DE10007714C1 - Device, to construct commercial igloo in permafrost area, has auxiliary carrier with one or more inflatable chambers made of material that is cold-resistant, air-impermeable and flexible to form roof - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has an auxiliary carrier (9) with one or more inflatable chambers made of material that is cold-resistant, air-impermeable and flexible. The auxiliary carrier can be inserted in the long walls of a trench cut in the snow that can be removed after the roof has been constructed. The auxiliary carrier has a width to fit the width of the trench to be spanned. The chambers form the roof curvature of the roof to be created.

Description

The invention relates to a device for producing Useful structures in permafrost areas with milled directly into the snow Pit walls and a self-supporting roof vault. The The term "snow" also includes so-called "firn" as granular old snow on.

The most famous commercial buildings in permafrost areas, especially in the polar arctic regions, are the self-supporting snow igloos, their construction material consists exclusively of snow. The strength and stability of the Igloos result from their domed construction and the freezing together of the individual blocks of snow in the joints. Building snow igloos requires some skill, however, as the blocks are usually simply made out of Cut snow and then layer one on top of the other. From the to State of the art counting US-PS 4,154,423 and US-PS 5,497,974 are therefore devices for preforming the individual blocks of snow knows that should make assembly easier. This will snow in filled in special forms in which it then freezes together and strength in the appropriate shape.

Another device for forming a is known from US Pat. No. 3,909,992 whole igloo known, which consists of a two-chambered shell in the shape of an igloo. First, the inner envelope layer is filled with air and serves as an auxiliary structure in the subsequent filling of the outer covering layer with water. To the freezing of the water creates a small protective igloo in which the inner air-filled casing to prevent condensation by insulation.  

The two-chambered shell is an integral part of the ice sheet formed of the building and can only - if at all - be dismantled by Melting of the water can be removed again. Another device for Establishment of an entire igloo is described in US Pat. No. 5,522,181. This is an auxiliary structure in the form of an inflatable, igloo-like pillow, which when folded up in a backpack can be stowed away and easily transported by a single person. in the If necessary, a small protective igloo can then be set up using the cushion by covering the inflated pillow with snow. Has this solidifies, can deflate and empty the pillow from the Igloo inside are pulled out. With the help of the bicameral shell and Auxiliary structures become complete, albeit relatively small structures built. A change in size, especially in the direction of significant Larger structures are not possible, as these are covered by the Pillow size is fixed. For the temporary protection to be fulfilled Function for humans and equipment is not a size variability either required.

From the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 5,522,181 it is known to be small domed Buildings made entirely of snow using a device as Auxiliary structure during construction in the form of an inflatable cushion erect. Such a device is reusable and therefore environmentally gentle. A similar device is in the form of US Pat. No. 3,619,432 of a reusable auxiliary structure for the construction of large vaulted Concrete roofs for warehouses or similar known in segment construction. The auxiliary carrier work consists of a support structure over which an inflatable two layered fabric cover is drawn to shape. The auxiliary structure is on Rollable scaffold assembled, which is a height of the prefabricated Has building walls. After applying monier iron to the upper side of the inflated fabric cover, which, like well-known air-inflated halls, has a high Has load-bearing capacity even with larger spans and loads then poured concrete over it. After its solidification, it will  Auxiliary structure from the finished concrete segment simply by deflating the air detached and moved to a subsequent position to the next To be able to create a segment in the same way. In such structures Concrete in easily accessible places is neither the logistics for the transport which is particularly bulky due to its inner support structure difficult, still forms a later, possibly necessary disposal of the concrete roof is a bigger problem. The advantage with this device is to see in their easy reusability. For use in Permafrost areas come because of the used Building material "concrete" out of the question.

For the construction of larger utility structures, such as Vehicle access, ramps, connecting corridors, climate tunnel, storage, garages etc., in snow-covered permafrost areas is therefore the well-tried Method used, self-supporting structures with high strength and Milling insulation properties directly into the snow, so that soil and Walls of the building are formed by the walls of the snow pit. These snow pits are then covered with suitable materials, such as wise steel supports, squared timbers, wooden plates or corrugated iron, covered and with snow, by hand, from a snow blower or by natural Snowfall is applied, covered. With the corrugated iron are in particular self-supporting roof arches as a composite of corrugated iron and snow producible that do not require any further support inside the building. However, this design also has a number of serious disadvantages. Firstly, the transport of the covering materials with one considerable logistical effort. Partially or completely below Earthly structures have only a limited lifespan as they are gradually sink into the snow (firn) due to the annual snow addition. The Disposal of the covering materials is only with great effort or not even possible, so that the building material is at least partially as "lost" must be written off. This creates dependency relatively high costs of the building material used, logistical replacement measures  and especially environmental pollution. In the sense of order protocol to the Antarctic Treaty can increasingly such "Contamination" from abandoned buildings can no longer be tolerated.

Based on the last described prior art before It is therefore the object of the background of the devices described above of the present invention, a device for the production of utility buildings work in permafrost areas with pits milled directly into the snow walls and a self-supporting roof vault to indicate the is particularly low polluting. In addition, it is meant to be tasks Complex for the invention include that this device in view of the extremely difficult working conditions in the arctic permafrost areas is particularly easy to transport, store and handle and none special aids are required for their assembly. In the sense of the lowest possible The device according to the invention is intended to be reusable for environmental pollution, but still be versatile and adaptable, so it’s easy too Buildings of different dimensions can thus be produced. Farther the device should be inexpensive in terms of its material and its manufacture his.

As a comprehensive solution to this complex of tasks is the invention provided that to produce a likewise exclusively from snow existing roof vault one in milled paragraphs in the roof bearing Longitudinal pit walls insertable and after targeted snow application removable auxiliary structure with one or more inflatable Chambers made of a cold-resistant, airtight and flexible Material is provided and that the auxiliary structure is one to the span of the milled pit has such an adjusted width that when Insert the auxiliary structure into the milled heels the one to be achieved Roof curvature is preformed by the individual chambers.  

The device according to the invention is as simple as it is is a particularly convincing solution to the complex of tasks mentioned you can build stable structures of almost any size in permafrost areas uncomplicated, environmentally friendly and completely without material loss be erected. This is achieved in particular by the fact that the natural Conditions and resources of this region (frost and snow and as Filler usually air) are used as far as possible. In the Building construction will not be any further supporting or supporting structures required, the use of traditional building materials is not required. The low environmental impact from the device according to the invention by doing this a few days or even hours after Completion of the self-supporting snow roof skin by appropriate Snow consolidation can be removed again and not in the building remains. The inflatable chambers as an auxiliary structure are both the construction as well as the dismantling of the device by simple filling with Air or its deflation is particularly easy via appropriate valves. Powerful assembly and disassembly steps are eliminated, compressors for air filling are standard equipment of every polar station. By the device is ready for use again quickly, thereby avoiding that a variety of such devices for Construction of larger structures must be available on site. It also includes buildings sunken and abandoned in the snow no more environmentally harmful building materials. The device is only reused for a long time, it can not be completely dismantled inflated state simply folded or rolled up and open stowed in the smallest space or even transported. This will in particular the logistics costs have been significantly reduced.

By adjusting the width of the auxiliary structure to the milled excavation pit this arched over the span of the pit. The adjustment takes place by simply inserting the edges of the auxiliary structure into previously in the snow milled heels or grooves without further or special  Tools. The curvature, which follows the igloo principle, creates a optimal strength and load distribution of the snow vault after the Freezing of the snow powder achieved. It can already be used for milling the snow blower also needed to apply the snow the auxiliary structure can be used. This is through the snow blower powdered and applied in individual layers so that when put together freeze special homogeneity, strength and stability can be achieved (Sintering effect). The sintered and solidified roof is subject to the plastic property of snow and ice of a slow deflection and thus flattening down. To remedy this, it turns out the use of the device according to the invention as particularly favorable. Due to its removal after completion of the roof vault, this is on its underside freely accessible. This can result in a flattening removed with a chainsaw, for example, and read the snow profile be worked so that the profile strength of the snow roof vault lasts remains intact. After completion of a vault depends on occurring snow growth a first postprocessing required at the earliest after approximately five years, thereafter if necessary in Biennial. With regular post-processing, this can be done Building with the preserved snow roof vault used almost indefinitely become. This is of particular advantage in polar regions with a high annual snow growth.

Due to the possibility of adapting the auxiliary structure to the Pit span, the device according to the invention is particularly versatile and can be used flexibly to erect different building sizes. This variability is further increased if after an advantageous Ausge staltung the device according to the invention it is provided that the Auxiliary structure a length corresponding to the entire roof curvature or one Segment thereof. This will add to the width adjustment variability in length is also achieved. Shorter structures can, for example, with an auxiliary structure over the entire length of the building  be spanned, so that the domed snow roof skin with a only inserting the auxiliary structure can be produced. For longer buildings can be done segment by segment. There is always a section the roof vault is made with an auxiliary structure of a given width, after consolidation, the auxiliary structure was removed and on the neighboring one Position inserted again. The next segment is then manufactured there and so on until the entire roof vault is created.

The auxiliary structure of the device according to the invention has one or several chambers for filling with a suitable medium in which As a rule, this is air. The material for the chambers must be cold resistant, airtight and flexible according to its use. This can be, in particular, silicone-textile mixtures or ent talking slides that optimally meet the required properties exhibit. They are particularly suitable for the manufacture of the chambers since they have a good strength even in extreme cold temperatures and not become brittle. Good stability as an auxiliary structure is achieved with just one Chamber reached, but it is cheaper to provide several chambers, because the Partitions serve the additional reinforcement. You can also do this then several inlet and outlet valves for chamber areas or individual ones Chambers should be provided so that if one chamber fails, the intact remaining chambers can take over the support function and the Load capacity remains guaranteed. The shape of the chambers is dependent almost unlimited in production and depends primarily on the application from. In particular, the chambers according to a next invention design advantageously have a round or rectangular profile. round Profiles, for example in the form of a tube, have a high pressure and kink stability and are easy to manufacture, rectangular profiles have a wider width, so that wider roof segments can be produced directly. Both types of profiles are largely inflated under load dimensionally stable. In multi-chamber arrangements, they are assigned to a valve next to each other, a common line of contact.  Rectangular profiles have a common contact wall, they can have individual valves or can be grouped together his.

If each chamber has its own valve, you can move to another one Continuation of the invention can be advantageously provided that the individual Chambers of the inserted auxiliary structure parallel to each other at a distance arranged and covered loosely with a film-like material. A Such device is particularly inexpensive and versatile, because the Chambers and the film are not firmly connected. In the Creation of the auxiliary structure can first of all the individual chambers in for the case should be arranged at favorable intervals. The Chambers are simply plugged in so that they stand out due to the of the curvature generated in the recesses in the mine wall supported, or with appropriate clips or "nails" in the Milled recesses of the pit walls are attached. After that, the fixed chambers simply with a film, especially with a normal plastic film, covered. In another embodiment of the Device according to the invention can also be provided that the individual chambers of the auxiliary structure parallel to each other at a distance arranged and firmly connected to each other with a film-like material are. With this structure, the chamber spacing is fixed entire auxiliary structure receives additional stability. When applying snow cannot slide or slide between the chambers. in the when folded, the film is around the emptied chambers wrapped or folded together with these.

The prerequisite for the construction of the self-supporting snow roof skin is correct curvature of the auxiliary structure above the snow pit. This is through a corresponding adjustment of the width of the structure to the span reached. It is advantageous if, according to another embodiment device according to the invention the individual chambers in parallel rows  staggered and selectively inflatable. By the offset arrangement a smaller grid size, for example corresponding to a half chamber length. You can now decide depending on the width of the pit which row of chambers should form the edge. Each time a tolerable change in the curvature caused by the grid dimension, but which has the desired inherent stability in any case. A finer one Screening can be achieved if, according to another invention continuation film-like material on both sides of the chambers a raster perforation points in the chamber-wide clamp closures for dividing the respective Chamber size can be introduced. Depending on the distance between the holes, there are very fine grids achievable, the optimal width adjustment to the respective span allow with a given, ideal curvature. The Clamp closures have soft seals on the inside, which reliable for disconnecting the respective chamber at the desired location to care. They do not remain with both methods of width adjustment used chambers in the uninflated state and hang in the inserted condition of the auxiliary structure on the corresponding pit wall loose without disturbing. To avoid repetitions at this point for further explanations in the special description section referred.

Forms of training of the device according to the invention and its Application will be explained in more detail with reference to the schematic figures explained. It shows:

Fig. 1 shows a structure to be created in a perspective Schnittdar position with an inserted auxiliary supporting structure,

Fig. 2 shows the completed structure of FIG. 1 after removal of the auxiliary supporting structure,

Fig. 3 is a round profile shape of the individual chambers of an auxiliary support structure in a sectional view,

Fig. 4 is a rectangular profile shape of the individual chambers of an auxiliary support structure in a sectional view,

Fig. 5, an auxiliary support structure with individual chambers, in section,

Fig. 6 position with an auxiliary support structure connected chambers in Schnittdar,

Fig. 7, an auxiliary support structure with selectively inflatable chambers in plan view,

Fig. 8 shows an auxiliary structure with a raster perforation in plan view and

Fig. 9 shows a clamp closure for the screened perforation according to FIG. 8 in a side view.

In Fig. 1 is the creation of a Nutzbauwerks in the form of a snow tunnel 1 shown in a permafrost region. The snow tunnel 1 has pit walls 2 milled directly into the snow with a snow blower and should be reliably covered by a self-supporting roof vault, which also consists of snow. To manufacture the snow roof skin, an auxiliary structure 3 is inserted into paragraphs 4 , which are milled into the upper end of the roof-supporting pit walls 2 and serve as lateral abutments. The width B of the auxiliary structure 3 is adapted to a pit span S such that a desired curvature W results in the inserted state. An unused width section 5 of the auxiliary structure 3 remains on this and hangs down without interference on the pit wall 2 .

The auxiliary structure 3 consists of several chambers 6 , which can be filled with a suitable medium via valves 7 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are rectangular chambers 6 , which are arranged close to each other and each can be filled with air via a valve 7 . The valves 7 are designed in such a way that, on the one hand, they can hold the air pressure in the chambers 6 securely even when exposed to snow, and on the other hand they also enable the individual chambers 6 to be emptied quickly. Before plugging in, the chambers 6 are first pumped up slightly with the air, after plugging in the air pressure is increased so that a sufficient pre-tensioning of the curved surface W and thus a sufficient load-bearing capacity of the auxiliary structure 3 is achieved. The preload is maintained via the lateral abutments in the form of the milled paragraphs 4 .

Fig. 2 shows the finished tunnel structure after removal of the auxiliary support mill 3. To produce the self-supporting, curved snow roof skin 8 , the auxiliary structure 3 inserted according to FIG. 1 is covered with snow with a snow blower. Due to the pulverization and fine filling, the frozen snow roof skin 8 achieves very good homogeneity which, together with the curvature, ensures optimum strength. The application of snow can either be carried out in a single operation or, after the snow layer applied has frozen, can be repeated several times (within a few hours) until the desired snow layer thickness D is reached. The air is then released from the chambers 6 and the auxiliary structure 3 is simply removed. The auxiliary structure 3 can then be used as often as desired in a next building or again in the same building to extend it. For example, with an auxiliary structure of length L of 5 m, a 20 m long roof curvature can be created by placing it four times.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 different chamber profiles for auxiliary structures 9, 10 are shown in the inflated state. The tubular chambers with a round profile 11 are lined up and connected to one another so that they can be filled and emptied via a common valve 12 . In Fig. 4 chambers with a rectangular profile 13 are shown, which are also lined up in the illustration, but all have their own valve 14 . As a result, they are also suitable for devices with single-chamber arrangements. An auxiliary structure 15 of such a device is shown in FIG. 5 in section at the highest point of the curvature in the unplugged but inflated state. Narrower chambers with a rectangular profile 16 and individual valves 14 are inserted parallel to one another at a distance from one another. For a better overview, the snow pit with the corresponding milled heels as an abutment is not shown in this position. A film-like material 17 , in the illustrated embodiment a simple plastic film, is loosely covered over the inserted chambers 16 . Such a simple auxiliary structure 15 is sufficient for the production of shorter snow roof vaults for smaller structures.

The auxiliary supporting structure 18 shown in FIG. 6, which is shown in an illustration analogous to FIG. 5, is suitable for larger snow roof vaults. The chambers 19, which are also somewhat narrower here, with individual valves 14 are arranged parallel to one another at a distance similar to FIG. 5, but here are firmly connected to one another with a film-like material 20 , in the example a silicone textile fabric. For this purpose, the film material 20 runs in a web-like manner between the individual chambers 19 , which can in particular be made from the same material. Such an auxiliary structure 18 is extremely stable and secured against slipping when applying snow.

The required curvature is achieved in the device according to the invention by adjusting the width of the auxiliary structure. This can be implemented in different ways. In Fig. 7, a pre-filled auxiliary structure 21 with offset, parallel chambers 22 is shown in a plan view in detail. This achieves a grid dimension R of half a chamber length. Depending on the required width B, the chambers 22 , which are all embedded in a film 23, are selectively inflated. In the illustrated embodiment, these are the darkened chambers 22 , the bright chambers 22 remain unfilled. Half of the empty chambers 22 hang down loosely on the pit wall when the auxiliary structure 21 is in the inserted state (cf. FIG. 1).

For generating arbitrarily small height R a pre-assembled auxiliary frame assembly 24 is shown in FIG. 8 in the plan view in the cutting, on an auxiliary support structure shown in FIG. 6 is based. Here, however, the film-like material 25 on both sides of the chambers 26 with individual valves not visible in this view has a perforation 27 with opposing holes 28 . In corresponding pairs of holes 28 , chamber-wide clamp closures 29 can be introduced, which press the individual chambers 26 at the desired width B and thereby correspondingly reduce the chamber volume to be filled with air. After this pre-assembly including a pre-filling, the auxiliary structure 24 is inserted and optimally inflated. The unused portion of the inserted auxiliary structure 24 then also hangs down here without further interference on the pit wall. A clamp closure 29 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 9 in a side view. This is a simple mechanical element with two clamping strips 30 and a hinge 31 on one side and a toggle 32 on the other side. For a good seal, the terminal strips 30 have flexible sealing lips 33 on their inner sides.

Reference list

1

Snow tunnel

2

Pit wall

3rd

Auxiliary structure

4

paragraph

5

Latitude

6

chamber

7

Valve

8th

Snow roof skin

9

Auxiliary structure

10th

Auxiliary structure

11

round profile

12th

common valve

13

rectangular profile

14

Single valve

15

Auxiliary structure

16

rectangular profile

17th

foil-like material

18th

Auxiliary structure

19th

chamber

20th

foil-like material

21

Auxiliary structure

22

chamber

23

foil

24th

Auxiliary structure

25th

foil-like material

26

chamber

27

Perforation

28

hole

29

Clamp closure

30th

Terminal block

31

hinge

32

Gag

33

Sealing lip
B width
D snow layer thickness
L length
R grid dimension
S pit span
W curvature

27

Perforation

28

hole

29

Clamp closure

30th

Terminal block

31

hinge

32

Gag

33

Sealing lip
B width
D snow layer thickness
L length
R grid dimension
S pit span
W curvature

Claims (7)

1.Device for the production of useful structures in permafrost areas with pit walls milled directly into the snow and a self-supporting roof vault, characterized in that for the manufacture of a roof vault ( 8 ) also consisting exclusively of snow, a milled shoulder ( 4 ) in the roof-bearing longitudinal pit walls ( 2 ) insertable auxiliary structure ( 3 ), which can be removed again after targeted application of snow, with one or more inflatable chambers ( 6 ) made of a cold-resistant, air-impermeable and flexible material and that the auxiliary structure ( 6 ) has a span (S) of the milled pit Width (B) adjusted in such a way that when the auxiliary structure ( 3 ) is inserted into the milled shoulders ( 4 ) the roof curvature (W) to be achieved is preformed by the individual chambers ( 6 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary structure ( 3 ) has a length (L) corresponding to the entire roof curvature ( 8 ) or a segment thereof. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the individual chambers have a round ( 11 ) or rectangular profile ( 13 , 16 ). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the individual chambers ( 16 ) of the inserted auxiliary structure ( 15 ) are spaced parallel to one another and are loosely covered with a film-like material ( 17 ). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the individual chambers ( 19 ) of the auxiliary structure ( 18 ) are arranged at a distance from one another in parallel and are firmly connected to one another with a film-like material ( 20 ). 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the individual chambers ( 22 ) are arranged offset in parallel rows and are selectively inflatable. 7. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the film-like material ( 25 ) on both sides of the chambers ( 26 ) has a raster perforation ( 27 ) into the chamber-wide clamp closures ( 29 ) can be introduced for dividing the respective chamber size.