METHODS OF MAKING SAME

FIEUD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to fortified buildings more particularly, the present invention relates to fortified buildings with impact absorbing connection beams and methods of making same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Fortified buildings are buildings able to absorb large amount of impact energy, for example, due to receiving a hit from a missile or a bomb. Some fortified buildings are also portable and are configured to be disassembled to two or more parts, loaded on a truck and reassembled on location. Such portable fortified buildings are usually fortified (e.g., covered) with shielding plates, made for example, from armor steel and welled to the outer walls of each building part (e.g., at least to the roof). These parts need to be connected together on site, either by welding the plates to each other or connecting using screws with screw-nuts via holes made in the armed plates. Furthermore, welding the parts makes disassembling the fortified buildings to be further delivered elsewhere more difficult. [003] When hit by missile or a bomb, the connected area (either welded or screwed) is the weakest part on the assembled fortified building and the first one to fail.

[004] Accordingly, there is a need to for a connecting solution, for portable fortified buildings, that can absorb large amount of impact energy, while still allowing assembling and disassembling of the portable fortified buildings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[005] Some aspects of the invention may be directed to a fortified building that may include, at least two portions of the fortified building; and at least two U-shaped connection beams each being perforated by corresponding holes for the insertion of screws or bolts to be connected by screw-nuts. In some embodiments, each connection beam may be connected to one edge of a portion of the fortified building, such that when connected together, each two U shaped connection beams connect two portions to form the fortified building.

[006] In some embodiments, the at least two U-shaped connection beams may extend from the edges of the at least two portions such that the holes are located outside the fortified building. In some embodiments, each one of the at least two U shaped connection beams may be welded to the edge of one portion. In some embodiments, the at least two portions of the fortified building may be portable portions.

[007] Some additional aspects of the invention may be directed to a method of assembling a fortified building. In some embodiments, the method may include, attaching at least two portions of the fortified building; connecting at least two U-shaped connection beams by inserting screws in corresponding holes in each two U-shaped connection beams; and fastening the screws with screw- nuts. In some embodiments, each connection beam may be connected to an edge of a portion of the fortified building, such that when connected together, the at least two U shaped connection beams connect the at least two portions to form the fortified building.

[008] Some additional aspects of the invention may be directed to a method of making a portable fortified building. In some embodiments, the method may include, providing at least two portions of the fortified building; welding one or more U shaped connection beams to one or more edges of each portion; attaching the at least two portions of the fortified building, such that at least two U shaped connection beams attach each other; discretely connecting the at least two U shaped connection beams using two or more welding points; drilling corresponding cross-holes in the discretely connected at least two U shaped connection beams; and removing the welding points to separate the at least two portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[009] The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] Fig. 1A is an illustration of a portable fortified building according to some embodiments of the invention;

[0011] Fig. IB is an enlarged illustration of connected connection beams in the portable fortified building of Fig. 1A according to some embodiments of the invention;

[0012] Fig. 2A is an illustration of a portion of the portable fortified building according to some embodiments of the invention;

[0013] Fig. 2B is an illustration of a cut in the portion of the portable fortified building showing the U-shaped connection beam connected to according to some embodiments of the invention;

[0014] Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a method of connecting a fortified building according to some embodiments of the invention; and

[0015] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a method of making a portable fortified building according to some embodiments of the invention.

[0016] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0017] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. [0018] Some aspects of the invention may be directed to a fortified building that may assembled on the site, by connecting two portions of the building. In some embodiments, the connection of the two portions may be done via impact absorbing connections beams. Such impact absorbing connections beams may each include a plurality of corresponding holes and are configured to be connected by inserting screw or bolts via the corresponding holes of the two beams. This type of connection is configured to absorb impact energy due to ability of the two beams to move slightly one against the other without disassembling.

[0019] Reference is now made to Fig. 1A which is an illustration of a fortified building according to some embodiments of the invention. A fortified building 100 may include at least two portions 10 and 20 and at least two U-shaped connection beams 12 and 22. In some embodiments, fortified building 100 may be a portable fortified building 100 configured to be assembled and disassembled on site. In some embodiments, fortified building 100 may include more than two portions 10 and 20, for example, 3 portions, 4 portions or more. In some embodiments, each one of portions 10 and 20 may include at least some of the walls, a portion of the floor and a portion of sealing of fortified building 100.

[0020] An enlarged illustration of connected connection beams 12 and 22 in portable fortified building 100 is illustrated in Fig. IB. In some embodiments, at least some of the outer walls of portions 10 and 20 may be covered or may include shielding plates, made for example, from armor steel. In some embodiments, at least one U-shaped connection beams 12 and 22 may be welded to an edge 14 or 24 of portions 10 and 20. In some embodiments, edge 14 of portion 10 and corresponding edge 24 of portion 20 may be configured to be attached, via U-shaped connection beams 12 and 22, in order to form fortified building 100.

[0021] In some embodiment, U-shaped connection beams 12 and 22 may each be perforated by corresponding holes 30 for the insertion of screws or bolts 35 to be connected by screw-nuts. In some embodiments, U-shaped connection beams 12 and 22 may be made from an alloy (e.g., armor steel) that can be welded to edges 14 and 24 of portions 10 and 20. In some embodiments, at least a portion of two U-shaped connection beams 12 and 22 may extend from the corresponding edges 14 and 24 of at least two portions 10 and 20 such that holes 30 may be located outside fortified building 100. [0022] In some embodiments, internal spaces 16 and 26 between the portions of two U-shaped connection beams 12 and 22 located inside fortified building 100 may be configured to accommodate any type of isolation layer/sheet/material/filler, for example, acoustical isolation layer. [0023] Reference is now made to Fig. 2 A which is an illustration of a portion of a fortified building according to some embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, more than one U shaped connection beam may be connected to each edge or each portion. For example, one U shaped connection beam 22a may connected to the sealing of portion of the corresponding edge 14 or edge 24 and two more connection beams 12b or 22c may be connected to the wall portions of the corresponding edge 24. Accordingly, when connecting portions 10 and 20 together (illustrated in Fig. 1A), each two U shaped connection beams connect two portions to form the fortified building. [0024] Reference is now made to Fig. 2B which is of a cut in the portion of the portable fortified building showing the U-shaped connection beam connected to according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown in Fig. 2B connection bean 22a (and/or 22b and or 22c) may be welded to edge 24 of the walls or sealing of portion 20. In some embodiments, lower internal space 26 of U- shaped connection beam 22a may accommodate any type of isolation layer/sheet/material/filler 28, for example, acoustical isolation layer.

[0025] In some embodiments, each one of portions 10 and 20 may be portable and may be configured to be loaded on a truck and delivered from one place to the other. In some embodiments, the U shaped connection beams may be welded to edges 14 and 24 of portions 10 and 20 in the manufacturing facility. For example, the welding may be conducted under protective atmosphere using controlled welding methods that may ensure high quality welding of the armor steel. Such high-quality welding may ensure better impact resistance of the welded area during impact. Such welding conditions are almost impossible to achieve in “the field” when assembling portions 10 and 20 to form building 100.

[0026] Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which is a flowchart of a method of assembling a fortified building (e.g., a portable fortified building) according to some embodiments of the invention. In step 310, at least two portions of the fortified building may be attached to each other. In some embodiments, at least two portions 10 and 20 may be loaded on trucks and delivered into the assembly location. The two portions may be unloaded and positioned such that edges (e.g., edges 14 and 24) of at least two portions 10 and 20 attach each other while forming a complete fortified building. In some embodiments, at least one U-shaped connection beam is welded to each one of the edges. In some embodiments, when attached together, corresponding holes in U-shaped connection beams of each portion may be aligned together. In some embodiments, an additional alignment of the corresponding holes may be conducted, for example, by inserting one or more dummy bolts in two or more pairs of corresponding holes. In some embodiments, the dummy bolts may be removed out from the holes.

[0027] In step 320, at least two U-shaped connection beams may be connected by inserting screws in corresponding holes in each two U-shaped connection beams. For example, a plurality of screws or bolts may each be inserted in to corresponding cross-holes 30 of corresponding two U-shaped connection beams.

[0028] In step 330, the screws or bolts may be fastened with screw-nuts.

[0029] In some embodiments, a fortified building, such as, fortified building 100 may be manufactured in order to be assembled, disassembled and transfer to various places several time during the service of the building.

[0030] Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which is a flowchart of a method of making a portable fortified building according to some embodiments of the invention. In step 410, at least two portions (e.g., 2 portions, 3 portions, 4 portions and more) of the fortified building may be provided. In some embodiments, each one of the at least two portions may include at least a portion of the sealing, a portion of the flour and a portion of the walls of the entire portable fortified building (e.g., portable fortified building 100). In step 420, one or more U-shaped connection beams may be welled to one or more edges of each portion. In some embodiments, one or more U shaped connection beams may be welled to each edge of a portion configured to be attached and connected with a corresponding edge of a corresponding portion. For example, one or more U-shaped connection beams 22 may be welded to edge 24, such that edge 24 is in contact with the internal middle section of the U beam, as illustrated in Fig. 2B. In some embodiments, the welding may be performed under protective atmosphere in order to ensure the quality of the welding, for example, when welding armor steel. In some embodiments, the same welding process may be applied to all other U-shaped connection beams (e.g., beams 22) and edges (e.g., edge 24).

[0031] In step 430, the at least two portions of the fortified building may be attached, such that at least two U shaped connection beams attach each other, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 1A. In some embodiments, when the at least two portions of the fortified building attach each other, the outer sides of the at least two U shaped connection beams also attach each other “back to back”. [0032] In step 440, the at least two U shaped connection beams may be discretely connected using two or more welding points. In some embodiments, few (e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc.) welding points may be provided in order to temporarily connect the at least two portions and the at least two U shaped connection beams.

[0033] In step 450, corresponding cross-holes may be drilled in the discretely connected at least two U shaped connection beams. In some embodiments, the cross-holes may have a diameter suitable for the insertion of predetermined screws and bolts.

[0034] In step 460, the discrete welding points may be removed to separate the at least two portions, for example, using any abrasive method, such as, grinding.

[0035] In some embodiments, the outcome of the manufacturing process of Fig. 4 may include two or more portions of a fortified building ready to be assembled and disassembled according to the method of Fig. 3.

[0036] While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

[0037] Various embodiments have been presented. Each of these embodiments may of course include features from other embodiments presented, and embodiments not specifically described may include various features described herein.