Technical Field

[0001 ] This invention is regarding post-incident emergency shelter relating to the field of architectural engineering, majoring in architectural technology, and minoring in post-incident crisis management.

Background Art

[0002] Under emergency conditions, providing shelters to support and protect people against the natural environment and providing them with privacy shall be mandatory (Ashmore, 2004, UNHCR, 2000). providing shelters is so important that it is recommended that required measures and preparations are taken, and needed equipment is provided in advance at disaster-prone areas to expedite rescuing and accommodating those affected by relevant disasters. Destructive earthquakes have significantly impacted the world thousands of times during the past century, resulting in more than a million casualties. However, what makes us more concerned is that 18% of world-horrifying earthquakes during the said period occurred in Iran, and more regretfully, 80% of the terrible heritage of this incident has been solely in six countries. Iran is one of them (Hamidi, 2016, 83-164). A study by Mesgari, Zargar & Fallahi (2019) introduced temporary accommodation through identifying factors influencing it was conducted for Sar-e Pol-e Zahab earthquake. According to the post-incident extensive completed studies, they consider changing the vision from sole housing provision to temporary accommodation as necessary. They express that difficult climatic conditions have made a living in temporary housing face several problems and more prolonged permanent housing reconstruction procedures. Furthermore, emergency accommodation tents are not suitable to continue living under difficult climatic conditions of the region. After temporary accommodation and provision of tents, the government considered two policies of donating rental and providing living containers to meet the need for temporary accommodation; however, practically, the latter was made effective as the sole provisional housing option in the region. In this regard, according to the authorities, living containers have been criticized for various reasons such as cost of provision, transportation and installation problems, and their consequences (Mesgari Houshyar, 2019, 287-300). To improve the tent covers functionality for shelter Eman Eltahan (2017) referred to the importance of paying attention to tearing strength in heavy filaments in an article titled “Structural Parameters Influencing on Tent Filament Tearing Strength.” In this study, the effect of structural specifications of some filaments on filaments tearing characteristics used in tent covers has been studied. The process of this research has been completed in two parts: in the first part, the effect of filaments design on tearing strength has been

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) studied, and six cloth models of a single type of filament with a variety of hardness were used and tested, and in the second part, producing various samples of filaments and studying tearing strength of each have been focused (Eltahan, 2017, 1 -8). In another article by Zhang et al., low inertia of heat and weak heat insulation properties of the tent is mentioned, resulting in a bad temperature for the tent's internal environment, disturbing the occupants. In this article, titled: "Effect of Integrated Reflective Materials on Ambient Temperature in Tents" and authored in 2017, the rapid increase in internal air temperature, as well as radiative temperature of internal surfaces exposed to high sunlight, are considered. Therefore, it necessitates reducing received radiative heat during summers to improve the internal temperature in tents. The foregoing study indicates that using reflective materials is a logical option considering their high sunlight rate, reducing external temperature. Such reduction may not exceed 15 degrees Celsius, which improves external temperature (Zhang, 2017, 122- 127). In a study by Bashawri et al. (2014), they referred to shelters' critical role in mitigating and reducing the incidents conditions and using shelters to provide private and secure spaces for the victims. Through their studies relating to the shelter's design, they found out that providing and performance of these shelters are not as effective as expected. Furthermore, this study refers to ignoring climatic conditions, locally available materials, skills, social and cultural issues, occurred delays, financial limitations, and choosing an improper location for shelter. These are the factors affecting the weak performance of these projects in terms of living standards and emphasize that shelters designed for storing and reusing in the future are ignored. The main purpose of this study is to test to what extent environmental, economic, technical, and social-cultural criteria may affect the production and performance of post-incident shelters and to what extent these factors may be considered in the process of decision making and designing such shelters (Bashawri, 2014, 924- 931 ). Also, several shelters were established in Red Cross, and Red Crescent in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Pakistan, and the Philippines between 2007 and 201 1 upon a variety of natural disasters (IFRC, 2013), and in all of them some of the materials were procured locally. Some were imported, which made the materials procurement needed for shelter construction a time-consuming process. On the other hand, the construction process of each shelter takes a couple of days to complete. Shigruban is one of those known for constructing shelters using paper tubes. His shelters, made up of paper tubes, covered with sponge, litter, cardboard, and plastic sheets, are well compatible with tropical, mountainous, and humid and rainy climates of Japan, Turkey, and India, respectively. In this idea, the shelter foundation is made from rubble or drink boxes filled with sand and gravel bag; however, providing these is time-consuming, and a high number of people shall be involved in erecting the same (Shigeruban, 2006). Several studies have been conducted concerning provisional shelters. For instance, Davis (1977), in his article “Emergency Shelter,” examined five incidents that occurred between 1970 and 1975 and studied the shelters used in them and the time spent to establish such shelters. Furthermore, he studies the local and official responses as well as time and cost factors to establish emergency shelters and eventually expresses what is seen as an emergency shelter is voided in case of a failure to be completed and erected between 3 to 7 days (Davis, 1997, 23- 40).

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) On the other hand, several inventions have been made in the field of shelter as a try to meet such need in terms of a variety of aspects. For instance, in the invention with patent No. 102378, an emergency shelter introduced considered for rapid establishment of structure, a modular opening/closing design has been considered, in which all components are collected inside each other and in the structure development procedure, these components exit from each other and generate the final status of shelter structure design. In another design known as Extendable Shelter (No. US20200095795), the umbrella-shaped structure design for the shelter is referred to in which the arms are extended like an umbrella structure. Other arms rotate for 180 degrees on the previous arms and make the final shape to provide the needed area. Furthermore, another invention is related to a shelter with the rapid establishment (No. US20200340233). The entire structure and covering walls of the shelter are embedded inside a rectangular box. The walls of this box form a certain part of the floor, each folded on each other, and eventually, the shelter's final status is achieved through extending the same. The walls panels are stacked on each other inside the box, which is established in their places using the provided fixtures, and at the end, the ceiling structure will become a folded fornicated dented one placed on the walls after being extended, and the final cover of the ceiling will be the final item applied into the dents. In another invention (No. US010227791 B2), a particular shelter's design is referred to, which may entirely be demobilized for transportation and be stacked in high numbers and transported to the destination. One of this plan's advantages is that an individual may mobilize and demobilize the shelter. The suggested invention No. US20180100326 is a transportable foldable shelter that may be used for shores, festivals, and markets and may easily be installed for different purposes durably, easily, and rapidly. The trust structure is the main component of this shelter which may be demobilized like an accordion using the hinges provided on the structure and be installed, demobilized and transported, easily. Another design (WO2015071531 ) is a foldable and transportable shelter made up of fornicated components. These components are holed connected by beams, and eventually, each beam is cross-connected to the adjacent beam, which provides the entire structure stability.

Summary of Invention

[0003] This invention is a product to meet the main need for post-incident shelter provision. Considering the variety of needs that occur after incidents, which shall be met as soon as possible, timely provision of shelter may also be seen as one of the most important needs, which may be useful for post-crisis conditions tolerance. This need may be met by providing an emergency shelter with an opening/ closing structure. A shelter that is both light and maybe erected using minimum manpower and is erected rapidly and does not need several side fixtures may safely be used in all regions and by all people without any need for help by relief forces to train them for installation and erection. Furthermore, the advantage of an extendable structure that may be collected and demobilized and does not harm the surrounding environment shall also be considered. On the other hand, shelter structure modularity enables aggregation of these units beside each other and

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) provides a bigger space in proportion to the number of individuals, which may provide the basis to develop the field relating to post-incident reconstruction and be useful for troubleshooting.

Technical Problem

[0004] One of the problems permanently faced by humanity is natural disasters. In case of intense disasters, the affected regional residential premises are significantly impacted, resulting in the compulsory evacuation of their inhabitants. Whereas there is no previous information on the time of occurrence of certain crises, e.g., earthquake, we shall face a massive homeless crowd to be provided with accommodation as soon as possible. Considering the above, in case of lack of a predetermined plan in this concern, accommodation areas in proportion to the needs of the victims cannot be provided, which shall result in dissatisfaction and intensification of anxiety under postincident conditions. Considering the above introduction, the main purpose is to provide a shelter that may be established and provided to the individuals upon the incident. In case of ensuring individuals on accommodation availability, they will be more ready to tolerate the post-incident conditions. So, it may result in high participation by the relief groups to improve the situation, as their main concern, i.e. , providing a safe shelter for them and their families, is easily met. To do so, a light, modular, and efficiently mobilized and demobilized structure is made available to the people to provide emergency accommodation as soon as possible. In case of providing secure areas in the buildings to store such shelters, they remain safe against incidents. Each unit shall have its private areas to establish new space when necessary.

Solution to Problem

[0005] Whereas there is no unique solution for all regions and climates for post-incident shelter, a structure independent from its cover is to be offered as a unique solution. So its cover may be examined and evaluated based on the climatic needs of any region. The existing shelters are either in the form of living containers that are large and heavy and faced with loading and procuring limitations or as tents for which there are frequent reports on their improper internal temperature performance. These issues are seen as an influential factor in improving those exposed to such conditions unwantedly.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0006] One of the accommodation provision permanent post-incident issues is the failure to provide the victims with such units sufficiently. Whereas living containers are one of those units usually provided under such occasions, their large size and heavy weight are seen as big obstacles to providing shelter on a timely basis. Therefore, people will personally make a shelter using the destroyed debris, being disappointed as the result of the feel of being abandoned by society.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Whereas incidents may happen all across the Globe, in this invention, solely a shelter structure is suggested, which is light and maybe erected by the victims as soon as possible. In case these structures production is made before incidents, and individuals are trained on how to mobilize them, then by providing these structures in different regions and under safe conditions, the victims may maximize using them upon the incident and prior arrival of relief groups and personally made their shelters.

Paying attention to primary measures before the incident may be effective as each region may provide covers for the shelters suitable for its climate, and there would be no need to procure and send them for being operated. Generally speaking, easy erection, being free from any need for skilled workers, establishing by minimum number of people, lightness, modularity and rapid establishment of shelter are some of the main advantages of this invention which may also provide suitable temperature conditions considering different covers for each climate.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0007] In this invention, Fig. 1 shows the non-mobilized status of the shelter, composed of a central leg (3) and side arms (1 ) connected to it. According to Fig. 1 , such a non-mobilized form enables easy transportation and even provides a high number of shelters per loadings as the main advantages of this plan. According to Fig. 2, the surrounding components (1 ) of the central base (3) may easily be directed outwardly by the individuals. By gradual motion of the surrounding components (1 ), the folded arms (8) inside the components (1 ) are seen, and these arms (8), which are connected to each other using joints (Details 1 ), are opened outwardly by components movement (1 ). The surrounding components (1 ) direct suspended columns (4) and (5) inside the base (3) outwardly using certain cables (7) and by components (1 ) motions. These cables pass through the arms (8) and, according to Details 2, pass through the main base (3) and are connected to the suspended column inside the base (Details 1 1 ).

Fig. 3 displays a situation where components (1 ) are eventually extended, and the arms (8) connecting the central base (3) to surrounding members (1 ) are fully directed. Under such a situation, the cables (7) lay entirely on the arms (8).

When the surrounding components (1 ) are eventually extended, and arms (8) are fully opened, then the internal columns (4) and (5) are directed upwardly through the outward movement of cables (7) and reach their final height. After current situation stabilization, each of the components (1 ) may rotate at the connection point to base (3) by the components joining the arms (8) to the base (3) and are rotatable (6) and move upward; fig. 4. In the end, according to Fig. 5, they are directed outwardly by certain plates (27) at the tip of components (1 ) moving inside rails (1 1 ) and may be fixed at their final position in the shelter tip in Fig. 5 considering plates form (27). To reach the final form of shelter, other arms (9) and (10) are inside surrounding components (1 ). When components (1 ) are stabilized above the structure, these components (9) and (10) may slide outwardly. According to what is seen in Details 3, there are certain wheels (21 ) in internal walls (1 ) and (9). Certain angles (22) are provided around the wheels (21 ) to ease their motions(21 ), so that

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) component (9) may easily exit the other component (1 ) (Details 6), and also component (10) may exit component 9 easily.

When components 9 and 10 reach their final motion (Details 7), they are engaged with a knob (34) inside the components for rotating as per the desired angle to reach the ground through a hook form (33) placed at the ending of components enabling rotation of components 9 and 10 inside the other component. In contrast, according to Fig. 6, the final situation of interacted components 9 and 10 and their establishment on the ground is shown. To turn these back inside, just components 9 and 10 shall be directed upwardly by hand, and when these components are placed along with their external component 9 and 1 , they shall be pushed inside. In such a case, the wheels (21 ) inside these components enable their easy motion. Certain cables (7) have been provided inside the trenches (28) placed on components 1 and 9 (Details 8) to preserve the shelter structure's final form side stability as per Fig. 7. Connecting end arms (10) through cables (7) is crossed, while according to Details 9, cables hooks are put inside rings (29) bolted into the components. When the surrounding components (1 ) move outwardly (Fig. 9), first of all, the cable (7) rotates around a beam (23) beneath the surrounding component (1 ) (Details 10), and after these cables are fully opened around beam 23, move upwardly with beam (21 ) wheels movement inside the rail (1 1 ) to reach its final height. In order to ensure preventing the components (1 ) and middle columns (4) and (5) from returning to their previous position, a handle (2) is provided inside a trench on the outer wall of components (1 ), which are connected to a flexible metal sheet (24) as per Details 4. It may easily change their directions for 90 degrees when facing rubber (25) in their path and place on the base (26) provided to the same.

After stabilizing this cable side (7), the other side is taken into the base (3). These cables (7) are joined to a pulley (16) (Details 1 1 ), which moves upwardly by pulling the cable (7) and moves the suspended column (18) joined to it (Details 12). The suspended column (18) is made up of a steel beam with U shape endings, and a cable (7) passes through the U and rotates around the pulley (16). (Details 13) shows the cables (7) around the suspended column (18). Furthermore, cable (7) joined to surrounding components (1 ) is connected to the pulley (31 ) through the ring (30). On the other hand, plate (32) is placed inside the pulley (31 ) axis to separate two cables to prevent any problem for upward internal column (4) motion. There are plates (19) at both endings of this beam

(18) placed beneath the internal base (4) from the top and moves upwardly to move the internal base four upwardly. Also, there is a plate (19) at the other side of the beam (18) so that this plate

(19) is established on certain springs (20) when restoring bases 4 and 5 positions (Details 1 1 ) to prevent total structure impact.

When the internal column (5) is pulled upwardly through the movement of cables (7) connected to the suspended column (18), (fig. 1 -1 ), it compresses the upper plate (19) of the suspended column (18) from the beneath to the internal base (5) and moves it upwardly. When the internal base (5) lower part reaches middle base (4) level, is compressed the middle base (4) from the lower part through parts (13) joined to the internal base (5) body, and takes it upwardly with itself. When demobilizing the structure, the middle base (4) is placed in the middle of height on the embedded parts (13), and its weight is removed when moving downward. Under such conditions, the middle

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) base (4) lower part is placed on rubber bumpers (17) to enable it to be established in its place smoothly. Notably, fig. 8 shows the position of the shelter structure main base (3) together with middle bases 4 and 5. Cable (7) connecting the surrounding components (1 ) to the central base (3) enter into the internal area through a trench (14) on the central base (3) body and changes direction through two plates (15) joined by a beam and is directed towards a lower pulley (16). “L” shaped parts (13) are considered on central base (3) internal wall to establish middle base (4) at height. Furthermore, certain parts (13) are connected to an internal base (5) which moves the middle base (4) when moving upwardly. Rails (1 1 ) are placed on internal bases outer surfaces to facilitate displacement of internal bases 4 and 5, which is made possible through the movement of wheels (12) inside it.

Figures

[0008] [fig.1 ] shows the non-mobilized status of shelter.

[0009] [fig.1 -1 ] shows the status of internal bases of structure with their triggering mechanism.

[0010] [fig.2] shows the gradual extension of the structure, which moves the internal bases upwardly through surrounding components and pulling the cable connected to the same.

[0011 ] [fig.3] shows the final extended status of the surrounding components when they reach the desired height.

[0012] [fig.4] shows a perspective of arms rotation around their axis, which make the final and stabilized status of the structure when the surrounding components tip plate are fixed at the tip of the internal base.

[0013] [fig.5] shows stabilized status of the surrounding components and extension procedure of internal arms of surrounding components.

[0014] [fig.6] shows a perspective of the final form of extended arms up to the ground.

[0015] [fig.7] shows the final status of the shelter structure with its surrounding bracings.

[0016] [fig.8] shows a horizontal section of shelter structure central bases.

[0017] [fig.9] shows the vertical section of central bases and surrounding components.

[0018] [Detail No.1 ] shows the joining hinge between the central base and surrounding components, which enables arms opening and extending structure.

[0019] [Detail No.2] shows the method of joining arms to the central base and cable movement path from the base to the surrounding components from inside the arms.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) [0020] [Detail No.3] shows the surrounding components horizontal section, which both includes internal sliding arms and tank of the main cable lifting the internal bases of the structure.

[0021 ] [Detail No.4] shows the details of the obstacle plate, which is closed by moving the handle downwardly when the cable transporting beam reaches a final height in surrounding components and the structure is fully mobilized and prevents the beam to move downwardly, collection of cable and demobilizing structure.

[0022] [Detail No.5] shows the mobile plate above the surrounding components, which exits outwardly to fix the components at the tip of the internal base of the structure.

[0023] [Detail No.6] shows the interacted sliding arms inside the surrounding components.

[0024] [Detail No.7] shows the manner of rotation of interacted arms after reaching the end of the path, so that they may finally reach the ground.

[0025] [Detail No.8] shows the trenches embedded on the outer wall of surrounding components and arm inside it to place cables inside the trench, and the entire structure is strengthened integrally against lateral forces.

[0026] [Detail No.9] shows the rings bolted at the central base and surrounding components to place the cables inside the rings through their ending hooks and provide needed torsion for the cable.

[0027] [Detail No.10] shows cable transporting beam inside surrounding components which the components move upwardly and outward the central base through wheels connected to it.

[0028] [Detail No.1 1 ] shows the shape of suspended column lifting structure internal bases, which is joined to a pair of central base surrounding components.

[0029] [Detail No.12] shows the details of the suspended column.

[0030] [Detail No.13] shows the details of a pulley connected to the cable around the suspended column as well as the cable connected to surrounding components.

Industrial Applicability

[0031 ] This invention may be used in the fields of building industries, construction technology, and advanced structural systems as well as crisis management organization and may be helpful in all instances of a need for rapid accommodation, whether for critical conditions or tourism purposes. Whereas a variety of regions in Iran are considered as disaster-prone, therefore, these suggested structures may be provided throughout the cities by making arrangements with and taking benefit from the supports of the municipality and crisis management organizations as safe centers, as a means to ensure that these buildings are not destructed under critical conditions, and the structures are not damaged and enable each of the centers to provide services to those who are in need under

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) critical conditions to a certain distance. Also, these shelters may be offered to tourists and nature tourists under normal conditions to generate income from these products under non-critical conditions throughout the year. On the other hand, the developers may be urged through housing construction regulation to provide a safe and structurally highly strong area in the courtyards of low- tense buildings equal to the number of units to store these shelters, so that under critical conditions, and in case of a need to evacuate the houses, people may easily access these shelters.

Reference

[0032] Ashmore, J. (2004). “Tents: A Guide to the Use and Logistics of Family Tentsin Humanitarian Relief’, United Nations Publication, OCHA Ref NrOCHA/ESB/2004/19, 4-33. http://josephashmore.org/publications/tents.pdf.

[0033] Bashawri, A. Garrity, S. Moodley, K. (2014). “An Overview of the design of Disaster Relief Shelters”, Procedia Economics and Finance 18, 924 - 931 .

[0034] Davis, I. (1977). “Emergency Shelter”. Disaster, Vol 1 , pp 23-40.

[0035] Eltahan, E. (2017), “Structural Parameters affecting tear strength of the fabric tents”, Alexandria Engineering Journal, 1 -8.

[0036] Hamidi, Farnoush, (2016). Rapidly constructible structure with flexible form for post-quake emergency accommodation, master’s degree thesis in the field of architecture: Sureh University, pp. 83-164.

[0037] IFRC, (2013). Post-Disaster Shelter: Ten Designs, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 27-97. www.ifrc.org.

[0038] Mesgari Houshyar, Sara; Haji Ebrahim Zargar, Akbar; Fallahi, Alireza, (2019). Model of provisional accommodation based on background theory (Case Study: Sar-e Pol-e Zahab City) after 2017 earthquake, environmental risks management, 6th Series. Vol. 3, pp 287-300.

[0039] Shigeruban, (2006). Paper Tube Structures, "Paper Log Houses - Kobe, Japn, 1994/Kaynasli, Turkey, 2000/Bhuj, India, 2001 ," Shigeru Ban Associates,

[0040] UNHCR, (2000). Handbook for Emergencies, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, pp. 405.

[0041 ] Zhang, L. et.al, (2017). “Effect of retro- reflective materials on temperature environment in tents”, case studies in Thermal Engineering 9, 122- 127.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)