Underground Disaster Shelter

Abstract

An underground disaster shelter uses multiple shelter sections, an entranceway panel and a rear panel to create a structure that is protects against hazards in the external world. The underground disaster shelter is formed by serially connecting the shelter sections, connecting the entranceway panel adjacent to the head section of the series, and connecting the rear panel to the tail section of the series. Each of the shelter sections is equipped with a base, a gravity flange, a frame, and an exterior shell. The gravity flange is mounted around the base to retain the underground shelter at a desired depth. The frame is mounted onto the base and the exterior shell is mounted onto the frame. Accordingly, the frame, the base, and the exterior shell create a shelter section. The size of an interior compartment of the underground shelter is delineated by the number

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An underground disaster shelter comprises:
 a plurality of shelter sections;   an entranceway panel;   a rear panel;   each of the plurality of shelter sections comprises a base, a first gravity flange, a second gravity flange, a frame, an exterior shell, a first connection end, and a second connection end;   the entranceway panel comprises a panel body and a door;   the base being connected in between the first gravity flange and the second gravity flange;   the frame being adjacently mounted onto the base;   the exterior shell being adjacently mounted onto the frame, opposite to an interior compartment of the plurality of shelter sections;   the first connection end of an arbitrary section being adjacently connected to the second connection end of an adjacent section, wherein the arbitrary section and the adjacent section are each from the plurality of shelter sections;   the plurality of shelter sections being serially connected to each other;   the door being adjacently mounted onto the panel body;   the entranceway panel being adjacently mounted onto the first connection end of a head section, wherein the head section is from the plurality of shelter sections;   the rear panel being adjacently mounted onto the second connection end of a tail section, wherein the tail section is from the plurality of shelter sections; and   the interior compartment being delineated by the plurality of shelter sections, the entranceway panel, and the rear panel.   
     
     
         2 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the base comprises a foundation-beam platform and a cover plate; 
 the frame being mounted onto the foundation-beam platform; 
 the cover plate being adjacently connected to the foundation-beam platform; 
 the cover plate being positioned between the frame and the foundation-beam platform; 
 the first gravity flange being laterally connected to the foundation-beam platform; and 
 the second gravity flange being laterally connected to the foundation-beam platform, opposite to the first gravity flange. 
 
     
     
         3 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the frame comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, and a ceiling arch; 
 the first side wall being oriented parallel to the second side wall; 
 the first side wall being terminally connected to the base; 
 the second side wall being positioned opposite to the first side wall, across the base; 
 the second side wall being terminally connected to the base; 
 the ceiling arch being terminally connected to the first side wall, opposite to the base; and 
 the ceiling arch being terminally connected to the second side wall, opposite to the base. 
 
     
     
         4 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 3  comprises:
 the first side wall comprises a first plurality of wall-support beams; 
 the second side wall comprises a second plurality of wall-support beams; 
 the ceiling arch comprises a plurality of arch-support assemblies; 
 the first plurality of wall-support beams being positioned parallel and offset from each other across the base; 
 the second plurality of wall-support beams being positioned parallel and offset from each other across the base; and 
 each of the first plurality of arch-support assemblies being connected in between a corresponding first wall-support beam and a corresponding second wall-support beam, wherein the first corresponding wall-support beam is from the first plurality of wall support beams, and wherein the second corresponding wall-support beam is from the second plurality of wall support beams. 
 
     
     
         5 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the ceiling arch is a three-sided arch and each of the plurality of shelter sections forms a hexagonal structure. 
     
     
         6 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 3  comprises:
 the frame further comprises a first channel beam endcap and a second channel beam endcap; 
 the first channel beam endcap being coextensively connected to the first connection end; and 
 the second channel beam endcap being coextensively connected to the second connection end. 
 
     
     
         7 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the exterior shell comprises a shell body and a shelter-enhancing exterior coating; 
 the shell body being mounted adjacent to the frame; and 
 the shelter-enhancing exterior coating being superimposed onto the shell body, opposite the frame. 
 
     
     
         8 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the exterior shell comprises a shell body and a flame-retardant interior coating; 
 an interior surface of the shell body being mounted adjacent the frame; 
 the flame-retardant interior coating being superimposed onto the interior surface of the shell body; and 
 the flame-retardant interior coating being positioned in between the interior surface and the frame. 
 
     
     
         9 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 each of the plurality of shelter sections further comprises a sealing mount; and 
 the sealing mount being connected in between the frame and the exterior shell. 
 
     
     
         10 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 each of the plurality of shelter sections further comprises a corrosion protection system and a plurality of sacrificial anodes; 
 the corrosion protection system being mounted offset from the exterior shell; 
 the corrosion protection system from each of the plurality of shelter sections being electrically connected to each other; 
 the plurality of sacrificial anodes being distributed around the base; 
 the plurality of sacrificial anodes being mounted offset from the exterior shell; and 
 the plurality of sacrificial anodes being electrically connected to the exterior shell. 
 
     
     
         11 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the entranceway panel further comprises an entranceway hole and an entranceway-connection mount; 
 the entranceway hole normally traversing through the panel body; 
 the entranceway-connection mount being perimetrically connected around the entranceway hole; and 
 the entranceway-connection mount being connected in between the door and the panel body. 
 
     
     
         12 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 11  comprises:
 an entranceway tube; and 
 the entranceway-connection mount being terminally connected to the entranceway tube. 
 
     
     
         13 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the entranceway-connection mount is a seismic joint. 
     
     
         14 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 at least one air intake duct; 
 at least one air outlet duct; 
 the air intake duct being integrated into the exterior shell of the arbitrary section; 
 the air outlet duct being integrated into the exterior shell of the adjacent section; and 
 the air intake duct, and the air outlet duct being in fluid communication with the interior compartment. 
 
     
     
         15 . An underground disaster shelter comprises:
 a plurality of shelter sections;   an entranceway panel;   a rear panel;   at least one air intake duct;   at least one air outlet duct;   each of the plurality of shelter sections comprises a base, a first gravity flange, a second gravity flange, a frame, an exterior shell, a first connection end, a second connection end, a sealing mount, a corrosion protection system, and a plurality of sacrificial anodes;   the entranceway panel comprises a panel body, a door, an entranceway hole, and an entranceway-connection mount;   the base comprises a foundation-beam platform and a cover plate;   the frame comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, and a ceiling arch;   the exterior shell comprises a shell body, a shelter-enhancing exterior coating, and a flame-retardant interior coating;   the base being connected in between the first gravity flange and the second gravity flange;   the frame being adjacently mounted onto the base;   the exterior shell being adjacently mounted onto the frame, opposite to an interior compartment of the plurality of shelter sections;   the first connection end of an arbitrary section being adjacently connected to the second connection end of an adjacent section, wherein the arbitrary section and the adjacent section are each from the plurality of shelter sections;   the plurality of shelter sections being serially connected to each other;   the door being adjacently mounted onto the panel body;   the entranceway panel being adjacently mounted onto the first connection end of a head section, wherein the head section is from the plurality of shelter sections;   the rear panel being adjacently mounted onto the second connection end of a tail section, wherein the tail section is from the plurality of shelter sections;   the interior compartment being delineated by the plurality of shelter sections, the entranceway panel, and the rear panel;   the frame being mounted onto the foundation-beam platform;   the cover plate being adjacently connected to the foundation-beam platform;   the cover plate being positioned between the frame and the foundation-beam platform;   the first gravity flange being laterally connected to the foundation-beam platform;   the second gravity flange being laterally connected to the foundation-beam platform, opposite to the first gravity flange;   the first side wall being oriented parallel to the second side wall;   the first side wall being terminally connected to the base;   the second side wall being positioned opposite to the first side wall, across the base;   the second side wall being terminally connected to the base;   the ceiling arch being terminally connected to the first side wall, opposite to the base;   the ceiling arch being terminally connected to the second side wall, opposite to the base;   the shell body being mounted adjacent to the frame;   the shelter-enhancing exterior coating being superimposed onto the shell body, opposite the frame;   an interior surface of the shell body being mounted adjacent the frame;   the flame-retardant interior coating being superimposed onto the interior surface of the shell body;   the flame-retardant interior coating being positioned in between the interior surface and the frame;   the sealing mount being connected in between the frame and the exterior shell;   the corrosion protection system being mounted offset from the exterior shell;   the corrosion protection system from each of the plurality of shelter sections being electrically connected to each other;   the plurality of sacrificial anodes being distributed around the base;   the plurality of sacrificial anodes being mounted offset from the exterior shell;   the plurality of sacrificial anodes being electrically connected to the exterior shell;   the entranceway hole normally traversing through the panel body;   the entranceway-connection mount being perimetrically connected around the entranceway hole;   the entranceway-connection mount being connected in between the door and the panel body;   the air intake duct being integrated into the exterior shell of the arbitrary section;   the air outlet duct being integrated into the exterior shell of the adjacent section; and   the air intake duct, and the air outlet duct being in fluid communication with the interior compartment.   
     
     
         16 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 15  comprises:
 the first side wall comprises a first plurality of wall-support beams; 
 the second side wall comprises a second plurality of wall-support beams; 
 the ceiling arch comprises a plurality of arch-support assemblies; 
 the first plurality of wall-support beams being positioned parallel and offset from each other across the base; 
 the second plurality of wall-support beams being positioned parallel and offset from each other across the base; and 
 each of the first plurality of arch-support assemblies being connected in between a corresponding first wall-support beam and a corresponding second wall-support beam, wherein the first corresponding wall-support beam is from the first plurality of wall support beams, and wherein the second corresponding wall-support beam is from the second plurality of wall support beams. 
 
     
     
         17 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the ceiling arch is a three-sided arch and each of the plurality of shelter sections forms a hexagonal structure. 
     
     
         18 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 15  comprises:
 the frame further comprises a first channel beam endcap and a second channel beam endcap; 
 the first channel beam endcap being coextensively connected to the first connection end; and 
 the second channel beam endcap being coextensively connected to the second connection end. 
 
     
     
         19 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 15  comprises:
 an entranceway tube; and 
 the entranceway-connection mount being terminally connected to the entranceway tube. 
 
     
     
         20 . The underground disaster shelter as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the entranceway-connection mount is a seismic joint.