the roof components is accomplished automatically at the end of the raising of the wall components and the roof components into their final positions.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1  further including the step of securing the roof components to the anchoring cables to limit movement of the roof components during windy conditions encountered during erection of the roof and wall components.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  further including the step of securing pulling cables so that they extend from the upper extremities of the roof components over the outer surfaces of the roof components and the wall components secured to the floor to aid in controlling the movement of the wall components and roof components during erection of the wall components and the roof components during windy conditions.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1  further including the step of providing two pulling cables for each area unitary wall component and roof component assembly.  
     
     
         6 . A method for erecting a modular building on the ground of a building site and comprised of a plurality of wall components and roof components by the use of a lifting device having a support pedestal and having a mechanism therein for causing relative movement relative to the support pedestal comprising, assembling the wall and roof components at ground level for the sides of the modular building, raising the roof and wall components from the ground level by the use of the lifting device until the wall and roof components are in their final positions and permanently securing the wall and roof components in their final positions to enclose a space between the erected wall and roof components.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6  wherein the step of permanently securing the wall and roof components in their final positions is accomplished by automatically locking the wall and roof components in their final positions as the roof and wall components are being moved into their final positions.  
     
     
         8 . A modular building construction for erection on the ground of a building site comprising a floor lying in a plane supported by the ground and having an outer perimeter, a plurality of wall components having upper and lower extremities, a construction hinge connecting the lower extremity of the wall component to the floor at the outer perimeter of the floor, the wall components lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the floor, a plurality of roof components having upper and lower extremities and overlying the wall components and lying in planes parallel to the wall components, a hinge construction securing the lower extremities of the roof components to the upper extremities of the wall components to provide unitary wall and roof components which are hinged together.  
     
     
         9 . A modular building construction as in  claim 8  wherein said wall and roof components are erected with the wall components being substantially vertical and the roof components being inclined at an angle with respect to the wall components and enclosing an internal volume overlying the floor.  
     
     
         10 . A modular building construction as in  claim 9  including latching mechanisms for fastening the wall components to each other and for fastening the roof components to each other.  
     
     
         11 . A modular building construction as in  claim 10  wherein said latching mechanisms are formed so that they are releasable to permit disassembly of the modular building construction after it has been erected.  
     
     
         12 . A modular building construction as in  claim 10  wherein said latching mechanisms are formed so that they are automatically engaged during erection of the wall components and roof components.  
     
     
         13 . A lifting device for use in erecting a building construction in which the building construction is comprised of a plurality of wall components and roof components which are hingedly interconnected and a floor with the wall components being hingedly connected to the floor and the roof components being hingedly connected to the wall components comprising a support pedestal adapted to be mounted on the floor and positioned vertically of the floor, means carried by the pedestal for maintaining the support pedestal in a vertical position on the floor, pulling cables carried by the upper extremity of the support pedestal and being adapted to be secured to the extremities of the roof components and a mechanism coupled to the support pedestal for supplying pulling forces to the pulling cables.  
     
     
         14 . A device as in  claim 13  wherein said mechanism includes a plurality of pulleys engaging the cables and a mechanical assembly disposed within the support pedestal for engaging and pulling on the cables.  
     
     
         15 . A device as in  claim 14  wherein said mechanical assembly is comprised of a telescoping hydraulic assembly.