DEMOUNTABLE CONSTRUCTION AND COMPONENT THEREFOR

Abstract

A connection member (60, 60) for connecting two elongate frame members (93,120, 122, 126, 128) of a demountable frame building (168) has an attachment portion (62, 62) for attachment to one frame member (120, 122, 126, 128) and a receiving portion (64, 64) for sliding engagement with a hollow end of a second frame member (93). The attachment portion and receiving portion are integrally formed from a single piece of material. The receiving portion has a rectangular cross-section smaller than and offset relative to the rectangular cross-section of the attachment portion to define a shoulder (66, 66) around the receiving portion on the attachment portion of greater depth (68, 68, 72, 72) on at least one side (70, 70, 74, 74) of the receiving portion. The receiving portion has a screw-threaded passage (86, 86) for a locking member (150) to secure the receiving portion in the second frame member, the passage opening for receipt of the locking member on an opposite side (88, 88, 90, 90) of the receiving portion. One embodiment (60) has a shim (108) for guiding the sliding engagement.

Claims

1. A connection member for a demountable frame building and for connecting two elongate frame members thereof, the connection member comprising: an attachment portion for attachment to a first of the elongate frame members and a receiving portion extending from the attachment portion for sliding engagement with a hollow end portion of a second of the elongate frame members, the receiving portion having at least one screw-threaded passage therein for receiving a locking member to secure the receiving portion in the hollow end portion of the second elongate frame member; wherein the attachment portion and receiving portion are integrally formed from a single piece of material and have respective rectangular cross-sections, the cross section of the receiving portion being smaller than and offset relative to that of the attachment portion to define a shoulder around the receiving portion on the attachment portion that is of greater depth on at least one side of the receiving portion; and wherein the at least one passage opens for receipt of the locking member on an opposite side of the receiving portion to said at least one side.

2. The connection member according to claim 1, wherein the connection is machined from a single billet or piece of plate of engineering material.

3. The connection member according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion has at least one further screw-threaded passage for receiving a corresponding locking member in a side thereof adjacent to said opposite side.

4. The connection member according to claim 3, wherein the shoulder around the receiving portion on the attachment portion is of greater depth on the one side of the receiving portion and on an adjacent side thereof.

5. The connection member according to claim 4, wherein the adjacent side of the receiving portion on which the shoulder has a greater depth is opposite to the side on which the at least one further screw-threaded passage opens.

6. The connection member according to claim 1, wherein there are three screw-threaded passages spaced along the receiving portion in said opposite side of the receiving portion or in each of said opposite side and adjacent side of the receiving portion.

7. The connection member according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion of the connection member has a length that is at least about 1.5 times the length of the attachment portion.

8. The connection member according to claim 1, wherein the connection member has a longitudinal passage for drainage purposes through the attachment and receiving portions from one end to the other.

9. The connection member according to claim 8, wherein each screw-threaded passage for receiving a locking member does not open into the drainage passage.

10. The connection member according to claim 8 wherein a side port opens into the drainage passage from a side face of the attachment portion.

11. The connection member according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder portion that is of greater depth has a depth that is about 2 to 3 times the depth of the remainder of the shoulder.

12. The connection member according to claim 1, wherein a shim is provided adjacent the shoulder on each side face of the receiving portion of the connector member associated with the shoulder portion of greater depth.

13. The connection member according to claim 12, wherein each shim is longitudinally spaced from the shoulder.

14. The connection member according to claim 12, wherein each shim has a maximum depth that is in the range of about 40% to about 55% of the depth of the associated shoulder portion of greater depth.

15. The connection member according to claim 1, wherein each shim is tapered towards the distal end of the receiving portion to provide a ramp surface.

16. A demountable frame building comprising: a plurality of elongate column members and a plurality of elongate beam members connected together, wherein a first of the elongate column members has a hollow end portion of rectangular cross-section and said first elongate column member and a first and second of the elongate beam members are connected together by a connection member, the connection member comprising: an attachment portion attached to the first and second elongate beam members and a receiving portion extending from the attachment portion and slidably engaged within the hollow end portion of the first elongate column member, the receiving portion having at least one screw-threaded passage therein aligned with a cooperating opening through the hollow end portion of the first elongate column member and receiving a screw-threaded locking member to secure the receiving portion in the hollow end portion of the first elongate column member, wherein the attachment portion and receiving portion of the connection member are integrally formed from a single piece of material and have respective rectangular cross-sections, the cross section of the receiving portion being smaller than the internal cross-section of the hollow end portion of the first elongate column member and being smaller than and offset relative to the cross-section of the attachment portion to define a shoulder around the receiving portion on the attachment portion for abutment with the hollow end portion of the first elongate column member, the shoulder being of greater depth on at least one side of the receiving portion, and wherein the at least one passage opens for receipt of the locking member on an opposite side of the receiving portion to said at least one side whereby screwing the locking member through the opening and into the passage acts to secure the hollow end portion of the first elongate column member against said opposite side of the receiving portion.

17. The demountable frame building according to claim 16, wherein the building comprises a pre-assembled base structure comprising plural elongate beam members with two of the beam members attached at each corner of the base structure to a respective one of the connection members, a pre-assembled roof structure of corresponding shape to the base structure and comprising plural elongate beam members with two of the beam members attached at each corner of the roof structure to a respective one of the connection members, and a respective column member at each corner slidingly engaged at each end with two opposed connection members of the base structure and roof structure.

18. The demountable frame building according to claim 16, wherein for each connection member: the receiving portion has at least one further screw-threaded passage for receiving a corresponding locking member in a side thereof adjacent to said opposite side; the shoulder around the receiving portion on the attachment portion is of greater depth on the one side of the receiving portion and on an adjacent side thereof; and the adjacent side of the receiving portion on which the shoulder has a greater depth is opposite to the side on which the at least one further screw-threaded passage opens.

19. The demountable frame building according to claim 16, wherein the receiving portion of each connection member extends into the associated column member by at least 10% of the length of the column member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] Embodiments of the invention and the best mode for carrying out the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0059] FIGS. 1a and 1b are perspective views of a lower connector member for a demountable frame building according to the prior art, in assembled and exploded form, respectively;

[0060] FIGS. 2a and 2b are perspective views of an upper connector member for a demountable frame building according to the prior art, in assembled and exploded form, respectively;

[0061] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled demountable frame building using the prior art connector members of FIGS. 1 and 2, including a flooring system;

[0062] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the demountable frame building of FIG. 3, with the flooring system omitted;

[0063] FIGS. 5a and 5b are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, from opposite sides of one embodiment of a lower connector member according to the invention;

[0064] FIGS. 6a and 6b are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, from opposite sides of one embodiment of an upper connector member according to the invention;

[0065] FIGS. 7a and 7b are perspective views of one embodiment of a column member with the lower and upper connector members of FIGS. 5 and 6, in exploded and assembled form, and FIG. 7c is the same view as FIG. 7b but with the outer tube of the column member removed for clarity only to reveal the drainage tube;

[0066] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a floor structure for a demountable frame building according to the invention using the lower connector members of FIG. 5;

[0067] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a roof structure for a demountable frame building according to the invention using the upper connector members of FIG. 6; and

[0068] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a demountable frame building according to the invention, using the column members, floor structure and roof structure of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 respectively.

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0069] In the following description, for convenience only and where appropriate, similar components will be depicted by the same reference numeral followed by a prime ().

[0070] Two embodiments of the best mode for carrying out the invention of the connector member are shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b and FIGS. 6a and 6b respectively, and one embodiment of the best mode for carrying out the invention of the demountable frame building incorporating these embodiments of connector member is shown in FIGS. 7 to 10.

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 5a and 5b, the lower connector member 60 comprises an attachment portion 62 and a receiving portion 64. The connector member is CNC milled from a single billet of mild steel or stainless steel. The choice of engineering material depends in part on the environment in which the connector member will be used.

[0072] The attachment portion 62 and receiving portion 64 each have a generally rectangular cross-section, but that of the receiving portion 64 is smaller than that of the attachment portion 62 to define a shoulder 66 around the receiving portion on the attachment portion. The receiving portion 64 is axially offset relative to the attachment portion 62 such that the shoulder 66 has a first portion 68 along a first side 70 of the receiving portion and a second adjacent portion 72 along an adjacent second side 74 of the receiving portion that are of greater width than the remainder of the shoulder 66. The ratio of the widths of the first and second shoulder portions 68 and 72 to the remainder of the shoulder 66 is about 2.5:1.

[0073] The attachment portion 62 has four flat side faces of which two adjacent side faces on the opposite sides to the shoulder portions 68 and 72 of greater width form attachment faces 76 and 78 for securing elongate beam members (see FIGS. 8 and 10) thereto. In this embodiment, the beam members are welded to the attachment faces.

[0074] The attachment faces 76 and 78 extend between a proximal end 80 of the connector member 60 and an intermediate portion 82 of the respective side faces adjacent to the shoulder portions 68 and 72 and having rounded edges 84. The attachment faces 76 and 78 have a width and length (from the proximal end 80 to the intermediate portion 82) that substantially equate to the outer cross-sectional dimensions of the beam members.

[0075] The receiving portion 64 has a length that is about 1.5 times the length of the attachment portion 62 from the proximal end 80 of the connector member 60 to the shoulder 66, or about 2.0 to about 2.5 times the length of the attachment faces 76 and 78 from the proximal end 80 to the intermediate portion 82.

[0076] The sides of the receiving portion 64 are flat but have chamfered edges 92 to facilitate the sliding insertion of the receiving portion into a column member 93 (see FIG. 7a) as described hereinafter.

[0077] Three equally longitudinally spaced lateral screw-threaded openings 86 (the screw thread is omitted from FIG. 5a for convenience only) are provided in each of side faces 88 and 90 of the receiving portion 64 opposite to the sides 70 and 74, respectively. The openings 86 receive bolts to secure a column member 93 on the receiving portion, as described hereinafter.

[0078] A longitudinal drainage passage 94 extends through the attachment and receiving portions 62 and 64 from the proximal end 80 to a distal end 96 of the connector member 60. The drainage passage 94 is axially centred on the attachment portion 62 and is therefore axially offset in the receiving portion 64. The opening of the drainage passage 94 at the proximal end 80 is screw-threaded to optionally receive a connector pipe 95 (see FIGS. 7a-c). The opening of the drainage passage 94 at the distal end 96 is smooth to slidingly receive a drainage tube 118 of the column member 93 as described hereinafter.

[0079] A drainage sleeve (not shown) may extend along the drainage passage 94 to protect the drainage passage and the engineering material of the connector member 60 from corrosive effects of rainwater passing through the connector member but is not necessary in all environments or when the engineering material is stainless steel.

[0080] The screw-threaded openings 86 are laterally aligned with the drainage passage 94, but they are blind and therefore do not open into the drainage passage.

[0081] Referring to FIGS. 6a and 6b, the upper connector member 60 is very similar to the lower connector member 60, but is used relatively inverted. It comprises an attachment portion 62 and a receiving portion 64. The connector member 60 is CNC milled from a single billet of mild steel or stainless steel. The choice of engineering material depends in part on the environment in which the connector member will be used.

[0082] The attachment portion 62 and receiving portion 64 each have a generally rectangular cross-section, but that of the receiving portion 64 is smaller than that of the attachment portion 62 to define a shoulder 66 around the receiving portion on the attachment portion. The receiving portion 64 is axially offset relative to the attachment portion 62 such that the shoulder 66 has a first portion 68 along a first side 70 of the receiving portion and a second adjacent portion 72 along an adjacent second side 74 of the receiving portion that are of greater width than the remainder of the shoulder 66. The ratio of the widths of the first and second shoulder portions 68 and 72 to the remainder of the shoulder 66 is about 2.5:1, with the shoulder portions 68 and 72 in the described embodiment having a depth of about 20 mm.

[0083] The attachment portion 62 has four flat side faces of which two adjacent side faces on opposite sides to the shoulder portions 68 and 72 of greater width form attachment faces 76 and 78 for securing elongate beam members (see FIGS. 9 and 10) thereto. In this embodiment, the beam members are welded to the attachment faces.

[0084] The attachment faces 76 and 78 extend between a proximal end 80 of the connector member 60 and an intermediate portion 82 of the respective side faces adjacent to the shoulder portions 68 and 72 and having rounded edges 84. The attachment faces 76 and 78 have a width and length (from the proximal end 80 to the intermediate portion 82) that substantially equate to the outer cross-sectional dimensions of the beam members.

[0085] The receiving portion 64 has a length that is about 1.5 times the length of the attachment portion 62 from the proximal end 80 of the connector member 60 to the shoulder 66, or about 2.0 to about 2.5 times the length of the attachment faces 76 and 78 from the proximal end 80 to the intermediate portion 82.

[0086] The sides of the receiving portion 64 are flat but have chamfered edges 92 to facilitate the sliding insertion of the receiving portion into a column member 93 as described hereinafter.

[0087] Three equally longitudinally spaced lateral screw-threaded openings 86 (the screw thread is omitted from FIG. 6a for convenience only) are provided in each of side faces 88 and 90 of the receiving portion 64 opposite to the sides 70 and 74, respectively. The openings 86 receive bolts to secure a column member 93 on the receiving portion, as described hereinafter.

[0088] A longitudinal drainage passage 94 extends through the attachment and receiving portions 62 and 64 from the proximal end 80 to a distal end 96 of the connector member 60. The drainage passage 94 is axially centred on the attachment portion 62 and is therefore axially offset in the receiving portion 64. The opening of the drainage passage 94 at the distal end 96 is screw-threaded to receive a connector pipe 98 (see FIG. 9). The opening of the drainage passage 94 at the proximal end 80 is smooth to optionally slidingly receive a drainage pipe connector from a superposed lower connector member 60 as described hereinafter.

[0089] A drainage sleeve (not shown) may extend along the drainage passage 94 to protect the drainage passage and the engineering material of the connector member 60 from corrosive effects of rainwater passing through the connector member but is not necessary in all environments or when the engineering material is stainless steel.

[0090] The screw-threaded openings 86 are laterally aligned with the drainage passage 94, but they are blind and therefore do not open into the drainage passage.

[0091] The drainage passage 94 of the upper connector member 60 has a side port 100 through the attachment portion 62 that is screw-threaded at its outer end in the attachment face 78 to threadedly receive a right-angle collector pipe 102.

[0092] At the distal end 96 of the receiving portion 64 of the upper connector member 60 the adjacent side faces 70 and 74 of the receiving portion are chamfered at 104 and 106, respectively. The chamfers 104 and 106 are graded, extending from a maximum at the common side edge 92 to zero at the respective outer side edges 92. The chamfers 104 and 106 facilitate the sliding insertion of the receiving portion 64 into the column member 93 in use.

[0093] Respective shims or ramp members 108 and 110 are also provided on the adjacent side faces 70 and 74 of the receiving portion 64 of the upper connector member 60. The shims 108 and 110 help to guide the column member into lateral position as the receiving portion 64 is approaching maximum sliding insertion into the column member as described hereinafter.

[0094] The shims 108 and 110 are identical and, for convenience only, just one will be described. The shim 108 on the side face 70 is adjacent the respective shoulder portion 68 but spaced from it and is centrally disposed between the respective side edges 92. The shim 108 is elongate along the length of the receiving portion, and relatively narrow with a width about 10% of the width of the side face 70.

[0095] The shim 108 has a ramp surface 112 at its end remote from the shoulder portion 68 leading into a portion 114 of maximum depth. The shim portion 114 has a maximum depth of about one half the depth of the shoulder portion 68.

[0096] The spacing of the upper end 116 of the ramp surface 112 from the shoulder portion 68 is designed relative to the projection length of the connector pipe 98 engaged with the distal end 96 of the receiving portion 64 such that the connector pipe 98 is aligned with the upper end of a drainage tube 118 (see FIG. 7c) in an associated column member 93 by the time the upper end of the column member engages the portion 114 of the shim 108 as the receiving portion 64 is slidingly received in the upper end of the column member.

[0097] In FIG. 7a, a lower connector member 60 and an upper connector member 60 are shown substantially aligned with a respective column member 93 for sliding engagement with the respective receiving portions 64 and 64. However, in practice, before this happens, the lower connector member 60 is welded to longitudinal and lateral beam members 120 and 122 of a base structure 124 (see FIG. 8) and the upper connector member 60 is welded to longitudinal and lateral beam members 126 and 128 of a roof structure 130 (see FIG. 9). The construction of the base structure 124 and roof structure 130 can occur in a factory to ensure the welding is of a satisfactory standard.

[0098] Referring to FIG. 8, the base structure 124 comprises two longitudinal beam members 120 and two lateral beam members 122 all of rectangular cross-section, with one of each attached to the attachment portion 62 of a respective lower connector member 60 at each corner of the rectangular base structure. The rectangular cross-section of the beam members 120 and 122 corresponds approximately to the rectangular profile of the attachment faces 76 and 78 of the attachment portion 62, and in this embodiment the external dimensions are 125 mm125 mm. An end face of each beam member butts up against and is welded to the respective attachment face 76 or 78.

[0099] The receiving portion 64 of each lower connector member 60 projects above the plane of the beam members 120 and 122 of the base structure 124, at right angles to the plane.

[0100] The base structure 124 further comprises an array of spaced cross-members 132 that are welded at each end to the longitudinal beam members 40. The cross-members 44 may additionally be supported at each end by an inwardly projecting flange (not shown) on each longitudinal beam member 40. A floor system 134 (see FIG. 10) comprising individual flooring sheets is supported by and attached to the cross-members 132 before or after the base structure 124, roof structure 130 and column members 93 are assembled.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 9, the roof structure 130 comprises two longitudinal beam members 126 and two lateral beam members 128 all of rectangular cross-section, with one of each attached to the attachment portion 62 of a respective upper connector member 60 at each corner of the rectangular roof structure 130. The base structure 124 and roof structure 130 are the same shape and size. The rectangular cross-section of the beam members 126 and 128 corresponds approximately to the rectangular profile of the attachment faces 76 and 78 of the attachment portion 62, with the same dimensions as the cross-section of the beam members 120 and 122 of the base structure 124. An end face of each beam member butts up against and is welded to the respective attachment face 76 or 78.

[0102] The receiving portion 64 of each upper connector member 60 projects below the plane of the beam members 126 and 128 of the roof structure 130, at right angles to the plane.

[0103] The roof structure 130 further comprises roof panels 134 formed of mild steel that together have a shallow gable profile that extends between the longitudinal beam members 126 from one lateral beam member 128 to the other. The roof panels 134 are supported on cross-members (not shown) extending between and welded to an inner flange 135 extending inwardly from each longitudinal beam member 126. The roof structure cross-members are similar to the cross-members 132 of the base structure, but have inclined upper faces to reflect the gable profile of the roof panels 134. The roof panels are held in place by stitch welding to the flanges 135. The roof panels 134 are supported below the profile of the upper face of the beam members 126 and 128.

[0104] The flanges 135 have an inner lip so as to form gutters at the longitudinal outer edges of the roof panels 134 to collect rainwater coming off the roof panels and the inner face 138 of each longitudinal beam member 126 has an opening 140 at each end to collect the rainwater from the gutters. The right-angle collector pipe 102 associated with the adjacent connector member 60 extends through the end portion of the longitudinal beam member 126 and has a distal end 142 that is welded to the beam member at the opening 140 to carry the rainwater from the gutter to the drainage passage 94 of the connector member.

[0105] Referring to FIGS. 7a-c, the four column members 93 associated with respective corners of the base structure 124 and roof structure 130 are identical. Each column member comprises a mild steel tube 144 of a rectangular cross-section that is substantially the same size and shape as the external cross-section of the intermediate portions 82 and 82 of the connector members 60 and 60 at the shoulder 66 or 66 of each connector member.

[0106] The column member 93 has a length dependent on the desired spacing of the roof structure 130 from the base structure 124, for example about 2.7 m or 3 m. The wall thickness is substantially the same as the smaller depth of the shoulder 66 or 66 of the respective connector member 60 or 60, for example about 8 mm.

[0107] At each end the column member 93 has an array of three longitudinally spaced openings 146 in each of the two inner faces 148 (in use) of the column member. The openings 146 are aligned in use with respective screw-threaded openings 86 or 86 of the associated connector member 60 or 60 when the receiving portion 64 or 64 of the connector member is fully received in the column member. Referring to FIG. 10 each of the openings 146 receives a respective locking bolt 150 when the paired openings 146 and 86 or 86 are aligned following insertion of the respective receiving portion 64 or 64 into the column member 93. Each locking bolt 150 has a head 152 and a threaded shank (not visible) and the openings 146 are sized to closely (but not screw-threadedly) receive the respective shank as the shank is screw threadedly engaged with the receiving portion opening 86 or 86. The head 152 of each locking bolt 150 is received in a respective recessed washer (not shown) so as to spread the load of the head on the column member end portion around the opening 146. The washer may be formed of any suitable material, such as stainless steel.

[0108] Referring again to FIGS. 7a and 7b, each inner face 148 of the column member 93 also has two spaced slots 156 for receiving a respective support tab 158 of the drainage tube 118 (see FIG. 7c) and optional pairs of screw threaded openings 160 for securing a chair rail (not shown) to it by means of bolts.

[0109] In FIG. 7c the drainage tube 118 is shown separated from the mild steel tube 114 of the column member 93 and connected to the opposed lower and upper connector members 60 and 60 for clarity only. In practice, the drainage tube 118 would be pre-assembled in the tube 144 and the tabs 158 would be seated in and welded to the slots 156 prior to the connector members 60 and 60 being engaged with it. In effect, FIG. 7c shows the connector members 60 and 60 fully engaged with the column member 93 but with the outer skin of the column member formed by the tube 144 deleted in the figure for clarity.

[0110] The drainage tube 118 may be formed of mild steel or stainless steel according to the environment in which it is used and has a connector tube 164 screw-threadedly engaged with it at the lower end 162 to slidingly engage into the drainage passage 94 of the lower connector member 60 at the distal end 96 of the receiving portion 64. At its upper end 166 the drainage tube 118 slidingly receives in it the projecting portion of the connector pipe 98 screw-threadedly engaged with the drainage passage 94 through the connector member 60 at the distal end 96 of the receiving portion 64.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 10, to assemble the demountable frame building 168, the pre-assembled base structure 124 is laid on level ground by crane or hoist. Any drainage system in the ground at the location of use is connected to the outlet end of the four drainage passages 94 at the proximal end 80 of the four lower connector members 60. However, usually no such ground drainage system is required for a demountable building and the outlet end of each drainage passage 94 will merely open to the ground. The four column members 93 are then slidingly engaged with the receiving portion 64 of the respective lower connector members 60. This may be done manually and, as each column member is lowered on to the respective receiving portion 64, the lower connector tube 164 of the pre-assembled drainage tube 118 within the column member is manually slidingly engaged into the upper end of the respective drainage passage 94 at the distal end 96 of the receiving portion.

[0112] The receiving portion 64 has some play in the lower end of the respective column member 93 to facilitate the sliding engagement between the two as a function of the deeper shoulder portions 68 and 72 and the column member can be manually manoeuvred on the receiving portion 64 to align each of the openings 146 in the lower end of the column member with its respective screw-threaded opening 86 in the receiving portion 64. Once the pairs of openings 146 and 86 are aligned the lower end of the column member is secured to the receiving portion by the six locking bolts 150. Each bolt is provided with its respective recessed washer and its shank is passed through the respective opening 146 before being screw threadedly engaged with the respective opening 86.

[0113] When all of the pairs of openings 146 and 86 are aligned, the lower end face of the column member 93 abuts the shoulder 66 of the attachment portion 62 of the respective connector member 60 and the lower end of the column member extends flush with the four flat side faces of the intermediate portion 82 of the connector member 60.

[0114] The roof structure 130 is then lifted by crane or hoist and lowered onto the upper ends of the column members 93. As the roof structure is lowered, the receiving portions 64 of the four upper connector members 60 slide into the upper ends of the column members, guided in part by the chamfered distal end 96 of the receiving portion.

[0115] The receiving portion 64 has some play in the upper end of the respective column member 93 to facilitate the sliding engagement between the two as a function of the deeper shoulder portions 68 and 72 but the suspended roof structure 130 cannot be readily manually manoeuvred on the column members to align each of the openings 146 in the upper end of the column members with its respective screw-threaded opening 86 in the receiving portions 64. Instead, as the roof structure 130 is lowered the ramp surface 112 of each shim 108 on the receiving portions 64 causes the receiving portions to gradually be correctly aligned in the upper ends of the column members 93.

[0116] The alignment of each receiving portion 64 in the upper end of its associated column member 93 also causes the associated connector pipe 98 to align with the upper end of the drainage tube 118 in the column member so that the connector pipe can slidingly engage the drainage tube as the receiving portion 64 is fully lowered into the column member.

[0117] Once all six pairs of openings 146 and 86 are aligned the upper end of each column member 93 is secured to the receiving portion 64 by the six locking bolts 150. Each bolt is provided with its respective recessed washer and its shank is passed through the respective opening 146 before being screw threadedly engaged with the respective opening 86.

[0118] When all of the pairs of openings 146 and 86 are aligned, the upper end face of the column member 93 abuts the shoulder 66 of the attachment portion 62 of the respective upper connector member 60 and the upper end of the column member extends flush with the four flat side faces of the intermediate portion 82 of the connector member 60.

[0119] Once fully assembled as described, the demountable frame building 168 is self-ballasting as a result of its mass so that no tethering is required and sufficiently rigid that no bracing is required. The rigidity is provided by the engagement of the connector members 60 and 60 with the respective beam members and column members 93.

[0120] Once the demountable frame building has been assembled as described flooring and modular wall components, including any of solid wall modules, door modules and window modules, may be secured to the building, both internally and externally as desired.

[0121] U-channels 170 (shown in FIG. 10) are welded or bolted on the opposed faces of the beam members of the base structure 34 and roof structure 36 to receive and support external wall, door and window panels. Any such panel may be lifted over the respective bottom U-channel 170 into the corresponding upper U-channel 170 and then aligned with the bottom U-channel and lowered into it while still remaining engaged with the upper U-channel. Additional securing of the panels, such as with fasteners, may also be used. Side panels (not shown) may also be secured to the column members 93 to overlap the vertical edges of the wall, door and/or window panels.

[0122] The demountable frame building 168 may be enlarged by bolting one or more other such frame buildings to it at ground level and/or by sitting another such frame building atop it and bolting the respective base and roof beam members together. In the latter arrangement, the drainage tubes 118 of the aligned column members 93 would be connected together through the respective connection members 60 and 60.

[0123] While several embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the invention.

[0124] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to demountable frame buildings and to modular components for them.

[0125] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word comprise, or variations such as comprises or comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.