A shelter system having an erecting frame system and a protective skin system. The erecting frame system has at least two A-frame legs and at least one tensioning element. The A-frame legs each comprise at least one elongated structural member, each of the A-frame legs coalescing with at least one other A-frame leg with at least one connection. The tensioning element is at least temporarily affixed to a free end of each of the at least two A-frame legs, and comprises at least one elongated structural element capable of generating a tension force to draw the free ends of the A-frame legs towards one another, thereby at least temporarily lifting the connection to a predetermined height above the free end of each A-frame leg. A protective skin system is also provided with at least one side plane, one roof plane, and one end plane. The side plane is disposed between two A-frame legs; the roof plane is concordant with the ground surface; and the end plane is disposed between two A-frame legs of a constituent A-frame leg pair and a ground surface. The planar element of the protective skin system provides at least a partial barrier from a ballistic threat to a volume behind the planar element, the loading of the protective skin system being transferred at least in part first to the erecting frame system and ultimately to the ground surface.

A frame using tubular columns and tubular rafters of generally rectangular cross section. Columns are arranged parallel, spaced apart, opposed pairs that are connected by bolted-on girts to form wall frames. Rafters are arranged parallel, spaced apart, opposed pairs that are connected by bolted-on purlins to form roof frames. Inwardly facing sides of columns and rafters have pluralities of castellated holes. Outwardly facing sides of columns and rafters have another plurality of castellated holes. All connections for braces and crane lifts are made in the inwardly facing sides of the columns and rafters. Joints have either a ridge plate or a haunch plates, each plate with two bolt holes that may be pivot holes and additional bolt holes for securing the plates. Base plates have two pairs of parallel vertical spaced-apart flanges, each pair fitting within and releasably attachable to a column. Pairs may be arranged parallel or perpendicular.

A modular building section defining the roof and opposing walls of a modular clearspan building. The building section includes a roof portion extending in a longitudinal direction between opposite first and second ends, and a pair of first and second legs, each leg pivotally attached about a pivot axis to the roof portion proximate a roof portion end. Each of the first and second legs has a stowed position in which the leg generally extends in the longitudinal direction and is in superposition with the roof portion, and an expanded position in which the leg depends from the roof portion and generally extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. The legs are moveable independently of each other from their respective stowed positions to their respective expanded positions under the influence of gravity during lifting of the roof portion. Also disclosed are methods for constructing a modular clearspan building.

A beam system and method of erecting a supporting arch enables large roofed structures to be erected quickly and economically. The method includes aligning a plurality of structural elements longitudinally; connecting upper corners of the structural elements to upper corners of adjacent structural elements, wherein adjacent lower corners of the structural elements remain unconnected; elevating first and second structural elements in a middle of the supporting arch; connecting lower corners of the first and second structural elements together; elevating third and fourth structural elements adjacent the first and second structural elements, respectively; and connecting lower corners of the third and fourth structural elements to lower corners of the first and second structural elements, respectively.

A frame using tubular columns and tubular rafters of generally rectangular cross section. Columns are arranged parallel, spaced apart, opposed pairs that are connected by bolted-on girts to form wall frames. Rafters are arranged parallel, spaced apart, opposed pairs that are connected by bolted-on purlins to form roof frames. Inwardly facing sides of columns and rafters have pluralities of castellated holes. Outwardly facing sides of columns and rafters have another plurality of castellated holes. All connections for braces and crane lifts are made in the inwardly facing sides of the columns and rafters. Joints have either a ridge plate or a haunch plates, each plate with two bolt holes that may be pivot holes and additional bolt holes for securing the plates. Base plates have two pairs of parallel vertical spaced-apart flanges, each pair fitting within and releasably attachable to a column. Pairs may be arranged parallel or perpendicular.

A method including placing on a surface a first beam having a first end with a first clevis component opposing a second clevis component. A second beam, including a second end having a third clevis component opposing a fourth clevis component, is placed adjacent the first end on the surface. The first clevis component is connected to the third clevis component. A lifter is connected to the first end and the second end, which are lifted simultaneously from the surface while rotating the first beam and the second beam about the connector until the second clevis component engages the fourth clevis component. Connection between the second clevis component and the fourth clevis component then may be completed.

A shelter system having an erecting frame system and a protective skin system. The erecting frame system has at least two A-frame legs and at least one tensioning element. The A-frame legs each comprise at least one elongated structural member, each of the A-frame legs coalescing with at least one other A-frame leg with at least one connection. The tensioning element is at least temporarily affixed to a free end of each of the at least two A-frame legs, and comprises at least one elongated structural element capable of generating a tension force to draw the free ends of the A-frame legs towards one another, thereby at least temporarily lifting the connection to a predetermined height above the free end of each A-frame leg. A protective skin system is also provided with at least one side plane, one roof plane, and one end plane. The side plane is disposed between two A-frame legs; the roof plane is concordant with the ground surface; and the end plane is disposed between two A-frame legs of a constituent A-frame leg pair and a ground surface. The planar element of the protective skin system provides at least a partial barrier from a ballistic threat to a volume behind the planar element, the loading of the protective skin system being transferred at least in part first to the erecting frame system and ultimately to the ground surface.

A method including placing on a surface a first beam having a first end with a first clevis component opposing a second clevis component. A second beam, including a second end having a third clevis component opposing a fourth clevis component, is placed adjacent the first end on the surface. The first clevis component is connected to the third clevis component. A lifter is connected to the first end and the second end, which are lifted simultaneously from the surface while rotating the first beam and the second beam about the connector until the second clevis component engages the fourth clevis component. Connection between the second clevis component and the fourth clevis component then may be completed.

The invention concerns the construction process and can be employed in the course of construction of buildings and structures of different purposes in order to reduce labor consumption during formation of floor slabs, and to facilitate integrity retention of a slab and hoisting equipment during the rotation operation. The carcassing method assumes simultaneous construction of bearing solid-cast reinforced-concrete structural vertical elements and hinged to them vertically oriented reinforced-concrete pivot floor slabs. The construction process involves preliminary installation of separating elements between slabs and bearing structures as well as between adjacent slabs. After the concrete has developed its strength, the above slabs shall be flipped to the horizontal position and butt joints between slabs and bearing vertical elements as well as between adjacent floor slabs shall be grouted. The vertical elements and floor slabs are formed in layers, vertical partition elements represent sheet-type or film-type polymer materials, the pivot hinge of floor slabs represent an elongated element located in the middle portion of a floor slab and whose longitudinal axis coincides with the slab rotation axis. Bearing elements shall be formed as columns. Tubular round-in-section hinge elements of horizontally adjacent floor slabs shall be located at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of a column. Floor slabs shall be reinforced by a prestressed reinforcement cage made of a sheathed steel cable. Tendons shall be installed inside of floor slabs after their formation. For this, the solidifying grout is fed into cavity of the slip formwork inside a slab, linear voids are formed by means of channel formers. The longitudinal axis of a hinge runs through the mass center of a floor slab. Slabs shall be flipped in the ascending and descending order. Channel formers shall be shifted upon shifting the formwork or upon transition to the next layer. Channel formers shall comprise the broach for installation of tendons in channels. Channel formers are equipped with vibrators for compaction of the grout. After rotation of slabs, the reinforcing cable shall be placed inside transverse channels and shall be tensioned.

A beam system and method of erecting a supporting arch enables large roofed structures to be erected quickly and economically. The method includes aligning a plurality of structural elements longitudinally; connecting upper corners of the structural elements to upper corners of adjacent structural elements, wherein adjacent lower corners of the structural elements remain unconnected; elevating first and second structural elements in a middle of the supporting arch; connecting lower corners of the first and second structural elements together; elevating third and fourth structural elements adjacent the first and second structural elements, respectively; and connecting lower corners of the third and fourth structural elements to lower corners of the first and second structural elements, respectively.