Blast Protection Structures

Abstract

A structure for example a blast protection structure ( 1 ) is provided formed by the inflation of one or more containers ( 2, 3, 4 ) and ( 5 ) which are then filled with a settable cement or other material to provide a rigid free-standing structure. Roof members ( 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 ) ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) may be provided also. The roof is formed by inflating roof supports ( 8, 9 ) and ( 10 ), forming a further roof member ( 11 ) from settable cement material above the roof supports ( 8, 9 ) and ( 10 ), deflating the roof supports ( 8, 9 ) and ( 10 ) when the further roof member ( 11 ) has set to leave the further roof member ( 11 ) in place and forming a structural roof member ( 12 ) above the roof member ( 11 ). The containers and/or inflatable supports may be formed from dropstitch material which provides internal reinforcing. The invention allows free-standing rigid structures to be produced without the need for conventional formwork. Thus, inflating equipment and means for pouring cement etc into the containers and supports is the only equipment required for the erection procedure.

1 . A method of erecting a structure including the steps of:
 filling or partially filling at least one container having internal reinforcement with a settable material which is thereafter allowed to set to form a free-standing rigid structure.   
   
   
       2 . A method of erecting a structure as claimed in  claim 1  further including the steps of forming at least two spaced apart rigid structures, to form at least two wall members and thereafter providing a fluid-fillable roof member spanning the at least two wall members, the roof member having internal reinforcement, and thereafter forming a second roof member from the settable material and following setting of the second roof member, deflating the first roof member such that the second roof member then becomes a structural roof member spanning the at least two wall members. 
   
   
       3 . A method of erecting a structure as claimed in  claim 2  further including the steps of forming a third roof member over the said structural roof member after the first roof member has been deflated, to thereby provide increased structural strength. 
   
   
       4 . A method of erecting a structure as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the the third roof member is formed by filling at least one further container with a settable material which is thereafter allowed to set. 
   
   
       5 . A method of erecting a structure as claimed in  claim 3  wherein anchor points are provided between the second, structural, roof member and/or third roof members and each wall member. 
   
   
       6 . A method of erecting a structure as claimed in  claim 2  wherein at least one of the said wall members is anchored to an existing structure. 
   
   
       7 . A method of erecting a structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the inside of the at least one container is filled or partially filled with the settable material and includes further reinforcement in the form of one or more rods. 
   
   
       8 . A method of erecting a structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the said at least one container is filled sequentially such that at least one settable material filling is allowed to set before another is introduced. 
   
   
       9 . A method of erecting a structure as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the or each container is used as formwork so that the method can be performed employing only inflating equipment and/or means for pouring the settable material and without separate rigid formwork or lifting equipment 
   
   
       10 . A method of producing a structure having one or more inflatable containers each having internal reinforcement, including the steps of inflating the or each container with a fluid, whereafter the lowermost one or portion thereof is filled with a settable or pourable material which is then allowed to set or settle, whereafter the next successive layer is formed, supported by the first such layer and also by the internal reinforcement. 
   
   
       11 . A method of erecting or producing a structure as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the internal reinforcement is in the form of dropstitch material. 
   
   
       12 . A method of erecting or producing a structure as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the settable or pourable material is:
 a settable cement or gypsum based material;   a particulate material such as sand or aggregate which may settle to form to a substantially rigid mass;   or a settable foam and/or polymeric material.   
   
   
       13 . An inflatable support member adapted to, in use, bridge the gap between adjacent underlying support members and to permit a second support member to be formed and set thereon, such as a concrete lintel, the inflatable support member being adapted to be subsequently deflated to allow the second, set, support member to thereafter bridge the gap between the two adjacent underlying support members. 
   
   
       14 . An inflatable support member as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the member is made of dropstitch fabric to provide internal reinforcement. 
   
   
       15 . An inflatable support member as claimed in  claim 13  wherein further reinforcement is provided in the form of reinforcing rods. 
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the further internal reinforcement is provided for the or each container or support either integrally with the or each container/support prior to the or each container/support being filled, or by the or each container/support being adapted to be externally accessible for allowing the introduction of the her reinforcement following filling and prior to any material setting in or on the container/support. 
   
   
       17 . Inflatable formwork fillable with a settable or pourable material and shaped to form a rigid structural member, when the material of which the rigid structural member is to be formed sets, the formwork having internal reinforcement. 
   
   
       18 . A set of inflatable formwork as claimed in  claim 17  for forming individual structural members for subsequent assembly into a structure. 
   
   
       19 . Inflatable formwork or a set of inflatable formwork as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the internal reinforcement is drop stitch material. 
   
   
       20 . A blast protection structure formed from at least one inflatable support which support or supports have opposite sides which are internally reinforced and are at least partially filled with a setiable material to form a rigid structure when the material is set, the internal reinforcement holding together the sides prior to the setting of the material. 
   
   
       21 - 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the further internal reinforcement is provided for the or each container or support either integrally with the or each container/support prior to the or each container/support being filled, or by the or each container/support being adapted to be externally accessible for allowing the introduction of the further reinforcement following filling and prior to any material setting in or on the container/support.